IllustrationTHIS MOTORCYCLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A LINKED ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. THE REAR WHEEL AND FRONT WHEEL WORK TOGETHER. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS WITHOUT BRAKES FOR AN UNDETERMINED PERIOD OF TIME. *AK *NM
2002 BMW R1150GS
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all R1150GS years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 8 of 21 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
11 reportsFINAL DRIVE FAILURE ON BMW R1150GS MOTORCYCLE AT 28,200 MILES RESULTING IN LOSS OF OIL AND REQUIRING COMPLETE FINAL DRIVE AND ABS SENSOR REPLACEMENT.*AK
THE BRAKES FAILED ON THE MOTORCYCLE.*AK *JB
BMWNA HAS ISSUED A TSB. THEY HAVE MADE A CORRECTION FOR MODELS AFTER A CERTAIN VIN. THEY ARE NOT REPAIRING EARLIER MODELS AFFECTED BY THE PART. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION.NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK
BRAKES OCCASIONALLY COMPLETELY RELEASE WITHOUT WARNING
THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES ARE LINKED ON THIS MOTORCYCLE. WHEN BRAKING HARD ON ROUGH ROAD CONDITIONS, THE EXCESS FORCE APPLIED TO THE REAR BRAKE BY THE LINKED SYSTEM CAN CAUSE THE ABS TO MODULATE UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH HAS THE EFFECT OF ELIMINATING BRAKING AT A CRITICAL MOMENT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS EFFECT MAY CAUSE ME TO HAVE A…
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THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES ARE LINKED ON THIS MOTORCYCLE. WHEN BRAKING HARD ON ROUGH ROAD CONDITIONS, THE EXCESS FORCE APPLIED TO THE REAR BRAKE BY THE LINKED SYSTEM CAN CAUSE THE ABS TO MODULATE UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH HAS THE EFFECT OF ELIMINATING BRAKING AT A CRITICAL MOMENT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS EFFECT MAY CAUSE ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT AT SOME TIME IN THE FUTURE. I AM AWARE THAT BMW REDESIGNED THE BRAKES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE FOR MODELS MANUFACTURED AFTER MINE WAS MANUFACTURED. REFERE TO BMW MOTORCYCLES SERVICE BULLETIN NO: 34 001 02 (012). *AK
REAR DISC BRAKE IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MODULATE. GOES FROM OFF TO FULL APPLICATION WITHIN A 3/8" OF PEDAL MOVEMENT
REFERENCE BMW SERVICE BULLETIN, DATED MARCH 2002, BULLETIN NO: 34 001002 (012). MY MOTORCYCLE IS EARLY VIN WHICH HAS THE ABS BRAKE MODULATOR THAT IS TO BE REPLACED PER THIS SERVICE BULLETIN. I WANT BMW TO UPDATE MY MOTORCYCLE'S BRAKE SYSTEM PER THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN, COST TO BE COVERED BY EXISTING MFG. WARRANTEE.
ABS ACTIVATES UNDER NORMAL BRAKING ON ROUGH SURFACE- THE MODULATOR SENSES INCORRECT INFORMATION. POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING SITUATION ON A MOTORCYCLE. BMW HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN IN MARCH 2002 #34-001-02(012) BUT WILL NOT REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL.
WHILE GOING OVER A SERIES OF BUMPS, THE ABS SYSTEM IS CAUSING THE BRAKES TO RELEASE. THIS CAUSES AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE SITUATION. BMW HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS BRAKING SYSTEM, BUT REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ABS COMPONENTS UNTIL THEY FAIL. BY THEN I COULD BE KILLED. PLEASE HELP FORCE THE MANUFACTURER TO REPLACE…
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WHILE GOING OVER A SERIES OF BUMPS, THE ABS SYSTEM IS CAUSING THE BRAKES TO RELEASE. THIS CAUSES AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE SITUATION. BMW HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING THIS BRAKING SYSTEM, BUT REFUSED TO REPLACE THE ABS COMPONENTS UNTIL THEY FAIL. BY THEN I COULD BE KILLED. PLEASE HELP FORCE THE MANUFACTURER TO REPLACE THESE FAULTY BRAKE COMPONENTS FOR ALL AFFECTED R1150RT OWNERS.*AK
Official recalls
101V246000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Jul 31, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE LINE AND THE SPEEDOMETER DRIVE CABLE COULD BE TOO SMALL. DUE TO COMPRESSION AND REBOUND OF THE FORK, THE SPEEDOMETER CABLE COULD CONTACT AND CHAFE THE BRAKE LINE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF FRONT BRAKING CAPABILITY. IF THIS HAPPENED, DEPENDING ON TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND THE RIDER'S REACTIONS, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MEASURE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE FRONT BRAKE LINE AND SPEEDOMETER CABLE. THE BRAKE LINE WILL BE REPLACED IF THE DISTANCE TO THE SPEEDOMETER CABLE IS FOUND TO BE TOO SMALL OR IF IT IS DAMAGED. A NEW PROTECTIVE SLEEVE WILL BE INSTALLED IN THE SPEEDOMETER CABLE NEAR THE FRONT FENDER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 18, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117, OPTION #5.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE03054 · Fuel Line Leakage
Opened Dec 1, 2003 · Closed Jan 23, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
BMW IS CONDUCTING A RECALL (04V-028).AN INFORMATION REQUEST(IR)RESPONSE WAS NOT RECEIVED. UPON BMW'S RECEIPT OF THE IR, AND AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH ODI, BMWDETERMINED THAT A RECALL WAS NECESSARY. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE O-RING CONTAINED WITHIN THE FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLING COULD BECOME DAMAGED.FURTHER, THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM INVOLVING CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS, WHICH CAN ALSO RESULT IN A SMALL FUEL LEAK.DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY, ADJUST ALL CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS.ALSO ALL FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLINGS WILL BE INSPECTED.IF A LEAK IS DETECTED, THE QUICK-DISCONNECT O-RING WILL BE REPLACED.IF DAMAGED, THE COUPLING WILL BE REPLACED.OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2004.