Complaints over time
Complaints about the 2003 BMW R Model peaked in 2004, with 3 filed
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Model year
2003 BMW R Model
Motorcycle, gasoline, built in Germany. Owner complaints on file from Jan 28, 2004 to Jul 9, 2004.
Recall campaigns covering this model year17,000 vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints31.5 times the median 2003 motorcycle
Severity index0.02003 motorcycles average 7.3
First 24 months3Complaints in its first two years
Components
67% of complaints about the 2003 BMW R Model name visibility and wipers
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls
One recall campaign covers the 2003 BMW R Model
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 03V-483 | Nov 25, 2003 | On certain motorcycles, the electrical wiring for the oxygen sensor and the ignition lead for the right-hand secondary spark plug have a parallel… | Electrical system | 7,000 | Repair or modification |
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints
What owners reported about the 2003 BMW R Model
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
3 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.
- Filed Jul 9, 2004Failure Jul 2, 20048,362 milesRussiaville, INCables
RIDING MOTOROCYCLE DOWN ROAD, LET OFF THROTTLE. DIGITAL THROTTLE STUCK AT 2100 RPM ALMOST CAUSING ME TO RUN A STOP SIGN AND MOVE INTO THE PATH OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST OCCUERENCE OF THIS I EVEN HAVE VIDEO OF THIS MACHINE WITH THE THROTTLE STUCK SITTING IN A DRIVE WAY. OTHER BIKES ARE SEEING THE SAME THING. SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN HUMIDITY GETS HIGH. DEALER CAN'T FIXIT IF THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE. MANAUFACTURER DOES NOT HAVE ANY RECORDING DEVICE TO RECORD WHAT THE ONBOARD COMPUTER IS SEEING. SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET HURT.*AK
NHTSA complaint 10080691 - Filed Mar 24, 2004Failure Mar 24, 2004West Islip, NYExterior
2003 BMW R1200CLC MOTORCYCLE-SIDE VIEW MIRRORS DO NOT ADJUST OUT FAR ENOUGH TO PROVIDE PROPER SIDE AND REAR VISIBILITY. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE RIDER NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE OTHER VEHICLES AND COULD BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO AN ACCIDENT. *JB
NHTSA complaint 10063810 - Filed Jan 28, 2004Failure Jan 28, 2004Newark, DERearview mirrors/devices
THE 2003 BMW R1200CLC MOTORCYCLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH FUNCTIONING REAR VIEW MIRRORS.TWO MIRRORS ARE PROVIDED, BUT THEY ARE LOCATED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S HAND GRIPS. THEREFORE, THESE MIRRORS ONLY SHOW THE RIDER'S HANDS AND FOREARMS. WHEN ADJUSTED TO THE CENTER POSITION, BOTH MIRRORS FOCUS ON THE RIDER'S STOMACH. WHEN TILTED AS FAR INWARD AS THEY WILL GO, THE RIGHT MIRROR SHOWS THE RIDER'S LEFT SHOULDER, AND THE LEFT MIRROR SHOWS HIS RIGHT. WHEN TILTED AS FAR OUTWARD AS THEY WILL GO, EACH MIRROR SHOWS THE RIDER'S NEAREST WRIST AND FOREARM. THUS, NOT ONLY ARE THESE MIRRORS INCAPABLE OF VIEWING THE LANE BEHIND, THEY CANNOT BE ADJUSTED TO VIEW THE ADJACENT LANES. THIS DESIGN DEFECT RESULTS IN A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHERE THE RIDER IS CHRONICALLY UNAWARE OF FOLLOWING TRAFFIC. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANOTHER VEHICLE OF ANY KIND WHICH WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A REAR VIEW MIRROR WHICH PROVIDES A VIEW TO THE REAR, AND I AM WILLING TO BET THAT A MIRROR IN WHICH THE DRIVER CAN LOOK BACK IS REQUIRED EQUIPMENT.PLEASE ADVISE BMW TO RECTIFY THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED FROM BEHIND.*AK
NHTSA complaint 10055108
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations
NHTSA has not opened an investigation on this model year
Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins
3 manufacturer communications cover this model year
Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.
- SIB-63-02-01 Aug 1, 2010 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
BMW: PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING AND REPLACING INCANDESCENT AND HALOGEN LIGHT BULBS UNDER WARRANTY. *RM - SIB-16-02-09 Dec 1, 2009 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
BMW VEHICLES: FUEL LEVEL SENSOR REPAIRS. WHERE IT IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT SIDE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR DUE TO A FAILURE, THE ENTIRE PUMP AND HOUSING OR DELIVERY UNIT (SUCTION JET ASSEMBLY) DO NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. IN SOME CASES… - SB-00-021-07 Nov 1, 2007 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
BMW MOTORCYCLE: ENGINE FUELS CONTAINING ETHANOL. BMW MOTORRAD HAS NO OBJECTION TO THE USE OF SI ENGINE FUELS CONTAINING UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 10% ETHANOL AND IMPOSES NO WARRANTY RESTRICTIONS. ETHANOL MIXTURES IN PROPORTIONS HIGHER THAN 10% CAN HAVE AN ADVER…
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.