Model year record
1999 BMW R 1100 RT recalls & problems
The 1999 BMW R 1100 RT has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 6 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is power train (4 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1999 BMW R 1100 RT.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Power trainDriveline › Driveshaft; Manual transmission | 4 | 54,750 mi |
| SteeringLinkages | 1 | — |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | — |
| SuspensionRear | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Power train
THE PURPOSE OF THIS CORRESPONDENCE IS TO REPORT TO THE NHTSA MY EXPERIENCE WITH A DEFECTIVE FINAL DRIVE ON MY BMW MOTORCYCLE. INVESTIGATION DP12001 WAS OPENED ON 01/20/12, AND I REALIZE THAT FOR NOW, ITS SCOPE IS BEING CONFINED TO 1999-2005 K1200LT MODELS OF THE BMW MOTORCYCLE LINE. HOWEVER MY BIKE, A 1999 R1100RT, HAS EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. ON THE 11TH OF OCTOBER 2011 I WAS RIDING WITH MY WIFE WHEN WE NOTICED A RUMBLING AND THE BIKE WAS SEVERELY SHAKING. MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS A FLAT TIRE BUT MY REAR BRAKE DID NOT WORK AND WHEN I FINALLY STOPPED, BY USE OF THE FRONT BRAKE, THERE WAS LOTS OF OIL LEAKING FROM THE FINAL DRIVE OF MY BIKE. ONCE IN THE SHOP I WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE FOR…
- Power train › Driveline
I OWN A 1999 BMW R1100RT MOTORCYCLE. I WAS RIDING HOME AND NOTICE THAT MY REAR BRAKE DID NOT WORK, AS I TURNED ONTO MY HOME STREET. WHEN I PARKED THE VEHICLE, I NOTICE A PUDDLE OF OIL QUICKLY FORMING UNDER THE SHAFT DRIVE AND ONTO THE REAR WHEEL. THIS LEAK STARTED ON THE HIGHWAY, AND COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT AND INJURY. UPON FURTHER DISASSEMBLY AND INSPECTION I FOUND THE OIL SEAL HAD BEEN DAMAGED AND RIPPED BY A BEARING FAILURE IN THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH BMW MOTORCYCLES, AND CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO POOR ASSEMBLY AND QUALITY CONTROL AT THE FACTORY. THE BEARING FAILURE DESTROYS THE OIL SEAL, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE WHEEL, TIRE, AND BRAKE SYSTEM.…
- Suspension › Rear
THE REAR DRIVE BEARING FAILED ON MY MOTORCYCLE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, WHO KNOWS HOW SERIOUS IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. *NM
- Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft
1)EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: NONE I'M AWARE OF. VEHICLE HAD 85,000 MILES. 2)FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES: THE 1999 BMW R1100RT MOTORCYCLE HAS A CANTILEVERED REAR SWINGARM, WHICH IS TO SAY THAT THE REAR WHEEL IS SUPPORTED ONLY FROM ONE SIDE. THE WHEEL BEARING IS INTEGRAL TO THE DRIVETRAIN; MISALIGNMENT OF DRIVETRAIN COMPONENTS DUE TO WHEEL BEARING FAILURE CAN CAUSE DRIVELINE LOCK UP, RESULTING IN LOSS OF MOTORCYCLE CONTROL AND A POTENTIALLY FATAL CRASH. I HAVE NOT CONFIRMED THE NECESSARY DIMENSIONS, BUT IF THE BEARING IS DAMAGED BADLY ENOUGH, IT'S POSSIBLE THAT THE REAR WHEEL MAY DETACH COMPLETELY FROM THE REST OF THE MOTORCYCLE. RELATIVELY MINOR MISALIGNMENT OF PARTS DUE TO BEARING…
- Vehicle speed control
ENGINE SURGE (CYCLING FROM HIGH TO LOW RPM'S WITHOUT THROTTLE INPUT) JEOPARDIZES CONTROL, ESPECIALLY IN CORNERING SITUATIONS. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT AND WAS ABLE TO HAVE THIS SITUATION CORRECTED BY MY DEALER MECHANIC, ALONG WITH THE USE OF AFTERMARKET SPARK PLUGS. BMW'S OFFICIAL POSITION IS APPARENTLY THAT SURGING IS NOT A PROBLEM IN R1100 ENGINES, THOUGH IT IS FREQUENTLY REPORTED TO THE COMPANY. *AK
- Steering › Linkages
NO SUMMARY
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.