BMW R1150 RT Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 23 consumer complaints across the 2 model years of the BMW R1150 RT (2003–2004) that have at least 5 complaints. 2004 has the most, with 18. Across all years, the part named most often is transmission and drivetrain (12 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All R1150 RT model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 18 | 33,095 | 1 | 5 | — | Falling |
| 2003 | 5 | 11,511 | 1 | 3 | — | Not enough data |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Transmission and drivetrain12 52%
- Fuel system5 22%
- Electrical system2 8.7%
- Tires1 4.3%
- Suspension1 4.3%
- Exterior lighting1 4.3%
- Brakes1 4.3%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2004: “The fuel pump on my 2004 r1150rt Bmw motorcycle failed while I was traveling home from work on an expressway in heavy traffic. I managed to get to the shoulder of the road, but was in danger because of the proximity of the passing high speed traffic. I backed the bike about 1/8 mile to the previous exit and pushed it to a gas station and called for a tow.”
NHTSA complaint #10235920, filed 2008-07, 68,900 miles2003: “2003 Bmw r 1150 rt motorcycle pulls to the right, I feel this is a safety hazard if you do not keep pressure to the left on the handle bars it will lean itself to the right and run off the road. Also it has excessive tire wear. I spoke with Bmw and they said this is a characteristic of these bikes.”
NHTSA complaint #10056427, filed 2004-02, 600 milesOther BMW models
3,165 complaintsBMW 328I
2,576 complaintsBMW X3
2,016 complaintsBMW 325I
1,377 complaintsBMW Z4
1,271 complaintsBMW 3 Series
832 complaintsBMW 528I
830 complaintsBMW 330I
813 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology