2002 BMW R1150GS Problems
- Complaints
- 21filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 25,310miles, 8 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2002 BMW R1150GS (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 21 consumer complaints for the 2002 BMW R1150GS. The part named most often is brakes, with 12 complaints (57% of the total), followed by fuel system (4) and transmission and drivetrain (4). 8 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 25,310 miles. Of all complaints, 1 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 4 technical service bulletins for this model year. Brakes complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign filed under the same part. Fuel system complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Brakes12 57%
- Fuel system4 19%
- Electrical system1 4.8%
- Seats1 4.8%
Example complaints
Brakes: “This 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.”
NHTSA complaint #10071616, filed 2004-06, 16,400 milesFuel system: “The contact owns a 2002 Bmw r1150ra (na). While driving 50-55 MPH, the contact smelled gas fumes and then noticed fuel leaking from the quick release mechanism. As of september 27, 2007, the dealer had not inspected the vehicle. The manufacturer stated that they would replace the quick release mechanism for free. The current and failure mileages were 8,000.”
NHTSA complaint #10204247, filed 2007-09, 8,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “My 2002 Bmw 1150gs motorcycle has only just over 41k miles on the odometer. These motorcycles are advertised to the public as able to drive forever across continents, but that is not the case. I was very surprised when it lost some internal gears last weekend and something let go in the gearbox when shifting between 5th and 6th under normal operating conditions. After regular maintenance, the transmission is no longer operational. Metal fragments came out of the transmission when drained of fluid. This is a total transmission failure and will need to be replaced. …”
NHTSA complaint #10456593, filed 2012-04, 41,034 milesMileage when problems were reported
100% of the 8 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 16,400 and 28,850 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Recalls and investigations
- 01V246000Jul 31, 2001Service brakes, hydraulicCovers: BMW R1150GS 2000–2002
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.
Recall details for the 2002 BMW R1150GS → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 4 on record; the latest 4 are shown.
- 10193504Sep 9, 2013Equipment. Leaks have been reported in fork legs. The cause is reported be from oil lubricating film with accompanying dirt/grease ring is incorrectly interpreted to be a leaking fork leg. Investigations have…
- 10037025Aug 1, 2010Exterior lighting. Bmw: procedure for determining and replacing incandescent and halogen light bulbs under warranty.
- 10033130Dec 1, 2009Fuel system. 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…
- 10030825Nov 1, 2007Fuel system, Other or unknown. 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…
Other model years of the BMW R1150GS
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 21 | 25,310 | 1 | — | — | — | Falling |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2002 BMW R1150GS have?
NHTSA recorded 21 consumer complaints for the 2002 BMW R1150GS as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2002 BMW R1150GS is reported most often?
Brakes is named most often, in 12 complaints (57% of the total), followed by fuel system with 4.
Has the 2002 BMW R1150GS been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 2002 BMW R1150GS reported?
Among the 8 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 25,310 miles and the middle half falls between 16,400 and 28,850 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.