NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1996–2001

BMW R 1100 RT recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 20 owner complaints for the BMW R 1100 RT, covering model years 1996 to 2001. The 1999 model year drew the most complaints (6), and Power Train is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your BMW R 1100 RT VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

1 recall campaign on file
20 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
5 model years with data (1996–2001)

most complaints: 1999 (6 for that model year)
top component: Power Train (9 complaints)
latest recall 95V202000 (reported Oct 19, 1995)

0 complaints reporting a crash (0.0%)
1 complaint reporting a fire (5.0%)
0 complaints reporting an injury (0.0%)
0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

BMW R 1100 RT complaints by model year

5 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 1999 model year has the most complaints: 6 of 20, or 30.0%. Next come 2000 (5) and 1996 (3). The fewest are for 2001, with 3 complaints.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years

BMW R 1100 RT complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

BMW R 1100 RT complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a fire
1996	3	0
1997	3	0
1999	6	0
2000	5	1
2001	3	0
All model years	20	1

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported BMW R 1100 RT components

top 10 · NHTSA categories

Power Train is the component named most often, in 9 complaints (45.0% of all 20), followed by Electrical System (2) and Fuel System, Gasoline (2).

Components named most often in BMW R 1100 RT complaints (top 10)

Components named most often in BMW R 1100 RT complaints (top 10)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Power Train	9	45.0%
Electrical System	2	10.0%
Fuel System, Gasoline	2	10.0%
Vehicle Speed Control	2	10.0%
Engine and Engine Cooling	1	5.0%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	1	5.0%
Steering	1	5.0%
Structure	1	5.0%
Suspension	1	5.0%
Visibility	1	5.0%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

BMW R 1100 RT recalls

1 campaign · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name R 1100 RT, newest first. The only campaign, 95V202000, covers model year 1996.

1 recall campaign

BMW R 1100 RT recall campaigns covering each model year
1996: 1 campaign

NHTSA campaign 95V202000
Reported Oct 19, 1995
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Model year 1996
The rear brake hose can contact the rear tire as the rear suspension moves through its range of travel.
Consequence:
The hose can abrade to the point where the hose will leak brake fluid, resulting in a loss of the rear brake. Also, brake fluid leaking onto the rear tire can impair the motorcycle's dynamic stability.
Remedy:
Dealers will modify the hose guide and re-route the rear brake hose to insure that it cannot contact the rear tire throughout the range of suspension travel.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means

What each recall field means
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.

Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

BMW R 1100 RT questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the BMW R 1100 RT have?

NHTSA lists 1 vehicle recall campaign for the BMW R 1100 RT, covering model years 1996 to 2001. The campaign, 95V202000, was reported on October 19, 1995 and is filed under “Service brakes, hydraulic”.

Which BMW R 1100 RT model year has the most complaints?

The 1999 model year, with 6 of the 20 complaints in NHTSA’s file (30.0%). The next are 2000 (5) and 1996 (3). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common BMW R 1100 RT complaint?

Power Train is the component named most often: 9 complaints, or 45.0% of all 20. Electrical System (2) and Fuel System, Gasoline (2) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my BMW R 1100 RT?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a BMW dealer.

How many BMW R 1100 RT complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 20 complaints, 0 report a crash, 1 a fire, 0 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

8 models · most complaints first

The BMW models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the BMW VIN decoder with every BMW model page, WMI code and VIN note.

BMW X5 1999–2026 · 103 recalls · 3,138 complaints
BMW 328i 1996–2016 · 27 recalls · 2,576 complaints
BMW X3 2004–2026 · 60 recalls · 1,989 complaints
BMW 325i 1995–2012 · 20 recalls · 1,281 complaints
BMW Z4 2002–2023 · 28 recalls · 1,280 complaints
BMW 3 Series 1995–2023 · 8 recalls · 841 complaints
BMW 528i 1997–2016 · 14 recalls · 831 complaints
BMW 330i 1999–2026 · 38 recalls · 813 complaints

All BMW models and WMI codes Look up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.