NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1995–1996

BMW R1100RSL recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 11 owner complaints for the BMW R1100RSL, covering model years 1995 to 1996. The 1996 model year drew the most complaints (7), and Power Train is the component owners name most often.

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

Decode your BMW R1100RSL VIN

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

1 recall campaign on file
11 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
2 model years with data (1995–1996)

most complaints: 1996 (7 for that model year)
top component: Power Train (6 complaints)
latest recall 97V173000 (reported Oct 8, 1997)

1 complaint reporting a crash (9.1%)
0 complaints reporting a fire (0.0%)
1 complaint reporting an injury (9.1%)
0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

BMW R1100RSL complaints by model year

2 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 1996 model year has the most complaints: 7 of 11, or 63.6%. Next come 1995 (4).

BMW R1100RSL complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

BMW R1100RSL complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a crash	Reporting an injury
1995	4	0	0
1996	7	1	1
All model years	11	1	1

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

Most-reported BMW R1100RSL components

top 4 · NHTSA categories

Power Train is the component named most often, in 6 complaints (54.5% of all 11), followed by Electrical System (2) and Wheels (2).

Components named most often in BMW R1100RSL complaints (top 4)

Components named most often in BMW R1100RSL complaints (top 4)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Power Train	6	54.5%
Electrical System	2	18.2%
Wheels	2	18.2%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	1	9.1%

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 R1100RSL recalls

1 campaign · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name R1100RSL, newest first. The only campaign, 97V173000, covers model years 1995 and 1996.

1 recall campaign

BMW R1100RSL recall campaigns covering each model year
1995: 1 campaign	1996: 1 campaign

NHTSA campaign 97V173000
Reported Oct 8, 1997
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Model years 1995–1996
Vehicle description: motorcycles. The owner's manual warns the rider not to leave the engine running unnecessarily when the motorcycle is stationary and to ride off immediately after starting.
Consequence:
If this warning is ignored and the engine is left running at an increased speed above idle while the motorcycle is at a standstill with the air stream required for cooling missing, the exhaust system temperature will rise considerable increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy:
Owners will be sent a warning label for their motorcycle and an owner's manual insert.
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 R1100RSL questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the BMW R1100RSL have?

NHTSA lists 1 vehicle recall campaign for the BMW R1100RSL, covering model years 1995 to 1996. The campaign, 97V173000, was reported on October 8, 1997 and is filed under “Engine and engine cooling”. The 1995 and 1996 model years are covered by the most campaigns (1 each).

Which BMW R1100RSL model year has the most complaints?

The 1996 model year, with 7 of the 11 complaints in NHTSA’s file (63.6%). The next is 1995 (4). 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 R1100RSL complaint?

Power Train is the component named most often: 6 complaints, or 54.5% of all 11. Electrical System (2) and Wheels (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 R1100RSL?

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 R1100RSL complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 11 complaints, 1 report a crash, 0 a fire, 1 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.