AI Damage1999 BMW R1100 RT: common problems
Owners of the 1999 BMW R1100 RT filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and steering. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 6
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 67% of all complaints
- 2 Steering 17% of all complaints
- 3 Suspension 17% of all complaints
- 4 Vehicle speed control 17% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 4 complaints (67% of all).
- Steering: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Suspension: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 1 complaints (17% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 6 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
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.
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.
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.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 13,278 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 36% most complained about).
On average one model year of the R1100 RT has 4 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 6, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1999 BMW R1100 RT?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, steering, suspension. Total complaints: 6. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: brake failure (33%), oil leak or consumption (17%), unintended acceleration (17%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 BMW R1100 RT?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1999 BMW R1100 RT from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1999 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.