AI Damage2001 BMW R1100 RT: common problems
Owners of the 2001 BMW R1100 RT filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and structure. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 33% of all complaints
- 2 Structure 33% of all complaints
- 3 Visibility 33% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Structure: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Visibility: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 3 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 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.
Re: bmw r1100r motorcycle, 2001 model: exhaust weld failure where canister attaches to frame r/r rear subframe. 2nd failure occurred at 35950 miles. The same weld failure occurred previously and rear subframe was replaced.
4/4/2002 - a similar vehicle driver was killed in a fire on I-880 north between montegue & great mall. I suspect this was cause of death. Dt
The mirror ball-joint and black plastic housing do not hold up to continuous vibration after heating up in the sun. I expect my replacement mirrors will fail within a matter of weeks, depending on summer heat. I sent an email to bmw and got a boiler-plate response to go through the dealer.
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 17,150 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 47% most complained about).
On average one model year of the R1100 RT has 4 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 3, below average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2001 BMW R1100 RT?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, structure, visibility. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (33%), vibration (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2001 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 2001 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 2001 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.