AI Damage2004 BMW R1150R: common problems
Owners of the 2004 BMW R1150R filed 9 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and fuel/propulsion system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 9
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 56% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel/propulsion system 22% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 11% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 11% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 5 complaints (56% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 2 complaints (22% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (11% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (11% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 9 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 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 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.
The contact also noticed that the vehicle was on fire near the fuel pump. The vehicle was completely destroyed. There were no injuries. A police report was filed. The motorcycle failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure and current mileage was 2,500.
I tried 3 new o rings, a used fuel pump base plate assembly and was still experiencing a light weeping, there was also indications of long term weeping that had discolored the paint.
While the vehicle was at a traffic light the contact noticed fuel leaking from the fuel lines quick disconnect. The contact stopped the vehicle in the emergency lane and installed a brass clamp in the fuel line to stop the leak.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 bmw r1150(n/a). The contact took the motorcycle in for service, the dealer informed him that the abs unit was inoperable and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer had not been notified and the vehicle had not been repaired. The current and failure mileages were 8,700.
The contact stated that the vehicle was in first gear and when the speed increase to 40 mph there was a grinding noise when he shifted into second gear to accelerate. The contact tried to shift and back up, but the grinding noise continued.
I could only find the leak when the key was on and the fuel pump forcing fuel through lines behind the shield. I removed the shield and found one quick disconnect separated. I attempted to connect it but soon realized it was broken.
Luckily no fire ensued but the bike and I were covered in raw gas. I had a flat bed tow truck transport the bike to a local bmw dealer the following day. Repairs were made and I was charged $102 for the replacement of the quick disconnect. The dealer informed me this is a "common" issue with this bike.
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 11,368 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 31% most complained about).
On average one model year of the R1150R has 5 complaints (3 years in the data). This year has 9, above average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2004 BMW R1150R?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, fuel/propulsion system, powertrain. Total complaints: 9. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (44%), smoke, burning smell, fire (22%), knocking, grinding or other noise (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 BMW R1150R?
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 2004 BMW R1150R 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 2004 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 2026-11-06.