1996 BMW R1100RSL Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 1996 BMW R1100RSL, and owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
- 1994
- 1995
- 1996
1 safety recall for the 1996 BMW R1100RSL
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Gasoline (engine and engine cooling)
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.
Remedy: Owners will be sent a warning label for their motorcycle and an owner's manual insert.
7 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1996 BMW R1100RSL have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 29,000 miles. Complaints peaked in 2000 with 4 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Power train failure: the final drive bearings failed at about 29000 miles. The problem was noticed by me during the normal maintenance and fluid changes. There was considerable metal flakes in the fin”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 7, 2012 · Power train
“Complaint regarding ignition switch harness recall.*mr the primary owner had the motorcycle serviced for wiring harness per service bulletine #23815. The recall was designed to correct problems with t”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 20, 2003 · Electrical system
Compare BMW R1100RSL model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW R1100RSL model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 BMW R1100RSL | 1 | 2 |
| 1995 BMW R1100RSL | 1 | 4 |
| 1996 BMW R1100RSL | 1 | 7 |
Checking a specific 1996 BMW R1100RSL
How do I know if my 1996 BMW R1100RSL has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 1996 BMW R1100RSL; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 97V173000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other BMW models
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- 325I1,386 complaints
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- 3 Series843 complaints
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- 330I815 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.