The 1996 BMW R1100 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 2,000 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. A SHEET METAL PLATE MOUNTED TO THE FRONT OF THE FRAME BELOW THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER CAN CAUSE THE WIRING HARNESS TO BE STRETCHED TOO TIGHT AS THE HANDLEBARS ARE TURNED FULLY TO ONE SIDE. IN ADDITION, THE WIRING HARNESS IS ATTACHED TO ANOTHER HARNESS WITH A CABLE TIE THAT IS PLACED…
Consequence
THE HARNESS WIRES CAN BE DAMAGED OR COULD BREAK OR PULL OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. IF THE HARNESS WIRES WERE DAMAGED BUT NOT BROKEN OR DISCONNECTED, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COULD BE AFFECTED WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS BEING DRIVEN. HESITATION, MISFIRING, OR "CUTTING OUT" COULD OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE…
Remedy
DEALERS WILL RELOCATE THE WIRE TIE CONNECTING THE TWO WIRING HARNESSES TO A POINT FURTHER BACK FROM THE ORIGINAL LOCATION SO THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS HAS SUFFICIENT FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT. ALSO IF THE WIRING HARNESS IS FOUND TO BE DAMAGED, THE IGNITION SWITCH (WITH HARNESS) WILL BE REPLACED.
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
2
WHEELS:RIM
1
Total complaints3
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“The transmission jumps out of 3rd gear under acceleration and the clutch slips under load due to faulty input shaft seal, both components still function but present a danger while driving.nlm”
“The transmission jumps out of 3rd gear under acceleration and the clutch slips under load due to faulty input shaft seal, both components still function but present a danger while driving.nlm”
“Front alumini wheel which while driving over pot holes/road hazards, etc., wheel rim bend which may have caused a loss of control. Dealer said to put more air in the tire than specified, but the problem still exists. *ak”
Defect investigations
InvestigationSQ97022 Opened 1997-11-14 · closed 1997-12-31
STEERING LOCK/IGNITION SWITCH WIRING
BMW WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REMOVE THE SHEET METAL PLATE AND RELOCATE TWO WIRING HARNESSES SO THAT THE IGNITION WIRING HARNESS HAS SUFFICIENT FREEDOM OF MOVEMENT THROUGHOUT THE RANGE OF MOTION OF THE HANDLEBARS.WIRING HARNESSES FOUND DAMAGED, WILL BE REPLACED.NO FURTHER ACTION IS NECESSARY.THIS INVESTIGATION…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 BMW R1100 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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