The defect
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 TOO FAR FORWARD LIMITING THE HANDLEBAR MOVEMENT.
The risk
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 CRASH.
The 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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| BMW R1100 | 1995, 1996, 1997 |
| BMW R850 | 1996, 1997 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW R1100 | 1995 | 2 | 1 |
| BMW R1100 | 1996 | 2 | 1 |
| BMW R1100 | 1997 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW R850 | 1996 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW R850 | 1997 | 1 | 1 |
Other electrical system recalls in 1997
22 of the 268 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1997 concerned the electrical system; BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE filed 145 campaigns in all.
| 97V230000 15 Dec 1997 | YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION, USA |
| 97V208001 25 Nov 1997 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 97V208002 25 Nov 1997 | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED |
| 97V215000 24 Nov 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V213000 20 Nov 1997 | TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD. |
| 97V184001 29 Oct 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V184002 28 Oct 1997 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 97V182000 21 Oct 1997 | ROLLS-ROYCE MOTORS, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1997