NHTSA Complaint #11210442 — 2008 BMW F 800 ST

THE REAR WHEEL BEARING ON THE 2006-2009 F8000ST IS A KNOWN FAILURE ITEM. BMWNA ISSUED A RECALL. SEE: 13V549. UNFORTUNATELY, THE RECALL DOES NOT CONTAIN THE PROBLEM. THE RECALL REQUIRES BMW TO INSPECT THE DRIVE AXLE AND IF THE VEHICLE DOESN'T EXHIBIT ANY SYMPTOMS, THE RECALL IS MARKED AS COMPLETE. THIS IS A SINGLE INSPECTION. IF THE BIKE HAS 8 MILES ON IT WHEN THE INSPECTION IS PERFORMED AND NO ISSUE IS FOUND, THE RECALL IS MARKED AS COMPLETE. IF THE BIKE HAS 100,000 MILES ON IT, AND NO DAMAGE IS FOUND, THE RECALL IS MARKED COMPLETE. IF THE BIKE HAS 100,000 MILES ON IT AND DAMAGE IS FOUND, BMW WILL REPLACE THE AXLE ASSEMBLY ONLY IF AN INSPECTION HAD NOT BEEN DONE PREVIOUSLY. IN OTHER WORDS, IT IS IN BMW'S INTEREST TO INSPECT BIKES AND PERFORM THEIR "INSPECTION" AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO THAT THEY ARE NOT OBLIGATED TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THIS FAILURE IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD. THE REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILING CAN CAUSE THE WHEEL TO SEIZE WHILE RIDING WHICH CAN CAUSE THE OPERATOR TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. BMW HAS TOLD ME SPECIFICALLY THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE. HOWEVER, BECAUSE THE INSPECTION WAS DONE PREVIOUSLY AS PART OF THE RECALL, THEY ARE UNWILLING TO COVER THE REPAIR COSTS.