BMW R 1200 GS Complaints (2008)

50 consumer complaints on file.

#10595133May 30, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I WAS RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE SUDDENLY STALLED. IT WAS A SCARY MOMENT SINCE I NOTICED THE VEHICLES BEHIND ME SLAMMING THERE BRAKES, TRYING TO AVOID HITTING ME!. THE FUEL LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND WARNING (YELLOW TRIANGLE) ON. I CALLED MY BMW DEALER FOR REPAIR APPOINTMENT AND THE TECH. SAID THAT IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS MODELS WITH A FUEL SENSOR FAILURE AND IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY BY BMW. AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL BMW OWNERS AND READING SOME FORUMS, I LEARNED THAT THIS MODEL EQUIPPED WITH A FUEL SENSOR STRIP THAT HAPPENS TO FAIL OFTEN. SOME R1200GS OWNERS HAD TO CHANGE IT 3-7 TIMES, BUT BMW OF NORTH AMERICA WANT ADMIT THERE FAULTY PART!. HOPE YOU CAN GET INVOLVED IN THIS HIGH RISK MATTER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10593632May 23, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
RUNNING OUT OF GAS DUE TO FAULTY FUEL STRIP SENSOR WHICH PREVENTS DETERMINING FUEL LEVEL IN GAS TANK. DANGER IS BEING REAR ENDED BY ON COMING VEHICLES. THIS IS THE 7TH BMW FUEL SENSOR STRIP THAT HAS FAILED FOR MY WIFE AND I IN THE YEARS FROM 2005 TO 2014. THERE HAVE BEEN 2 ON TWO 2005 K1200SES, 1 ON A 2006 K1200S, 3 ON TWO 2008 K1200SES, AND 1 ON A 2008 R1200GS FUEL LEVEL STRIPS THAT HAVE FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588000May 13, 2014
POWER TRAIN
WHILE TRAVELING DOWN A FREEWAY A SLIGHT VIBRATION WAS FELT WHEN THE SUSPENSION UNLOADED. THE VIBRATION SUDDENLY TURNED IN TO A BUCKING FROM THE BIKE'S REAR AND THE DRIVE SHAFT FROZE, LOCKING THE REAR WHEEL. SMALL FLAMES WERE NOTICED FROM THE FORWARD SWING ARM BOOT WHICH SELF EXTINGUISHED. INSPECTION SHOWED THE FORWARD UNIVERSAL JOINT FAILED AND THE ROTATING DRIVE SHAFT TORE THE SWING ARM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587579May 10, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
ENGINE STOPPED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING. DROPPED BIKE. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10585138April 27, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL LEVEL SENSOR INDICATOR FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THIS HAPPENS ON ALL OF THESE MODELS BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL OR EVEN AN ACCEPTABLE FIX FROM BMW. WE ARE ADVISED TO USE OUR ODOMETER AND IGNORE WARNING LIGHTS ON OUR DASHBOARDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10584035April 21, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ABS SYSTEM FAILED- REQUIRED THE PURCHASE OF $2500 NEW ABS PUMP CONTROL MODULE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560047January 15, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR SHOWED EMPTY AFTER REFILLING. FLASHING LIGHTS INDICATING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. FILLED UP WITH 1/2 GALLON OF 91 OCTANE GASOLINE TO VISIBLE FULL IN TANK. THE TANK WAS NOT EMPTY, FAULTY FUEL LEVEL GAUGE/STRIP. THIS ITEM HAS BEEN REPLACED IN THE PAST WITH NO APPARENT PERMANENT FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10554036November 27, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I SMELLED GAS AND FOUND GAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL PUMP ATTACHED TO THE GAS TANK. I FOUND CRACKS ON THE PERIPHERY OF THE FUEL QUICK-DISCONNECT PORT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552598November 17, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
ARBITRARY FAILURE OF THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR. IT OCCURRED AT 2,200 MILES. OPERATION OF THE MOTORCYCLE WAS UNINHIBITED EXCEPT FOR A FALSE READING ON THE FUEL GAUGE. AFTER THE FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT OF THE RECALLED FUEL PUMP CONTROLLER, THE FUEL GAUGE READS EMPTY REGARDLESS OF LEVEL. THIS RESULTS IN A CONSTANT WARNING LIGHT THAT CANNOT BE RESET OR TURNED OFF. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED AND A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS TYPE OF FUEL SENSOR IN THESE MOTORCYCLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10547946October 15, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW R1200 GS ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP ELECTRONICS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,300.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10543701September 15, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LEAK AT HOSE CONNECTION TO FUEL PUMP HOUSING. PLASTIC FITTING CRACKED AND CRACKS IN BOSS ON FUEL PUMP HOUSING. NOTICED FUEL PUDDLE ON FLOOR WHILE MOTORCYCLE WAS IDLING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10536724August 22, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL TANK IS LEAKING AT THE PLASTIC FLANGES WHERE THE FUEL PUMP RESIDES. THIS APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL YEAR AND OTHERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10535147August 13, 2013
POWER TRAIN
WHILE RIDING DOWN THE FREEWAY AN ODD VIBRATION IN THE BIKE OCCURRED WHEN THE SUSPENSION UNLOADED. ABOUT A HALF MILE LATER THE REAR WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE BIKE TO JERK VIOLENTLY. IMMEDIATELY PULLING IN THE CLUTCH ALLOWED ME TO COAST TO THE SIDE. SMOKE WAS COMING OUT THROUGH THE TWO SWING ARM JOINT BOOTS. THE LOWER U-JOINT OF THE DRIVE SHAFT SEIZED AND BROKE DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A NON-MAINTAINABLE SEALED BEARING. THE DRIVESHAFT IS LOCATED IN THE SWINGARM AND THE FLAILING DRIVESHAFT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THAT PART AS WELL. THE REPAIRS INCLUDED REPLACING THE DRIVE SHAFT, SWINGARM AND BOOTS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10532737July 30, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FIRST, MY MOTORCYCLE IS TITLED A 2009 BUT MANUFACTURED IN 2008. THE FLANGE WHERE THE FEMALE FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT CRACKED (ON THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES OF THE FUEL TANK) AND THERE WAS A SLIGHT SMELL OF FUEL. ONE OF THE MALE PLASTIC QUICK DISCONNECT BROKE WHEN I WAS MAKING THE REPAIR. I ORDERED, RECEIVED AND INSTALLED METAL QUICK-DISCONNECTS AND REPAIRED THE CRACKED FLANGE ITSELF WITH PARTS ORDERED FROM BEEMER BONEYARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10523549July 7, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE CRUISING AT MODERATE SPEED ON PAVED SURFACE ROAD FIRST NOTICED STRONG GASOLINE SMELL, FOLLOWED IN FEW MINUTES BY SOAKING OF THE LEFT LEG OF THE PANTS WITH GASOLINE, AND THEN OBSERVED GASOLINE DRIPPING ON THE LEFT CYLINDER HEAD. STOPPED, REMOVED LEFT SIDED COWLING TO INSPECT FUEL LINES AND NOTED STEADY STREAM OF FUEL LEAKING FROM FUEL PUMP HOUSING WHEN ENGINE RUNNING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10503488March 18, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW R1200 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS APPROXIMATELY 26,200. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10490417December 28, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE RIDING WITH PRETEEN SON ON THE PASSENGER SEAT, GAS FUMES BECAME APPARENT. UPON INSPECTION FOUND THE TOP OF THE RIDERS RIGHT FUEL PUMP WAS LEAKING FUEL VIA SEVERAL CRACKS THUS ALLOWING FUEL TO ESCAPE AND BECOME A HAZARD. THE FOLLOWING HAS ALREADY BEEN SUBMITTED TO YOU BUT IT EXPLAINS THE ISSUES WITH THIS FAULTY FUEL PUMP BETTER THAN I COULD FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL QUICK DISCONNECT REINFORCEMENT FLANGE CRACKS UNDER HIGH PRESSURE CYCLING AND LEAKS, SENDING RAW FUEL DOWN THE LEFT FAIRING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE VEHICLES LEFT EXHAUST PIPE AND IGNITION SYSTEM COMPONENTS. CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE THE COMBINATION OF HIGH FUEL PRESSURE AND NEGLIGENT DESIGN CREATE SUBSTANTIAL RISK FOR RIDERS OF THE IMPACTED VEHICLES. THERE ARE MULTIPLE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS FAILURE, A FEW OF WHICH ARE OUTLINED BELOW: 1. RIDERS BECOME FUEL SOAKED AS FUEL LEAKS DOWN THE LEFT FAIRING AND THEN IS FORCED BY FAIRING AIRFLOW DYNAMICS ON TO THE RIDERS LEFT LEG. 2. FUEL VAPORS, CAPTURED BY THE FAIRING AND HEATED BY THE EXHAUST PIPE BECOME EXTREMELY VOLATILE AND COULD LEAD TO A FIRE AND/OR EXPLOSION. 3. FUEL VAPORS RISING FROM THE FAIRING AND EXITING THE TOP OF THE FAIRING BETWEEN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND FUEL TANK, ARE BLOWN BY AIRFLOW INTO THE RIDERS FACE. PRELIMINARY ANALYSIS EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY SUGGESTS THAT THE HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL QUICK DISCONNECT REINFORCEMENT FLANGE WAS INADEQUATELY DESIGNED FOR THE FUEL PUMP OUTLET PRESSURES. BMW'S CHOICE OF A NON-METALLIC (COMPOSITE) PUMP HOUSING COMBINED WITH A COMPOSITE HIGH-PRESSURE DISCONNECT FITTING WAS UNWISE AND THE FAILURE MECHANISM IS OBVIOUS. HIGH PUMP PRESSURE EXPANDS THE COMPOSITE HIGH-PRESSURE FITTING CAUSING IT TO READILY LOAD THE FUEL PUMP HIGH-PRESSURE QUICK DISCONNECT FLANGE. OVER TIME, PRESSURE CYCLING CAUSES THE QUICK DISCONNECT REINFORCEMENT FLANGE TO CRACK ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10487932December 11, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL PUMP FLANGE, A PLASTIC PART, ON THE GASOLINE TANK, HAD A NUMBER OF CRACKS. I FOUND THE PROBLEM THROUGH DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER MOTORCYCLISTS. I FEEL THAT IF I HAD NOT CHECKED FOR THE KNOWN PROBLEM (AMONG THE BMW MOTORCYCLING COMMUNITY) FUEL WOULD HAVE LEAKED AND POSED A SERIOUS FIRE PROBLEM AND POSSIBLE INJURY TO MYSELF, POSSIBLY FATAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10480870October 17, 2012
POWER TRAIN
RIGHT ANGLE TRANSMISSION(FINAL DRIVE) BEARINGS FAILED REQUIRING A $2200 REPAIR. POOR DESIGN. ORIGINAL PART NOT AVAILABLE, FIRST MODIFICATION PART NOT AVAILABLE, SECOND MODIFICATION PART REQUIRED TO REPAIR MOTORCYCLE. BMW IS AWARE OF THE DEFECTIVE INADEQUATE PART DESIGN. FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEED WOULD MOST LIKELY BE FATAL. NEW PART NUMBER 01 33 11 7 726 889 RIGHT-ANGLE GEARBOX WITH VENT, *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10471518August 20, 2012
POWER TRAIN, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW R1200 GS MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT AND DRIVE SHAFT WERE LEAKING A SMALL AMOUNT OF OIL. THE REAR WHEEL BEGAN TO WOBBLE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED ONE WHEEL BEARING AND THE SEAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY REPLACED THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT AND THE DRIVE SHAFT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,700. UPDATED 09/11/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN ODOR OF FUEL. THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL PUMP AND RELAY WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 09/11/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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