BMW R 1200 RT Complaints
270 consumer complaints on file.
- #10415334July 27, 2011POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW R1200 RT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR WHEEL LOCKED ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD EXPLODED. THE PARA LEVER AND BOOT WERE DESTROYED. BOTH WERE ATTACHED TO THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE, SIMILAR TO HOW THE AXLE IS ATTACHED TO A PASSENGER VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THEY HAD NEVER SEEN A DRIVE SHAFT FAILURE SUCH AS THE ONE THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED ON A MOTORCYCLE. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT WITH THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 36,838. UPDATED 08/24/11*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS SEVERE VIBRATION AT 75MPH FOR 1-2 SECONDS. A FEW MILES LATER THERE WAS VIBRATION AND LOSS OF POWER. UPDATED 06/15/2012 *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10407064June 16, 2011POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
FAILURE OF DRIVE CROWN BEARING IN FINAL DRIVE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10399489May 8, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE FUEL SENSOR ON MY 2007 BMW R 1200 RT FAILED WHILE I WAS RIDING IT CAUSING THE FUEL GAUGE TO READ EMPTY. THIS COULD CAUSE A PERSON TO RUN OUT OF GAS AT ANYTIME. THIS HAS OCCURRED TO NUMEROUS OTHER BMW R BIKES AND IS A PROBLEM BMW IS WELL AWARE OF. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10399423May 7, 2011FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHEN I PARKED AFTER A RIDE I SMELLED FUEL AND HAD SOME DRIPPING ON THE FLOOR FROM THE LH FAIRING. PULLED THE COWLING AND FOUND THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING FULL OF FUEL. CLEANED IT UP AND PUT POWER TO IT AND FOUND THE FLANGE, BELOW THE QUICK DISCONNECT FITTING, CRACKED IN 3 PLACES. THIS AREA HAS NEVER BEEN TOUCHED SINCE BUILT. MY SHOP AND FORUM SEARCHES INDICATE THIS IS A RELATIVELY COMMON PROBLEM. THE POTENTIAL FOR FIRE WAS HIGH. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10381635February 11, 2011POWER TRAIN
I WAS NOT EXPERIENCING ANY PROBLEMS. I TOOK OF THE REAR TIRE OFF TO CHANGE THE REAR ROTOR. I NOTICED CRACKS ON THE FLANGE. THE FLANGE HOLDS ON THE REAR TIRE. WOW IM GLAD I SAW THE CRACKS. TWO OF THE FIVE BOLTS WERE VERY LOOSE DUE TO THE CRACKS. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE BMW R1200. AND YET BMW WILL NOT RECOGNIZED IT! THERE ARE PHOTO ON THE INTERNET WERE THE BOLT HAVE COME OFF AND THE FLANGE FAILS. I AM VERY LUCK I CAUGHT THIS. IF THE TIRE CAME OF WHILE I WAS MOVING I WOULD HAVE BEEN HURT OR KILL !!!! THE BMW DEALER ACTED AS IF IT WAS NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL BMW R1200 FLANGE. IT ONLY A MATTER OF TIME FOR SOMEONE TO DIES. NO FAULTIES HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED. BUT WHO WOULD KNOW TO LOOK AT THE FLANGE TO SEE IF IT FAILED WHEN THERE IS DEATH ON A BMW. THIS IS UNSATISFACTORY!! I AM WAITING ON THE PART. I WILL COST $265.00 AND $80.00 FOR LABOR. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10379234January 26, 2011SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, POWER TRAIN
FINAL DRIVE ON MOTORCYCLE LEAKING OIL ONTO BRAKE ROTOR AND PADS. IF I DID NOT STOP THE REAR DRIVE WOULD HAVE FAILED CAUSING POSSIBLE LOCKUP OF REAR WHEEL AND LOSS OF CONTROL
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10360679October 15, 2010STRUCTURE:MOTORCYCLE:KICKSTAND/CENTER STAND, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
SIDE STAND INTERLOCK SWITCH FAILURE ON A 2009 BMW R1200RT MOTORCYCLE. THE SWITCH IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE MOTORCYCLE FROM BEING DRIVEN WITH THE SIDE STAND IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE SWITCH ON MY MACHINE FAILED WITH THE SIDE STAND IN THE UP POSITION AND THE MOTORCYCLE BEING DRIVEN DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH. WHEN THE SWITCH FAILED THE MOTOR STOPPED RUNNING, WHICH CAUSED THE REAR WHEEL TO SKID. I WAS ABLE TO PULL IN THE CLUTCH TO GET OUT OF THE REAR WHEEL SKID AND STEER THE MACHINE OFF THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO BY-PASS THE INTERLOCK SWITCH IN ORDER TO START THE MACHINE AND RIDE IT HOME. THE ONLY REPAIR WOULD BE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS THAT ONCE THE MACHINE IS IN GEAR AND MOVING DOWN THE ROAD THE FAILURE OF THIS SWITCH SHOULD NOT CAUSE THE MOTOR OF THE MOTORCYCLE TO STOP UNEXPECTEDLY. THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER COULD LEAD TO INJURY OR DEATH. IF THE SWITCH FAILS WHILE THE MACHINE IS BEING DRIVEN DOWN THE ROAD IT NEEDS TO ALERT THE RIDER OF A FAULT BUT NOT STOP THE MOTOR. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED TO ME AT 60 MPH I MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FILE THIS REPORT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10356151September 17, 2010SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW R1200 RT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DOWN SHIFT BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE UNTIL THE CONTACT BEGAN TO REPEATEDLY APPLY PRESSURE TO THE CLUTCH. AS THE CONTACT WAS MOVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE ROADWAY, IT STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE AND AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT EITHER THE MASTER CYLINDER OR THE SLAY CYLINDER WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,400.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10356156September 17, 2010FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW R1200 RT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMALLY OVERPOWERING ODOR OF GASOLINE FROM THE EXTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SHUT OFF WHEN HE NOTICED THE ODOR. THE ODOR WAS ALSO PRESENT WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE CONTACT LATER DISCOVERED A PUDDLE OF GASOLINE ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE A LEAK IN THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CONTACT MADE REPAIRS TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 77,400.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10345022July 24, 2010POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE, WHEELS
2007 BMW R1200RT MOTORCYCLE WITH 34,900 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. THE REAR WHEEL FLANGE HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT OF THE FINAL DRIVE, WHICH CAUSED THE REAR WHEEL THE ABILITY TO MOVE SIDE TO SIDE APPROXIMATELY ONE QUARTER OF AN INCH WHEN DISCOVERED. THE WHEEL FLANGE HAD EITHER BEEN IMPROPERLY FITTED, OR THE WHEEL FLANGE OR OUTPUT SHAFT HAD BEEN MACHINED INCORRECTLY CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR. IF LEFT UNDETECTED, THE WHEEL FLANGE WOULD HAVE EVENTUALLY COME LOOSE FROM THE SHAFT AND THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK, RESULTING IN AN UNCONTROLLABLE SITUATION. ANECDOTAL INFORMATION INDICATES THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE ON 2005 THROUGH 2007 BMW MOTORCYCLES. BMW REPLACED THE COMPLETE FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY, BUT REQUIRED ME TO PAY 25% OF THE PARTS COST, AND 100% OF THE LABOR. THE NEW ASSEMBLY IS PURPORTED TO BE AN UPDATED PART, ADDRESSING THE FAILURES OF EARLIER UNITS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10334368June 2, 2010ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2008 BMW R1200RT (MOTORCYCLE) ENGINE STALLS WHILE IN OPERATION. THIS OCCURRED 3 OCCASIONS DURING A COMMUTE. FIRST STALL AFTER ACCELERATION. RESTARTED ENGINE. APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE DOWN THE ROAD TRAVELING 45 MPH SECOND ENGINE STALL OCCURS. RESTARTED ENGINE.. THIRD ENGINE STALLS OCCURS WITHIN ANOTHER MILE OF THE SECOND STALL ON A BUSINESS LOOP. RESTARTED ENGINE. EACH TIME THE ENGINE STALLED I WAS FORCED TO ENTER THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WHILE AVOID TRAFFIC BEHIND MY MOTORCYCLE. EACH TIME THE STALL OCCURRED THEIR WAS NO VISIBLE OR AUDIBLE CUE THE ENGINE WAS NO LONGER IN OPERATION THE ENGINE SIMPLY QUIT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10308965February 12, 2010SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
2008 BMW R1200RT WITH UNDER 4,000 MILES OF SERVICE. REAR BRAKE PULSES UNPREDICTABLE UPON APPLICATION. NOT RELATED TO ABS. BMW DEALER ANALYSIS DETERMINED THAT IT IS DUE TO IMPROPER SURFACE TEMPERING OF THE BRAKE DISK. THIS CAUSES ALTERNATING PATCHES OF SOFT/HARD SURFACE ON THE DISK. BMW NA REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AND PROVIDE COVERAGE UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION, SHARED BY OTHER MODEL AND YEAR BMW MOTORCYCLES, FOR WHICH BMW SHOULD PROVIDE RECALL AND RESOLUTION. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10290546November 2, 2009FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE RIDING SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ENGINE SHUT DOWN HAS HAPPENED ONCE, 10/31/2009 ENGINE DOES NOT RUN, QUIT WHILE RIDING IN TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY. WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF ROAD WITHOUT ACCIDENT REPLACED FUEL PUMP CONTROLLER, FOUND FAILED CONTROLLER HAD BEEN CONTAMINATED WITH WATER THAT COLLECTS IN FUEL PUMP ACCESS PLATE. OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10279884August 10, 2009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW R 1200 RT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT NOTICED GASOLINE LEAKING ONTO THE MUFFLER, WHICH PREVENTS THE VEHICLE FROM STARTING. THROUGH RESEARCH, SHE DISCOVERED THAT THE GAS CONNECTER WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW VALVE AND THAT THE HOSE NEEDED TO BE ROUTED DIFFERENTLY. THE CONTACT PURCHASED ALL THE PARTS AND IS MAKING THE REPAIRS. SHE BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT DUE TO ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS SHE FOUND ONLINE FOR THE SAME ISSUE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 35,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10277690July 22, 2009FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2008 BMW R1200RT AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE MOTORCYCLE ENGINE STOPPED WITH NO WARNING. THE CAUSE WAS FOUND TO BE THE FUEL PUMP DRIVER. IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE R1200RT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10275008June 26, 2009STRUCTURE:MOTORCYCLE:KICKSTAND/CENTER STAND, POWER TRAIN
UPON RETURNING HOME FROM A RIDE ON MY 2005 BMW R1200RT MOTORCYCLE, I ATTEMPTED TO LOWER MY SIDE STAND AND NOTICED THAT THE CENTER STAND ASSEMBLY WAS DANGLING BY MERELY A RETRACTION SPRING. FORTUNATELY, IT HAD NOT COME COMPLETELY UNDONE AND BECOME ENTANGLED IN THE REAR WHEEL, WHICH WOULD MOST CERTAINLY HAVE CAUSED AN IMMEDIATE CRASH. BOTH BOLTS THAT HOLD THIS ITEM TO THE BIKE'S UNDERCARRIAGE HAS SHEARED OFF MID-WAY. I CONTACTED BMW NA ABOUT THIS, AND RECEIVED ONLY A BRIEF APOLOGY, BUT NO ADMISSION OF FAULT OR COMPENSATION. I INVESTED APPROX. $45 IN OEM REPLACEMENT PARTS FROM A BMW DEALER TO REPAIR THE UNIT, WHICH THE DEALER STATES IS NOW PERMANENTLY 'BENT.' SIMILAR CATASTROPHIC FAILURE (SKID MARKS ON PAVEMENT CONSISTENT WITH WIDTH OF CENTER STAND LEGS) IMPLICATED IN TWO DEATHS (10/05/08 - MONROE CO., PA - DETAILS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST). I HAVE RETAINED THE DEFECTIVE BOLTS. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED ON AUGUST 20, 2010, THE FINAL DRIVE ON HIS MOTORCYCLE FAILED. THE SUPER-HEATING FROM THE CROWN GEAR BEARING FAILED AND LEAKED OIL. THE REPAIRS EXCEEDED $2,000. UPDATED IVOQ 02/15/12
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10253347December 31, 2008POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW R1200 RT. APPROXIMATELY 4 TO 5 MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SELECTION INDICATOR WOULD DISPLAY NEUTRAL WHEN IN FACT IT WAS IN FIRST GEAR. THE VEHICLE'S REAR WHEEL WOULD TURN AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT WAS THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED COSMETIC DAMAGE AND THE PASSENGER WAS UNINJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MECHANIC LATER STATED THAT THE POTENTIOMETER WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE PART WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN PERSISTENT FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WERE NO DEFECTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,800.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10244337October 3, 2008SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE, WHEELS
THE MOTORCYCLE WAS IN NORMAL USE. I WAS ACTUALLY RETURNING HOME FROM A 3300 MILE TRIP WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. AT FIRST I DETECTED A REAR WHEEL "WOBBLE" WHICH I ATTRIBUTED TO A TIRE PROBLEM. AFTER PULLING OFF THE ROAD AND INSPECTING THE REAR WHEEL I DISCOVERED THAT THE TIRE WAS FINE BUT THE WHEEL ITSELF WAS LOOSE AND COULD BE MOVED NEARLY AN INCH SIDE TO SIDE. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE OF THE REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY ON THIS BIKE. I REPORTED THE FIRST OCCURRENCE IN 2006 AS WELL. AT THE SHOP THE MECHANICS WERE ABLE TO REMOVE THE WHEEL BY SIMPLY PULLING ON IT. AT THAT TIME I REALIZED HOW LUCK I WAS TO HAVE PULLED OFF BEFORE THE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. THE MANUFACTURER, BMW NA, INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND AUTHORIZED REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING THE BRAKES (WHICH WERE DAMAGED BY THE WHEEL MOVEMENT). *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10244210October 2, 2008POWER TRAIN
IN JULY 2007 I EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT PLAY IN THE REAR WHEEL OF MY 2006 BMW R1200RT MOTORCYCLE. THE REAR WHEEL BOLTS TO A FLANGE WHICH IS PRESSED ONTO THE AXLE TUBE OF THE FINAL DRIVE. THIS IS A COMPRESSION FIT, TOGETHER WITH A CIRCLIP. WHEN I DETECTED THE PROBLEM, AFTER REMOVING THE CIRCLIP, I COULD REMOVE THE REAR WHEEL WITH NO RESISTANCE WHATSOEVER, I.E., THERE WAS NO RESISTANCE AS THE SPLINED SURFACE OF THE FLANGE, AND THE SPLINED SURFACE OF THE AXLE TUBE, HAD WORN AWAY TO SUCH AN EXTENT. I TRUCKED THE BIKE TO SALT LAKE CITY WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY (REPLACEMENT OF THE FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY, WHICH INCLUDES THE FLANGE), REAR BRAKE ROTOR AND ALL LUG NUTS. I CHECK THE PLAY IN THE REAR WHEEL REGULARLY, AND IT DETERIORATED TO THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION IN VERY SHORT ORDER. FIRST SIGN OF TROUBLE WAS A BLACK METALLIC RESIDUE ON THE REAR WHEEL,AND THE PLAY IN THE REAR WHEEL. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10240065August 28, 2008FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW R1200 RT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED, THE CONTACT SMELLED GAS. HE NOTICED GASOLINE DRIPPING FROM THE TAIL PIPE AND HIS PANTS. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUEL CHECK VALVE COVER HIMSELF. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL VALVE COVER FAILING DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE PLASTIC WAS A COMMON ISSUE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 11,750.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0