BMW R 1200 RT Complaints

270 consumer complaints on file.

#10915030October 10, 2016
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL GAUGE STOPPED RESPONDING, LEADING TO RUNNING OUT OF FUEL WHILE MOVING. THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE ON MANY BIKE MODELS FROM BMW FROM 2005-2013.THE FUEL LEVEL MEASURING STRIP IN THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER04. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION SINCE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FROM RUNNING OUT OF FUEL CAN BE QUITE DANGEROUS ON A MOTORCYCLE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10914193October 6, 2016
POWER TRAIN
DRIVE SHAFT U-JOINT FAILURE RIDING ON INTERSTATE 5. BIKE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND WHEN CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED, VIBRATION STOPPED. RELEASED CLUTCH AND VIBRATION STARTED AGAIN. DEPRESSED CLUTCH AGAIN AND PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE DRIVE SHAFT LOCKED UP. PULLED BACK REAR BOOT ON FINAL DRIVE AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE SWING ARM SHAFT. BMW DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILED U-JOINT BUT COULD NOT REPAIR UNLESS THEY REMOVED TRANSMISSION TO REMOVE U-JOINT STUCK ON TRANSMISSION SPLINE. PRICE FOR DRIVE SHAFT ALONE WAS $1,100 DOLLARS PLUS LABOR TO REMOVE TRANSMISSION.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10913689October 4, 2016
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL GAUGE STOPPED RESPONDING, LEADING TO RUNNING OUT OF FUEL WHILE MOVING ON A CITY STREET. THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE ON MANY BIKE MODELS FROM BMW FROM 2005-2013. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN 1 TIME SO FAR, AND EACH TIME THE FUEL LEVEL MEASURING STRIP IN THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION SINCE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FROM RUNNING OUT OF FUEL CAN BE QUITE DANGEROUS ON A MOTORCYCLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10913693October 4, 2016
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL GAUGE STOPPED RESPONDING, LEADING TO THE POSSIBILITY OF RUNNING OUT OF FUEL WHILE MOVING. THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE ON MANY BIKE MODELS FROM BMW FROM 2005-2013. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN 2 TIMES SO FAR, AND EACH TIME THE FUEL LEVEL MEASURING STRIP IN THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION SINCE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FROM RUNNING OUT OF FUEL CAN BE QUITE DANGEROUS ON A MOTORCYCLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10913696October 4, 2016
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL GAUGE STOPPED RESPONDING, LEADING TO THE POSSIBILITY OF RUNNING OUT OF FUEL WHILE MOVING. THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE ON MANY BIKE MODELS FROM BMW FROM 2005-2013. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN 3 TIMES SO FAR, AND EACH TIME THE FUEL LEVEL MEASURING STRIP IN THE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION SINCE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FROM RUNNING OUT OF FUEL CAN BE QUITE DANGEROUS ON A MOTORCYCLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10897994August 23, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES
PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE ABS PUMP AT 29K MILES. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. BRAKES STILL FUNCTION BUT WITHOUT ABS.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10896509August 17, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE RIDING. INVESTIGATION BY MECHANIC SHOWS ABS HAS FAILED. BIKE ONLY HAS 26,000 MILES. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND SHOULD BE A RECALL BASED ON INFORMATION AND REPORTS ON THE VARIOUS LISTS AND BOARDS I PARTICIPATE ON. FAULT CODES 24048 (ABS PUMP MOTOR DEFECTIVE) AND 24049 (POWER SUPPLY TO PUMP MOTOR FAULTY). THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT AND BASED ON IT BEING AN INTEGRAL BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED BY MANUFACTURER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10892626August 2, 2016
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2010 BMW R1200RT MOTORCYCLE AND THERE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE HANDLEBAR MOUNTED SWITCH GEAR. THE SAID COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE CAUSING INOPERABLE HIGH BEAMS, CRUISE CONTROL, TURN SINGLES, AND HORN, BUT THE REAL ISSUE IS THE START/RUN SWITCH AND THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE CAUSING A NO START CONDITION AT THE VERY LEAST THE REAL DANGER IS WHEN THE SWITCH FAILS WHEN UNDER POWER WHICH HAPPENED TO ME TWICE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS! SOMEONE WILL BE KILLED IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10885480July 18, 2016
POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON I-79 NEAR PITTSBURGH AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE REAR UNIVERSAL JOINT LET GO. THIS CAUSED THE MOTORCYCLE REAR WHEEL TO INTERMITTENTLY LOCK UP AND RELEASE. THE UNIVERSAL HAS NO MEANS TO LUBRICATE IT AND NO NOISE OR VIBRATION WAS HEARD OR FELT BEFORE FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10860628April 20, 2016
SERVICE BRAKES
THE ABS MODULE FAILED WHILE IT WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A HIGHWAY. THE DEALER AND BMW ASKED IF IT WAS PARKED OUTSIDE AND IT WAS FOR A SHORT TIME ONLY. THEY SAID THE MODULE CORRODED. IT IS A SEALED MODULE AND IF IT CORRODED IT MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE IN ORDER TO ALL THE ELEMENTS NECESSARY IN FOR IT TO CORRODE. FORTUNATELY I AM A VERY EXPERIENCED RIDER AND QUICKLY RELEASED THE BRAKE AS IT LOCKED UP (WHAT THE ABS SYSTEM IS TO PREVENT. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF AN ABS MODULE FAILING LIKE THIS. I DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE DEALER AND BMW AND BOTH DECLINED TO HELP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10838801February 27, 2016
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN THE MOTORCYCLE INCREASED SPEED AND RPM'S IN EXCESS OF THE AMOUNT OF THROTTLE I WAS TWISTING. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED IN THE CLUTCH AND RELEASED THE THROTTLE. THE RPM'S CONTINUED TO CLIMB OVER 4000 AND THE ENGINE SUSTAINED THIS LEVEL. THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD ONLY RETURN TO A NORMAL IDLE LEVEL (1100 RPM) IF I FORCED THE THROTTLE CLOSED (FORWARD TWISTING MOTION). THIS MATTER COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING. I DELIVERED THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE BMW DEALER TO HAVE THE MATTER DIAGNOSED. THE BMW MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE PULLEY'S HAD BROKEN ON BOTH THROTTLE BOTH THROTTLE BODIES. I WAS FURTHER ADVISED THAT THESE PULLEY'S ARE MADE OF A MOLDED PLASTIC MATERIAL AND THAT THIS MATERIAL BROKE. THE MECHANIC HAS ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THESE PARTS (ALTHOUGH EXTERNAL ON THE THROTTLE BODIES) ARE NOT REPLACEABLE. THE ENTIRE THROTTLE BODIES MUST BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE THAT BMW SHOULD BE RECALL THESE ITEMS FOR THE OBVIOUS SAFETY RISKS RELATED TO THEIR FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10781671October 13, 2015
POWER TRAIN
WITH JUST 16124 MILES, MY MOTORCYCLE HAS A FINAL DRIVE RING BEARING FAILURE. THE BMW DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM WHEN CONDUCTING THE REAR FLANGE RECALL REPAIR. THIS FAILURE IS SO COMMON THAT IT HAS BECOME ENDEMIC. BMW OFFERS NO HELP WITH THE REPAIR AN OBVIOUS DESIGN ERROR.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10781385October 12, 2015
POWER TRAIN
FINAL DRIVE BEARING SUDDENLY DEVELOPED PLAY (WHEEL CAN BE MOVED LATERALLY BY HAND). VERY UNSTABLE HANDLING AND WOBBLE UPON DECELERATION DUE TO WHEEL MOVEMENT. VEHICLE WILL "SHIMMY" CONSIDERABLY FROM SIDE-TO-SIDE UPON ENGINE BRAKING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10780727October 8, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BMW R1200 RT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, A SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS COMPLETED TO IMPROVE THE GEAR SHIFT ASSISTANT PRO FEATURE. AFTER THE SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS PERFORMED, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH BEFORE DEACTIVATING THE CRUISE CONTROL TO DECREASE THE SPEED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD ERRONEOUSLY TURN ON INCREASING THE SPEED OF THE MOTORCYCLE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 120 MILES OF DRIVING, THE MOTORCYCLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,120....UPDATED 02/03/16 *BF INVALID 4/17/18*JB *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10777761September 25, 2015
WHEELS, SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW R 1200 RT. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE REAR OF THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED TO WOBBLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CROWN BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 29,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10767426September 22, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
WHEN I BEGAN A RIDE THE RED ABS BRAKE FAILURE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND REMAINED ON. A SHOP READ THE CODE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE AS ABS PUMP MOTOR FAILURE. I LEARNED THROUGH ON-LINE RESEARCH THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM RELATING TO POOR DESIGN OF THE ABS PUMP MOTOR BRUSHES THAT FAIL TO MAKE GOOD CONTACT RESULTING IN A LOW VOLTAGE SITUATION AND PUMP FAILURE. THE RESULT - THE ABS SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. THE ESTIMATED COST OF REPLACING THE UNIT IS APPROX. $2200. THE MECHANIC TAPPED ON THE MOTOR HOUSING AND FREED UP THE BRUSHES BUT IT WAS A TEMPORARY FIX THAT LASTED ABOUT 200 MILES. IT THEN BECAME AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 400 MILES BEFORE IT WENT BACK TO BEING THE CONSTANT PROBLEM THAT I AM NOW FORCED TO FIX OR RIDE WITHOUT ABS BRAKES. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED PROBLEM BUT BMW HAS NOT ADMITTED ANY PROBLEMS RELATED TO DESIGN OF THE UNIT. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE IN THE WAY THE BRUSHES SLIDE IN A GROOVED GUIDE OR KEY WAY . APPARENTLY THE GROOVES GET DIRTY AND THE BRUSHES HANG UP AND DON'T REACH THE PROPER POSITION FOR GOOD CONTACT WITH THE MOTOR ARMATURE IF I UNDERSTAND IT CORRECTLY. MODULEMASTER IN MOSCOW, IDAHO, REBUILDS THE UNITS AND PROVIDES A 5 YR GUARANTEE. THEY SEEM TO BE QUITE BUSY WITH THESE UNITS. MY MECHANIC ACTUALLY SENT IN 2 OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME. THE SECOND UNIT WAS FROM A GS MODEL. AND THERE ARE OTHER MODELS EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE. IT IS MY OPINION THAT NHTSA NEEDS TO TAKE A LOOK AT THIS ISSUE AND CAUSE BMW TO FIX THE POOR DESIGN AND ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM OF ABS FAILURE. DOCUMENTED EVIDENCE OF THE SCOPE OF THE PROBLEM CAN BE FOUND THROUGH SITES SUCH AS FORUMS.BMWMOA.ORG, WWW.XS-ADVENTURE.COM, WWW.I-BMW.COM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10758488August 21, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED STALLING AFTER I WOULD DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP. IT WOULD NOT START BACK UP UNLESS I TURNED THE THROTTLE AND HELD THE RPM'S ABOVE 1500. THE BIKE WOULD NOT IDLE UNLESS I KEPT THE THROTTLE PARTIALLY OPEN. I BROUGHT THE BIKE TO THE DEALER AND THEY RE-FLASHED THE COMPUTER AND UP-GRADED THE SOFTWARE. THAT LASTED 2 WEEKS AND THE STALLING STARTED BACK AGAIN. ALL RE-CALLS FOR THIS BIKE WERE PERFORMED BY BMW. NO TROUBLE CODES WERE SHOWN TO EXIST ON THE BIKES ECU WHEN TESTED BY THE DEALERS SCAN EQUIPMENT. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED: SPARK PLUGS, IDLE ACTUATORS (2), CAM POSITION SENSOR, FUEL PUMP CONTROLLER, FUEL PUMP, AND BATTERY. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS A LITTLE OVER 32,000 MILES ON IT NOW. SOME OF THE PARTS REPLACED DID CURE THE STALLING PROBLEM TEMPORARILY, BUT IT ALWAYS CAME BACK. I HAVE SINCE PARKED THE MOTORCYCLE BECAUSE THE STALLING SCARES ME AND MY GIRLFRIEND WHEN IT UNEXPECTEDLY HAPPENS IN TRAFFIC. IT IS ABSOLUTELY DANGEROUS! I KNOW FROM READING POSTS ONLINE FROM FELLOW BMW MOTORCYCLE OWNERS THAT MANY OTHERS WHO OWN THE R 1200RT MADE FROM 2005-2009 HAVE THIS SAME STALLING PROBLEM. AS FAR AS I KNOW BMW HAS NOT RE-CALLED MY YEAR AND MODEL BIKE TO FORCE THE DEALERS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10734932July 18, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS SERVO FAILED. COMPLETE LOSS OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE FEATURE ON MOTORCYCLE. I AM REPORTING THIS BECAUSE I FEEL THIS IS AN IMPORTANT SAFETY FEATURE FAILURE THAT OCCURRED WITH VERY FEW MILES ON THE MACHINE. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE ENTIRE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP (RECALLED) AND REAR WHEEL HUB (RECALLED). I AM AFRAID OF THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE AND DOUBT THE ADVERTISED "RELIABILITY" TOUTED BY THE MANUFACTURER, BMW MOTRORAD.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10717107May 18, 2015
WHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW R 1200 RT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V141000 (WHEELS); HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER REFUSED TO HONOR THE REMEDY WHICH MENTIONED THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ALUMINUM REAR WHEEL FLANGE WITH A STEEL ONE. THE DEALER ONLY WANTED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10715513May 10, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
THE COMBINATION ENGINE RUN / START SWITCH DOES NO ENGAGE IN THE RUN POSITION DURING HOT DAYS, THUS NOT ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO START. AFTER COOLING THE SWITCH DOWN WITH AN INSTANT COOLING COMPOUND (IN THIS CASE SUPERFREEZE 2000 FROM LEONARD INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY) THE SWITCH WOULD ENGAGE, BUT THEN DISCONNECT AGAIN. THE DANGER IS THAT IF IT DISCONNECTS WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE WILL CUT-OFF WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO RESTART IT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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