BMW R 1200 R Complaints

59 consumer complaints on file.

#10911266October 3, 2016
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW R1200. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V617000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). METAL CLAMPS WERE PLACED OVER THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE IN ORDER TO REINFORCE THE PIECE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE CONTACT WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. ..UPDATED 12/20/16 *BF *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10781430October 12, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
THE 2015 R1200R WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW WITH 0 MILES. AT APPROXIMATELY 750 MILES THE OEM BATTERY WOULD NOT HOLD A CHARGE. THE BIKE WAS BROUGHT IN AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. UPON ARRIVAL TO PICK UP MY BIKE IT DID NOT TURN OVER ON THE FIRST TRY. THE SECOND START WAS UNEVENTFUL AND NO OTHER ISSUES WERE OBSERVED. AFTER THIS, APPROXIMATELY 50% OF THE COLD STARTS RESULTED IN THE SAME ISSUE. WHETHER THE STARTER WAS ENGAGED FOR ONLY A COUPLE OF SECONDS OR LONGER IT WOULD NOT START. SUBSEQUENT STARTS WORK AS DESIGNED. THE BIKE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES WITH NO FIX BY THE BMW CORPORATION. A SECONDARY PROBLEM WAS ALSO DISCOVERED. THE BIKE'S ELECTRONICS ARE SUPPOSE TO DETECT WHEN THE ENGINE DOES NOT START AND DISENGAGE THE STARTER AUTOMATICALLY. THIS FUNCTION IS NOT WORKING. MY DEALER'S TECH ADVISED ME THEY THINK THIS IS SUPPOSE TO OCCUR. THIS PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTICED JUNE 19TH OF 2015. THE DEALER WAS ADVISED A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER TO OBSERVE THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED AS OF THIS TIME. ALSO, THE LIQUID COOLED BOXER ENGINE THAT HAS BEEN IN THE GS FLEET AND NOW THE RT AND RS FLEETS ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM AS WELL.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10705825April 15, 2015
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW R1200 R. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE SERVICE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ABS MODULATOR FAILED AND NEEDED BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,210. UPDATED 5/18/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER ADVISED THIS FAILURE WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE THREE OR FOUR MODEL. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS FAILURE SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED. UPDATED 11/16/2015*JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10676355January 18, 2015
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWED LOW LEVEL AND THE RESERVE VISUAL ALARM STAYED ON WHILE THERE WAS PLENTY OF FUEL IN THE TANK. REPORTED TO DEALER, OFFICIAL BMW DEALER BROWARD MOTORSPORT OF PALM BEACH, THEIR REPORT CLAIMED THEY HAVE FIXED THE ISSUE, THE MOTORCYCLE HAD 1166 MILES AT TIME OF SERVICE. TODAY, AT 1540 MILES THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED AGAIN, THERE IS PLENTY OF FUEL IN THE TANK BUT THE GAUGE SHOW THE LOWEST BAR ONLY AND THE VISUAL ALARM LIGHT STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES. I WILL NOW HAVE TO TAKE THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO INSTALL THE 3RD FUEL GAUGE IN 1500 MILES. IT'S A 17,500 $, 2013 NEW MOTORCYCLE, STILL UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN ONCE THE WARRANTY WILL BE EXPIRED, BY READING ONLINE FORUMS IT SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A VERY COMMON AND REPETITIVE ISSUE WITH APPARENTLY NO SOLUTION APART FROM KEEP ON REPLACING WHILE IT WILL KEEP ON REPEATING. PLEASE INFORM IF THERE IS ANY SOLUTION. THANKS *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10649177October 21, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
LOW FUEL LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND REPORTED 42 MILES TO EMPTY ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. APPROXIMATELY 7 MILES LATER THE MOTORCYCLE LOST POWER WHILE ON THE ROADWAY. FUEL GAUGE STILL SHOWED ONE BAR AND 42 MILES TO GO AT THE TIME POWER WAS LOST. BMW APPARENTLY KNOWS ALL ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT FIXED THE DEFECTIVE FUEL STRIP DESIGN TO PREVENT FUTURE OCCURRENCES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10640340September 30, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
THE ABS PUMP FAILED DISABLING THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM. I WAS AT THE DEALER AND ANOTHER CYCLIST WAS ALSO THERE WITH HIS 2008 BMW R1200R WITH EXACTLY THE SAME ISSUE. APPARENTLY THESE ABS PUMPS ARE FAILING AT AN UNUSUAL RATE. IF THIS FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE RIDING IN INCLEMENT WEATHER IT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10616753July 28, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
MOTORCYCLE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING ON HIGHWAY OFF RAMP. ENGINE WOULD CRANK, BUT NOT RESTART. FUEL GAUGE ON ELECTRONIC READOUT SHOWED 78 MILES UNTIL REFILL. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE FLASHING. PUT FUEL IN THE TANK, STARTED RIGHT UP. IN-TANK FUEL SENSOR IS FAULTY. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598304June 14, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS MODULE SUDDENLY QUIT, RENDERING THE ABS FUNCTION INOPERABLE. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10593623May 23, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE RIDING, I RECEIVED A DASH WARNING LIGHT THAT WAS I (UNEXPECTEDLY) COMPLETELY OUT OF FUEL. AT THAT POINT I DID NOT KNOW HOW MANY MILES WERE ON MY TANK, IF I HAD A FUEL LEAK, ETC AND IMMEDIATELY MANEUVERED TO A SAFE LOCATION TO VERIFY MY FUEL STATUS. THANKFULLY I WAS IN A PLACE I COULD DO THAT. TURNS OUT I HAD AMPLE FUEL AND NO VISIBLE LEAKS, HOWEVER THE GAUGE AND WARNING SYSTEMS WERE INFORMING ME OTHERWISE. I ENDED UP RIDING TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION AND CONFIRMED I STILL HAD 3/4 TANK REMAINING, BASED ON HOW MUCH FUEL THE BIKE TOOK TO "TOP OFF". AFTER CALLING THE DEALERSHIP TO CONFIRM THE BIKE'S COMPUTER WILL ALLOW ME TO RIDE (DESPITE NOT REGISTERING ANY FUEL IN THE SYSTEM), I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON MY MODEL AND THEY CAN'T KEEP THE PARTS IN INVENTORY THEY ARE FIXING IT SO FREQUENTLY. BASED ON WEB SEARCHES, OTHERS ARE REPORTING THAT THEY DON'T GET A WARNING THEY ARE RUNNING OUT! BMW MOTORAD STATES THAT THIS PART (THE FUEL STRIP) FAILS DUE TO CORN ETHANOL IN OUR US GAS, AND THIS PART DOES NOT FAIL IN OTHER MARKETS THAT DON'T USE ETHANOL. MY QUESTION IS, HOW CAN THEY SELL A PRODUCT THAT ISN'T ENGINEERED TO WORK WITH THE GAS THAT'S AVAILABLE? WHILE THIS ISSUE HAS A SIMPLE WORKAROUND - KEEP TRACK OF YOUR MILES AS YOU'RE RIDING - THERE ARE TIMES WHEN YOU COUNT ON THAT GAUGE BECAUSE YOU SIMPLY FORGET TO RESET THE TRIP ODOMETER AT A FILLUP. IF I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE AND RAN OUT DUE TO THE GAUGE NOT INDICATING I WAS LOW, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SCENARIO. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587386May 9, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW 1200RT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD CONSTANTLY DISPLAY ERRONEOUS FUEL READINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FRACTURED FUEL PUMP WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28,000. KMJ
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10586139May 2, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I HAD BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES AND HAD BEEN IN HEAVY STOP AND GO TRAFFIC FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. MY FUEL GAUGE WENT FROM HALF TANK TO EMPTY WITH THE "LOW FUEL" WARNING LIGHT FLASHING BETWEEN. THIS HAPPENED BETWEEN GLANCES AT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. SINCE IT WAS A 90 DEGREE DAY AND IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC I WAS WATCHING THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE CLOSELY. THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE GAUGE IS PART OF THE SAME CLUSTER AS THE FUEL GAUGE SO I KNOW THE CHANGE FROM A HALF TANK OF FUEL TO NO FUEL WAS ALMOST IF NOT INSTANTANEOUS. IT IS THE RESULT OF A BAD FUEL SENSOR IN THE FUEL TANK THAT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS TYPE OF STRIP SENSOR. WITH HUNDREDS OF THESE SENSORS GOING BAD INSIDE THE FUEL TANK HOW LONG WILL IT BE BEFORE ONE HAS A SERIOUS FAULT AND BLOWS UP THE FUEL TANK SITTING BETWEEN THE MOTORCYCLE RIDERS LEGS. NEVER SAY NEVER. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578398April 8, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE FUEL GAUGE QUIT WORKING. THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS DUE TO THE FUEL SENSOR. MY BMW HAS ONLY 1100 MILES ON IT. MULTIPLE POST ONLINE ON MY EXACT MODEL - AS WELL AS MULTIPLE SAFETY COMPLAINTS ON THIS VERY SITE TO NHTSA - SHOW THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM. IT IS AN EXTREME HAZARD ON A MOTORCYCLE TO RUN OUT OF GAS AS A MOTORCYCLE BUCKS AS IT RUNS OUT OF GAS (DIES AND CATCHES, ETC.) AND I ALMOST COME OFF THE BIKE IN TRAFFIC. AND IT MAKES LEAVING THE ROAD DIFFICULT SO A DANGER TO OTHER TRAFFIC (HTTP://WWW.STATE.NJ.US/MVC/PDF/LICENSES/MCM996.PDF). WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WHY NHTSA IS DOING NOTHING DESPITE MULTIPLE SAFETY COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE OVER WHAT IS NOW A FOUR (4) YEAR PERIOD ON SOMETHING THAT HAS A SIMPLE FIX - A GAS GAUGE. AS THE 2011 POST MAKES CLEAR, THAT OCCUPANT WAS "ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND, AND NEARLY CAUSED A REACTION ACCIDENT ...OF CARS ...THAT HAD TO SUDDENLY STOP AND/OR EVADE CONTACT WITH OTHER VEHICLES SLOWING DUE TO MY INABILITY TO KEEP UP IN TRAFFIC." AS THAT POSTER NOTED, " I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY DISCOVERED MY FAULTY FUEL GAUGE ISSUE IS VERY VERY COMMON.... AFFECTING A VERY SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF BMW R1200R MOTORCYCLES. ... THE "REPAIR" IS NOT NECESSARILY A GUARANTEED FIX, MANDATING THAT MANY R1200R OWNERS HAVE TO MAKE MULTIPLE TRIPS TO A BMW DEALER TO PERHAPS, AND FINALLY, RECEIVE A FUEL SENSOR STRIP THAT ACTUALLY IS FUNCTIONAL." BMW HAS JUST ANNOUNCED ANOTHER RECALL FOR THIS BIKE BUT APPARENTLY IS STALLING NHTSA ON THIS ISSUE. MY DEALER IS BMW OF FT. WORTH AND THEY WERE HAPPY TO TELL ME MY WARRANTY EXPIRED TWO WEEKS BEFORE HAD IT BROUGHT BACK IN TO BE FIXED (IT ONLY HAS 1100 MILES) AND I COULD EITHER PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS -OR- JUST PICK IT UP AS IS WITH A NON-FUNCTIONING AND DANGEROUS FUEL GAUGE. NO CONCERN WHATSOEVER FOR MY SAFETY OR THE RISK CAUSED BY OPERATING A MOTORCYCLE WITH A DEFECTIVE GAUGE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10574225March 23, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE MOTORCYCLE HAS A "MILES TO EMPTY" DISPLAY TO INSTRUCT THE DRIVER WHEN TO REFUEL. ALSO A GRAPH THAT DISPLAYS HOW MUCH FUEL REMAINS ...AND A LOW FUEL LIGHT. ALL RUN BY A "FUEL STRIP" INSIDE THE GAS TANK. ON THIS DATE I RAN OUT OF FUEL ON A BUSY INTERSTATE WITH 1) NO LOW FUEL LIGHT. 2) ABOUT HALF A TANK SHOWING ON THE GRAPHIC DISPLAY 3) "159 MILES TO EMPTY" ON THE COMPUTER. ALL THESE ITEMS ARE DRIVEN BY THIS FAULTY FUEL STRIP. IT IS QUITE A SAFETY ISSUE TO HAVE YOU ENGINE HALT SUDDENLY AT SPEED ON A BUSY URBAN INTERSTATE. I WAS STRANDED AGAINST THE INNER GUARD RAIL FOR SOMETIME AS 70MPH TRAFFIC RAN BUY ABOUT 4 FEET AWAY. MANY OF THESE FUEL STRIPS HAVE FAILED IN BMW MOTORCYCLES AND THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED BY AN IMPROVED PART. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10558431January 4, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE ON AN OUT OF STATE TRIP. AFTER GETTING HOME AND DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THIS IS A PROBLEM CAUSED BY FAULTY BRUSHES IN THE ELECTRICAL MOTOR ON THE ABS PUMP. READING MANY ONLINE MOTORCYCLE FORUMS THIS APPEARS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE ON ALL BMW R SERIES MOTORCYCLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10547878October 14, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED A FULL TANK, BUT WASN'T CORRECT. WHEN THE TANK RAN DRY, I LOST ALL POWER ON THE EXPRESSWAY GOING 75MPH IN CROWDED TRAFFIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10544780September 21, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THREE MONTHS AND 400+ MILES INTO MY OWNERSHIP OF A NEW BMW R1200R MOTORCYCLE, THE FUEL STRIP FAILED COMPLETELY. UPON ENGINE START WITH 3/4 FULL GAS TANK, THE GUAGE READ EMPTY. IT CONTINUES TO READ EMPTY REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE TANK. THIS ISSUE HAS PLAGUED A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF NEW BMW MOTORCYCLES AND THE COMPANY HAS YET TO OFFER A FIX. IN THE MEANTIME, THIS PROBLEM REQUIRES A TRIP TO AN AUTHORIZED BMW MOTORCYCLE DEALER FOR A WARANTEE REPLACEMENT, MANY OF WHICH HAVE ALSO FAILED AGAIN AND AGAIN. THIS CONDUCT ON THE PART OF BMW IS TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10542181September 5, 2013
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FUEL STRIP FAILED FOR 3RD TIME. COMPUTER NO LONGER DISPLAYS MILES TO EMPTY AND LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON. MANUFACTURER SHOULD RETROFIT WITH SAME SYSTEM THEY USE ON OTHER MODELS WITH SAME ENGINE. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10536603August 21, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL GAUGE FAILURE, SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING AND READS EMPTY AT ALL TIMES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10536114August 19, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL STRIP FAILURE (MEASURES THE AMOUNT OF FUEL IN THE GAS TANK). FUEL GAGE WAS EITHER OFF OR INCORRECT. COMPUTER COULD NOT CALCULATE DISTANCE TO EMPTY. IT WAS REPLACED AT DEALER. FAILED AGAIN AT 9/10/2012 AT 30,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10534398August 8, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE FUEL GAUGE CEASED WORKING AND REGISTERS EMPTY ALL THE TIME. THE "LOW FUEL" LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED DESPITE HAVING GONE ONLY 50 MILES SINCE FILLING THE TANK. VISUAL EXAMINATION CONFIRMS THE TANK IS APPROX. 3/4 FULL. FROM A VERY BRIEF INVESTIGATION, I DISCOVERED THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE R1200R FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I AM REPORTING IN HOPES THAT PRESSURE CAN BE BROUGHT FOR REAL FIX BY BMW INSTEAD OF SIMPLY REPLACING FAULTY FUEL STRIPS WITH MORE FAULTY FUEL STRIPS. SOME OWNERS REPORT HAVING THE STRIPS REPLACED 4-5 TIMES WITHIN A 3 YEAR PERIOD. THE MODE OF FAILURE CAN BE INTERMITTENT OPERATION, CONSTANT "FULL" READING, OR A CONSTANT "EMPTY" READING. SINCE I LIVE IN THE ARIZONA DESERT, I FREQUENTLY CAN BE MANY MILES FROM ANY ASSISTANCE, AND NOT HAVING ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE OF MY FUEL SITUATION COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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