BMW R 1200 GS Complaints

325 consumer complaints on file.

#10640696October 2, 2014
SEATS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY
I WAS RIDING ON THE CENTRAL FREEWAY ON THE BAY BRIDGE APPROACH WHEN I BEGAN TO FEEL HEAT ON MY LEFT INNER THIGH. I ALSO NOTICED A BURNING RUBBER OR PLASTIC SMELL. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN MERGING TO THE RIGHT AS I WAS APPROACHING THE LAST SAN FRANCISCO EXIT BEFORE THE BAY BRIDGE. I FOUGHT MY WAY THROUGH THE HEAVY TRAFFIC ALL WHILE LOOKING DOWN TO SEE WHAT LOOKED LIKE EMBERS DROPPING OFF THE LEFT SIDE. I PULLED INTO A SHELL STATION, JUMPED OFF AND PULLED THE BURNING SEAT OFF OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND PATTED IT OUT. I FOUND THAT THE FRONT SEAT RAIL HAD BECOME DISLODGED (IT IS ONLY HELD IN PLACE BY A RUBBER STRAP THAT IS LOOSENED TO ADJUST THE SEAT HEIGHT) AND RUBBED THROUGH THE PROTECTIVE COVER OF THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL AND ARCED TO THE FRAME. THE SEAT AND THE SEAT BRACKETS WERE MELTED. I WAS ABLE TO COVER UP THE DAMAGED WIRING AND BATTERY ENOUGH TO ALLOW ME TO SAFELY RESTART THE MOTORCYCLE TO HAVE THE DAMAGE EVALUATED BY A SHOP (BAVARIAN CYCLE WORKS IN SAN FRANCISCO.) THE DAMAGE WAS PHOTOGRAPHED AND I AM AWAITING PARTS TO ARRIVE FROM GERMANY TO CARRY OUT THE REPAIRS. I HAVE LOCATED A MACHINE SHOP THAT SELLS A KIT TO MODIFY THE SEAT TO PREVENT THIS FROM OCCURRING AGAIN. THE KIT ELIMINATES THE SOLID METAL BAR THAT RUNS ACROSS THE WIDTH OF THE SEAT. IT USES TWO SHORTER RODS ONLY WHERE THEY ARE NEEDED TO LOCATE THE SEAT IN ITS FRONT HOLDER. NEEDLESS TO SAY, I ORDERED ONE RIGHT AWAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10630849September 4, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, STEERING
ON 17 AUGUST 2014 AT NEWCOMB'S RANCH IN THE ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST EAST OF LOS ANGELES AT APPROXIMATELY 10:15 AM I DISCOVERED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH DETENT MECHANISM HAD FAILED ON MY 2008 BMW R1200GS MOTORCYCLE. I WAS ABLE TO FREELY ROTATE THE IGNITION KEY BETWEEN ON AND OFF, SO THAT THE SLIGHTEST TORQUE FROM A KEY FOB OR WIND COULD TURN THE KEY TO OFF, WHICH WOULD SHUT THE ENGINE AND ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS OFF, PERHAPS UNEXPECTEDLY DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILED IGNITION SWITCH DETENT CONDITION APPARENTLY OCCURRED DURING MY ONE HOUR RIDE ON L.A. FREEWAYS AND CA 2 TO NEWCOMB'S RANCH. A FELLOW RIDER AT NEWCOMB'S ON A BMW K1200S INDICATED THAT HIS MOTORCYCLE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM (FAILED IGNITION SWITCH DETENT), AND THAT HE RODE WITH THE KEY FOB REMOVED. I RODE HOME WITH TWO BAR STRAWS TIED BETWEEN THE KEY AND THE HANDLEBAR CLAMPS. FURTHER INSPECTION REVEALED A MISSING METAL RETAINING PLUG IN A HORIZONTAL HOLE IN THE FRONT OF THE STEERING LOCK HOUSING, AND A SPRING STILL IN THE HOLE. BMW MOTORCYCLES OF LONG BEACH REPLACED MY DEFECTIVE STEERING LOCK HOUSING (BMW PART # 51257700072) AND THE IGNITION SWITCH DETENT MECHANISM NOW FUNCTIONS PROPERLY, ALTHOUGH THE NEW PART SEEMS TO BE OF THE EXACT SAME DESIGN AS THE DEFECTIVE PART. IN 2008 MY R1200GS HAD ITS IGNITION RING ANTENNA REPLACED UNDER RECALL. WHILE AT LONG BEACH BMW MOTORCYCLES, THE TECHNICIAN MENTIONED TO ME THAT DURING AN DURING AN ANTENNA RING SERVICE THAT HE PERFORMED SOME YEARS AGO, THE SAME RETAINING PLUG FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH DETENT SPRING POPPED OUT WHILE REMOVING THE STEERING LOCK HOUSING. ACCORDING TO BMW, PART # 51257700072 IS USED ON 6 MODELS AND 161 VEHICLE VARIANTS MADE BETWEEN 2003 AND 2014. A FAILED IGNITION SWITCH DETENT COULD RESULT IN AN UNRECOVERABLE SHUT DOWN OF THE VEHICLE, OR A RECOVERABLE SHUT DOWN BUT WITH HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10629647August 30, 2014
POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES
PINION BEARINGS FAILED ON FINAL DRIVE UNIT. ADDITIONALLY, PINION SHAFT SEAL FAILURE DUE TO EXCESSIVE PLAY IN SHAFT AS A RESULT OF BEARING FAILURE, CAUSING FINAL DRIVE OIL TO LEAK OUT. THIS CONDITION ALSO CAUSED FAILURE OF ABS/SPEED SENSOR, WHICH RESULTED IN FAILURE OF ABS AND SPEEDOMETER. MOTORCYCLE WAS INOPERABLE AND WAS TOWED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10622155August 13, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
REAR BRAKE DISC ROTOR CARRIER FAILED LETTING THE REAR ROTOR FALL AND LOCK UP THE REAR WHEEL AND LOST ALL BRAKING CONTROL . I REPLACED THE FAILED PART NEW ONE WAS MADE OUT OF STEAL OLD PART WAS MADE OUT OF ALUMINUN THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED BY QUITE A FEW RIDERS . I AM STILL IN POCESSION OF OLD CARRIER IF YOU NEED TO EXAMINE IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10621015August 8, 2014
POWER TRAIN
FIRST FINAL DRIVE FAILURE AT 51K, SECOND AT 71K, FINAL DRIVE SEAL AT 79K, THIRD FINAL DRIVE AT 85K, FOURTH FINAL DRIVE AT 93K. I HAVE PAID FOR THREE OF THEM, WITH THE LATEST COSTING $2600.00 DUE TO THE HOUSING BEING DAMAGED AND NONE AVAILABLE FROM BMW. ONLY OPTION WAS BUYING BRAND NEW FINAL DRIVE. COMPLAINED TO BMW SAN JOSE DEALER WHO CONTACTED REGIONAL GUY. THEIR SOLUTION WAS TO REFUND ME A THIRD OF THEIR COST OF THE FINAL DRIVE ONLY, A WHOPPING $462.19. CONTACTED BMW NA CUSTOMER SERVICE, WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS FINAL DECISION AND THEY WILL NOT BE DOING ANY MORE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10608789July 7, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE FUEL GAGE HAS FAILED. TWICE IT SHOWED FUEL WHILE RUNNING EMPTY, ONCE IN TRAFFIC. ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS THE FUEL SCREEN HAS GONE BLANK. THREE TIMES THEY HAVE REPAIRED IT UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAS NOW HAPPENED AGAIN. I HAVE SINCE HEARD THEY RECALLED THERE CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10608526July 7, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2005 BMW R1200 GS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSPECTING THE MOTORCYCLE, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE REAR WHEEL FLANGE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A FRACTURED WHEEL FLANGE. THE MANUFACTURE WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10608335July 5, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL GAUGE SUDDENLY FAILED AND GAVE INACCURATE READING. I HAVE HAD THE FUEL GAUGE REPLACED 4 TIMES, MOST RECENTLY LESS THAN ONE MONTH AGO, ALWAYS BY A BMW DEALER. THAT MOST RECENT GAUGE, INSTALLED 6/7/2014 BY THE DEALER, FAILED COMPLETELY, WITHOUT WARNING, ON 7/3/14 AFTER LESS THAN 250 MILES. THE FUEL GAUGE FAILURE CAN LEAD TO SUDDEN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER, IF THE GAUGE INDICATES FUEL REMAINING, WHILE IN FACT THE TANK IS EMPTY. I AM ASTONISHED THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT ORDERED BMW TO FIND A RELIABLE FIX THIS. ANECDOTAL INDICATIONS ARE THOUSANDS OF GAUGES HAVE FAILED, OVER APPROXIMATELY A FIVE MODEL YEAR PERIOD THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN WAS USED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10606843June 29, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
"BRAKE FAILURE" WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. DIAGNOSED BY DEALER AS FAILED ABS PUMP. ABS NOT FUNCTIONING UNTIL PUMP GETS REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10605939June 25, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW R1200 GS MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI- LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM ENGAGED AND TURNED OFF INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V129000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000. UPDATED 8/27/14*CN UPDATED 08/29/2014 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10604939June 21, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL GAUGE FAILURE. (POSSIBILITY OF RUNNING OUT OF FUEL IN TRAFFIC). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10596387June 5, 2014
TIRES, WHEELS
REPLACED REAR TIRE AND NOTICED CRACKS ON HUB FLANGE. WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF ANY BODY ELSE HAD SAME PROBLEM . FOUND MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS. YEARS 2004-2007. PART WAS REDESIGNED AND REPLACED FROM 2008 THRU PRESENT. WANT TO REPORT BEFORE SOMEBODY DIES OR IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY BMW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10596522June 5, 2014
POWER TRAIN
RIGHT ANGLE FINAL DRIVE ON 2008 R1200 GS HAS BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD. THE BEARING AND SPLINES HAVE FAILED. FINAL DRIVE FLANGE AND SPLINES HAVE BECOME UN REPAIRABLE AND FINAL DRIVE IS INOPERATIVE. MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN DEEMED BY BMW DEALER "UN-SAFE TO RIDE" UNLESS FINAL DRIVE IS REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10596090June 4, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, POWER TRAIN
I WAS REPLACING MY REAR BRAKE ROTOR. THE ROTOR IS BOLTED TO A PIECE CALLED A FLANGE (PART NUMBER 33117722831) USING 5 BOLTS. I FOUND THAT EACH OF THE 5 BOLT HOLES IN THE FLANGE ARE CRACKED. IF THIS PART WERE TO COME APART WHILE RIDING I THINK IT WOULD CAUSE THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK UP AND SKID OR POSSIBLY WORSE. THE FLANGE (PART NUMBER 33117722831) IS ALSO PART OF THE POWER TRAIN AND REAR WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM (ALSO KNOWN AS THE FINAL DRIVE SYSTEM) FOR THE BMW R1200GS MOTORCYCLE. THE BMW MUST KNOW THAT THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY HAVE REDESIGNED THE PART. SEARCHING THE INTERNET FOR "BMW R1200GS FLANGE CRACK" RETURNS MANY PAGES OF INFORMATION ON THIS PROBLEM. HERE IS A GOOD SUMMARY: HTTP://WWW.MTS1200.INFO/MOTORCYCLEINFO/INDEXE65D.HTML?FA=CONTENTGENERIC.NKYQIUKEVRYEUZUT&PAGEID=360814. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#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
#10594953May 29, 2014
SUSPENSION
THERE HAD BEEN MANY MOTORCYCLE COMPLAINT ON SUSPENSION LEAKING PROBLEMS, WITH VERY LOW MILES ON. AND BMW IS NOT RESPONDING FOR THIS FAILURE. *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
#10593802May 23, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
FAILED ABS PUMP/MODULATOR. *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

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