BMW R 1200 RT Complaints

270 consumer complaints on file.

#10606706June 28, 2014
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I WAS CRUISING ALONG ON MY BMW R1200 RT AT THE 70MPH SPEED LIMIT WHEN ALL THE SUDDEN THE BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT FLASHED REPEATEDLY ON THE DASH, ALONG WITH A RED WARNING TRIANGLE. I IMMEDIATELY LOOK FOR THE NEXT EXIT, BUT BEFORE I GET TO THE EXIT, I ENCOUNTER A HEAVY RAIN. WHEN I TRY TO SLOW THE BIKE, THE BRAKES ARE NUMB, AND VERY DIFFICULT TO PRESS. THIS CAUSES AN IMMEDIATE PANIC, BUT I'M ABLE TO SLOW THE BIKE AFTER A VERY LONG INTERVAL. I PARK THE BIKE AND READ THE OWNERS MANUAL ABOUT THE FAILURE. IT IS DESCRIBED AS A SERIOUS FAILURE WHICH WILL CAUSE THE SERVO ASSIST TO BE DEACTIVATED, BUT THE BIKE IS STILL RIDEABLE. SINCE I WAS OVER 300 MILES FROM HOME, I ATTEMPTED TO MANAGE THE PROBLEM AS THE MANUAL RECOMMENDED. THE BIKE IS BASICALLY UNRIDEABLE AND NOT CONTROLLABLE WHEN THIS ERROR APPEARS. THERE IS NO WAY TO CONTROL YOUR STOP, AND THIS IS NOTHING LIKE JUST LOSING YOUR ABS, AND HAVING TO RESORT TO REGULAR BRAKES. THIS IS LIKE HAVING ABOUT 30% OF YOUR BRAKES AVAILABLE! WHICH IS TERRIFYING. I DON'T KNOW WHY THIS SYSTEM IS DESIGNED THIS WAY,OR WHY BMW WOULD SUGGEST IT'S OKAY TO CONTINUE TO RIDE IN THIS MANNER. I FELT LIKE MY CHANCES OF BEING IN AN ACCIDENT WERE INCREASED BY 120%. THIS BRAKING SYSTEM IS DANGEROUS. SO MUCH SO, THAT I FOUND OUT THAT BMW DISCONTINUED ITS USE AFTER THE 2006 PRODUCTION AND WENT WITH A TOTALLY NEW SYSTEM. THIS SYSTEM WAS ONLY USED FOR 2 YEARS ON THE R1200RT. I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHY THIS SYSTEM WASN'T RECALLED, AND WHAT BMW KNOWS ABOUT THE FAILURE POTENTIAL. MAYBE THAT'S WHY THEY DISCONTINUED IT. I FELT MY LIFE WAS PUT IN DANGER BY RIDING THIS MOTORCYCLE. BMW SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THANKS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10599067June 18, 2014
SUSPENSION
ON JUNE 5TH 2014 BMW ISSUED A STOP RIDE NOTICE FOR ALL 2014 R1200 RTS WITH DYNAMIC ESA. SINCE THEN BMW HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO PRODUCE A LOANER VEHICLE NOR A DATE WHEN THE AFFECTED PART WILL BE REPLACED. SO AT THIS POINT MY PRIMARY VEHICLE IS A $25,000. PIECE OF GARAGE ART. THE ESTIMATED DATE FOR PARTS SHIPMENT IS 3 TO 4 MONTHS! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10588441May 14, 2014
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
REPORT RECEIPT DATE: DEC 12, 2013 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V617000 COMPONENT(S): FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE MY COMPLAINT : RECALL LETTER NOT RECEIVED FROM BMW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10583586April 18, 2014
POWER TRAIN
THE FINAL DRIVE FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN 29,000 MILES. THE REPAIR IS OVER $2,000. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560728January 20, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS MODULATOR FAILED TO OPERATE AT VERY LOW MILEAGE. DEALER SAID UNIT HAS FAILED AND IT VERY COMMON FOR THE BRUSHES TO STICK AND CAUSE THIS FAILURE. THE UNIT IS NOT REPAIRABLE AND MUST BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10558217January 2, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I WAS RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN I NOTICED THE SMELL OF GASOLINE. UPON ARRIVAL HOME I DETERMINED THAT PRESSURIZED FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL PUMP OUTLET CONNECTION, SPECIFICALLY THE THREADED BOSS INTO WHICH THE QUICK DISCONNECT FITTING SCREWS. WHEN I TURNED ON THE IGNITION AND ENERGIZED THE FUEL PUMP, GASOLINE RAN OUT OF THE CONNECTION AND DOWN ONTO THE ENGINE. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET REVEALED THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS FUEL PUMP WHICH IS USED ON NUMEROUS MODELS OF BMW MOTORCYCLES. FURTHER, A NEW REPLACEMENT PUMP NOW HAS A METAL REINFORCEMENT AROUND THE THREADED BOSS, WHICH INDICATES THAT BMW IS AWARE OF THE ORIGINAL DESIGN FLAW. FUEL LEAKING ONTO A RUNNING ENGINE IS CLEARLY A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10558201January 2, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
THE ABS AND REAR BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED. THIS WAS INDICATED BY AN INSTRUMENT PANEL RED WARNING LIGHT, "BRAKE FAILURE". AS A RESULT OF THIS FAILURE, THE REAR WHEEL BRAKE DID NOT OPERATE AS DESIGNED (INTEGRAL BRAKES) AND THE ABS SYSTEM WAS NON-FUNCTIONAL. THE SCANNED CODES STATE THAT THE POWER SUPPLY TO PUMP MOTOR IS FAULTY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557201December 25, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
AFTER SMELLING GAS AFTER A SHORT STOP I DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL PUMP DISCHARGE FLANGE HAD 7 CRACKS WHERE FUEL WAS LEAKING AND FILLING THE CAVITY AT THE TOP END OF THE FUEL PUMP. AFTER CONDUCTING SOME RESEARCH, I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT AND SPECIAL AFTER MARKET CLAMPS HAVE BEEN DESIGNED AND SOLD TO MAKE THE REPAIR, AVOIDING A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE FUEL PUMP. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556041December 14, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
RIDING MY 40 MILES HOME, I KEPT SMELLING GASOLINE BUT IT WAS CONGESTED SO I DISMISSED IT. GOT HOME AND DROVE INTO THE GARAGE AND A BIG PUDDLE OF GASOLINE SPLASHED ONTO THE GROUND FROM UNDER MY LEFT FENDER FROM MY 2007 BMW RT1200. UPON EXAMINATION, I DISCOVERED THAT THE PLASTIC TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP HAD CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES AROUND WHERE THE QUICK DISCONNECT FITTING GOES FOR THE PRESSURE LINE. NOT ONLY THAT BUT THE FITTING IS ALSO MADE OF PLASTIC AND HAD ALSO CRACKED IN THE THREAD AREA. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10554212November 30, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE PLASTIC CONNECTION FOR THE FUEL PUMP CRACKED AND STARTED TO LEAK FUEL. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. I LOOKED ON LINE AND SEE THIS IS A PROBLEM ON BMW MOTORCYCLE'S. THE FUEL LEAKS ONTO THE HOT ENGINE AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE WHILE RIDING. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT AND ALL BMW MOTORCYCLE SHOULD BE RECALLED BEFORE SOMEONE IS INJURED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552250November 14, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
ABS FAILURE. KNOWN ISSUE IN THE BMW COMMUNITY, GOT THE STEADY BURN "BRAKE FAILURE" LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD, AND NO MATTER WHAT I DO CAN'T CLEAR. VERIFIED THAT I'VE LOST ALL ABS FRONT AND BACK. ABS MODULATOR FAILURE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552157November 13, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL GAUGE FAILURE DUE TO DEFECTIVE SENDING STRIP. FIRST STRIP FAILED APPROX. 52,000 MILES; SECOND STRIP FAILED WITHIN ONE TANKFUL OF REPLACEMENT. NOW ON THIRD SENDING STRIP. KNOWN PROBLEM ON MULTIPLE YEARS OF BMW MOTORCYCLES WITH NO MANUFACTURER RESPONSE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10551749November 11, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
AFTER FILLING MY BMW MOTORCYCLE WITH GAS I PARKED IT TO VISIT WITH SOME OTHER RIDERS. AFTER A SHORT TIME RETURNED TO MY BIKE TO FIND GAS RUNNING ONTO THE HOT ENGINE AND POOLING ON THE GROUND. LEFT THE BIKE WENT HOME GOT A TRAILER AND TOOK IT HOME. I DRAINED THE GAS, TOOK THE COVER OFF THE GAS TANK AND FOUND THE QUICK DISCONNECT ON THE FUEL LINE CRACKED ALLOWING FUEL TO RUN DOWN THE TANK AND ONTO THE ENGINE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550651November 3, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
SOMETIME BEFORE 04/23/09 (MAYBE A MONTH) THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD STAY ON UNTIL I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. WHEN THE LIGHT CAME ON THE BRAKES WORKED BUT IT WAS ALL OR NOTHING. JUST TOUCHING THE BRAKES WOULD LOCK THEM UP, BOTH FRONT AND REAR SINCE THE HAND BRAKE OPERATES BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKES. SINCE MY COMMUTE RIDES WERE 12 MILES, I ONLY EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM 2 OR 3 TIMES PRIOR TO TAKING THE MOTORCYCLE INTO BMW MOTORCYCLES OF VENTURA COUNTY FOR SERVICE. ON 04/23/09 I TOOK THE BIKE IN FOR SERVICE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE BRAKE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT THE BATTERY VOLTAGE WAS LOW AND SHOWED 12.52 VDC AND SHOULD BE MINIMUM OF 12.6 VDC. THE DEALER CHARGED THE BATTERY. ALSO, THEY BLED THE BRAKE SYSTEM TO THE TUNE OF $241.20. THE BRAKE PROBLEM CONTINUED BUT WOULD ONLY RESURFACE ABOUT TWICE A MONTH AND I WAS THINKING THIS WAS BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS RUNNING OUT OF JUICE AND CAUSING THE ABS TO MALFUNCTION. I BOUGHT A DIGITAL BATTERY TENDER AND KEPT THE BATTERY FULLY CHARGED. I STOPPED COMMUTING ON THE BIKE AND ONLY USED IT FOR 30 TO 40 MILE RIDES BUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE ABS LIGHT COMING ON CONTINUED AND WHEN USING THE HAND BRAKE THE BRAKES WOULD AGAIN LOCK UP, IT WAS ALL OR NOTHING. ALTHOUGH, IF I SIMPLY USED THE FOOT BRAKE THAT ONLY OPERATES THE REAR BRAKE THE BIKE WOULD COME TO A SAFE STOP WITH NO LOCK UP. NOW THE BIKE HAS 20,599 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP, "BMW MOTORCYCLES OF VENTURA COUNTY, 830 TOURMAILINE DRIVE, NEWBURY PARK, CA. 91320...PHONE 805 499-3770 SINCE 10/17/13 AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE/REPAIR THE BRAKE MALFUNCTION. I HAVE PHONED BMW CUSTOMERS RELATIONS BUT WAS TOLD BY TWO DIFFERENT PERSONS THAT IT IS REALLY A DEALER PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH THE PROBLEM SHOWED UP BEFORE THE MOTORCYCLE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED. THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE BRAKES AND BMW WILL NOT COVER THE REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550550November 1, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
IN-TANK FUEL PUMP LEAKS FUEL AT THREADED CONNECTION TO OUTLET QUICK-RELEASE FITTING. I PURCHASED AND INSTALLED A REINFORCEMENT CLAMP MADE BY A THIRD-PARTY SUPPLIER AND REINSTALLED THE QUICK-RELEASE FITTING WITH A FUEL-RESISTANT THREAD SEALANT, BUT THE FITTING STILL LEAKS. I'LL TRY ADHESIVE INSTEAD, ON THE ADVICE OF OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FUEL LEAKS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE ON ANY VEHICLE, PARTICULARLY NOT ON A SUPPOSEDLY HIGH-QUALITY MOTORCYCLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550138October 30, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I SMELLED FUEL (ON AND OFF) ON THE HIGHWAY ON THE WAY TO WORK. WHEN I CAME TO MY PARKING SPACE, THEN I REALLY SMELLED IT. WHEN I LEANED THE BIKE TO PUT IS ON THE SIDE STAND SOME FUEL DRIPPED OUT FROM UNDER THE COWLING, RIGHT BY THE EXHAUST PIPE. AFTER WORK, IN THE PARKING LOT, I DISASSEMBLED THE COWLING AND FOUND THAT THE BASE OF THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY PACKAGE WHERE THE FUEL LINE CONNECTOR FITTING GOES INTO, WAS CRACKED, (NOT ENOUGH PLASTIC AROUND THE FITTING). I CALLED THE DEALER AND HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT I WAS REFERRING TO, AND WAS TOLD THE PART WAS $550 BECAUSE IT INCLUDED THE FUEL PUMP (WHICH I DON'T NEED). I DECIDED THAT I WOULD NOT BUY ANOTHER DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED PIECE, SO I GOT A CLAMP AND PUT IT OVER THE CRACKED PART, AND EPOXIED IT. MAKING IT A BETTER DESIGN. THE NEXT DAY, I ALSO WAS TOLD THAT THE NEW PIECE FROM BMW HAS THE SAME SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM, A STEEL BAND. I DON'T KNOW IF THEIRS IS STAINLESS STEEL LIKE MINE. AT FIRST, I WOULD HAVE SETTLED FOR JUST THE PART I NEEDED, BUT TO BE SOLD THE SAME CRAP PLUS A PART I DIDN'T NEED, I WASN'T GOING TO DO IT. AT THE URGING OF ANOTHER DEALER I CALLED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T CARE ABOUT MY PROBLEM, IN A PROFESSIONAL WAY OF COARSE. I TRY NOT TO PANIC ABOUT SAFETY ISSUES (I AM AN INSPECTOR OF EQUIPMENT IN ANOTHER LINE OF WORK). HOWEVER, THEIR LACK OF CORRECTIVE BACKING OF A BADLY DESIGNED PART CAUSED ME TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT. IT IS AT IT'S CORE A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10546944October 6, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE RIDING MY BMW R1200RT TODAY I STARTED SMELLING GAS. I RETURNED HOME AND PUT THE MOTORCYCLE IN THE GARAGE. IT HAD A VERY STRONG GAS SMELL COMING FROM IT. I REMOVED THE LEFT UPPER FAIRING TO INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP AREA. ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP RAW GASOLINE WAS POOLED AND LEAKING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE GAS TANK TOWARDS THE LEFT CYLINDER EXHAUST PIPE NEAR THE CYLINDER HEAD. THANK GOODNESS ENOUGH GAS HAD NOT LEAKED YET TO RUN ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE EXHAUST PIPE! I TURNED THE KEY ON TO ENERGIZE THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP AND PRESSURIZE THE FUEL SYSTEM TO SEE WHERE THE GAS WAS LEAKING FROM. IT IS LEAKING FROM THE FEMALE PLASTIC FUEL FITTING THAT IS PART OF THE PLASTIC GAS TANK. THERE ARE MULTIPLE CRACKS RADIATING FROM THIS FEMALE FUEL FITTING AND I CAN SEE GASOLINE DRIBBLING OUT OF AT LEAST ONE CRACK AT A FAST ENOUGH RATE TO PUDDLE ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD EASILY CAUSE A FIRE WHILE I AM RIDING DOWN THE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10546949October 6, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE RIDING MOTORCYCLE NOTED FUEL SMELL AND DISCOVERED LEAKING FUEL FROM CRACKS IN THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY TOP PLATE WHERE THE PLASTIC HIGH PRESSURE LINE QUICK DISCONNECT FITTING SCREWS IN TO THE TAPERED PIPE THREADS OF THE PLASTIC PLATE. NOTED EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKAGE POOLING WITH POTENTIAL OF DRIPPING ONTO HOT EXHAUST COMPONENTS. IF FUEL WERE TO BE IGNITED THERE WOULD LIKELY BE A CATASTROPHIC FIRE AND POTENTIAL CRASH. THERE IS ALSO THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSS OF TRACTION FOR THE REAR TIRE DUE TO LEAKAGE ON THE GROUND, ALSO POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A CRASH. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS DESIGN SPECIFICATION FLAW THAT MAY OCCUR ON ALL THE MOTORCYCLES SIMILARLY EQUIPPED. I ALSO BELIEVE THIS WARRANTS IMMEDIATE ACTION BY BMW, BOTH FOR MOTORCYCLES THAT HAVE YET TO FAIL, AND FOR THOSE THAT HAVE FAILED AND HAVE BEEN REPAIRED BY THE OWNERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10545747September 27, 2013
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
LEFT SIDE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH FAILURE (INOP. SEVERAL FUNCTIONS-TURN SIGNAL, CRUISE CONTROL, HIGH/LOW BEAM LIGHTS AND INFO.DISPLAY) CAUSED TOTAL LOSS OF LOW/HIGH BEAM LIGHTS WHILE RIDING AT NIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10543839September 16, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL STRIP FAILED, GOING FROM APPROXIMATELY 150 MILES TO EMPTY TO --- MILES TO EMPTY IMMEDIATELY. FUEL STRIP WAS REPLACED 5 TIMES IN TOTAL BEFORE I SOLD THE MOTORCYCLE 6/15/13 WITH ~7,500 MILES ON THE BIKE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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