BMW R 1200 GS Complaints (2005)

51 consumer complaints on file.

#10505324April 2, 2013
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW R1200GS MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR UNRELATED MAINTENANCE WHEN THEY NOTICED THAT THE REAR WHEEL FINAL DRIVE WAS SEVERELY WORN. THE PART WAS ORDERED AND THE VEHICLE WAS LATER REPAIRED. THE REAR BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED DURING THE REPAIR DUE TO AN EXCESSIVE OIL LEAK FROM THE REAR WHEEL. THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS ALSO DAMAGED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000. UPDATED 06/10/13 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FINAL DRIVE SEAL BLEW WHILE DRIVING. THE REAR TIRE WAS COVERED IN OIL. IN ADDITION, THE REAR BRAKE PAD HAD TO BE REPLACE DUE TO OIL DAMAGE. WHILE REPAIRING THE FINAL DRIVE. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS NOTCHY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10498314February 15, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
DURING SERVICE, TECH NOTICED A CRACK IN THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING. BIKE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO RISK OF FUEL LEAK AND FIRE HAZARD. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED AND COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO LOSS OF LIFE OR SEVERE BURNS. RECOMMEND RECALL ON THIS PART. *TR THE ISSUE IS SO WELL KNOWN, ONLINE PARTS STORES ARE SELLING A PARTS FIX. REQUEST REASON WHY RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10488899December 16, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AFTER FILLING UP ON FUEL AND DRIVING HOME (LESS THAN FIVE MILES), I PARKED THE MOTORCYCLE. LATER IN THE DAY, I NOTICED FUEL ON THE ASPHALT BENEATH THE BIKE AND LEAKING FROM THE FUEL PUMP, DOWN ONTO THE ENGINE, LEFT EXHAUST PIPE AND OTHER PARTS OF THE FRAME. FURTHER INSPECTING, I FOUND FUEL POOLED ATOP THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING. MOPPING UP THE FUEL, I IDENTIFIED A HAIRLINE CRACK IN THE UPPER PLASTIC HOUSING THAT HOLDS THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL PUMP ELECTRONICS AND FUEL LINE CONNECTION. THE FUEL PUMP ELECTRONICS UNIT WAS DAMAGED BY EXPOSURE TO THE FUEL, CAUSING SILICON INSULATION TO CRUMBLE AND FALL AWAY. (EVIDENCE THAT THE LEAK HAD EXISTED FOR SOME TIME, BUT ONLY CAME TO MY ATTENTION AFTER THIS PARTICULAR FILL-UP.) REPLACEMENT PARTS ESTIMATE FROM BMW: $680.34 (INCLUDING TAX, BUT EXCLUDING INSTALLATION.) *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10487986December 11, 2012
STRUCTURE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
DISCOVERED 12/9/2012. EXTENT OF CRACKING INDICATES THAT THE ISSUE LIKELY BEGAN A NUMBER OF YEARS EARLIER. MY FUEL TANK HAS PLASTIC QUICK DISCONNECT FITTINGS ON LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE. NUMEROUS (8-12) SMALL RADIAL CRACKS HAVE APPEARED IN EACH OF THE QUICK DISCONNECT REINFORCEMENT FLANGES, EXTENDING IN SEVERAL CASES DOWN TO THE TOP OF THE TANK. CONTINUED GROWTH OF THE CRACKS INTO THE THREADED AREA HAVE RESULTED IN FUEL LEAKS ON OTHER BIKES WITH THIS SAME CONFIGURATION (BUT NOT YET ON MY BIKE). BELIEF IS THAT THE COMPOSITE QUICK DISCONNECT EXPANDS DURING PRESSURE CYCLING AND IMPARTS A RADIAL LOAD TO THE PUMP HOUSING QUICK DISCONNECT REINFORCEMENT FLANGE. OVER TIME, THIS PRESSURE CYCLING CAUSES CRACKS TO APPEAR IN THE REINFORCEMENT FLANGE WHICH EVENTUALLY RESULT IN FUEL LEAKS. SEE ODI 10428629 AND CASE [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10485807November 22, 2012
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL STARTED LEAKING FROM TOP OF GAS TANK , LEAKING FROM CRACKS IN FLANGE CONNECTION VERY UNSAFE FIRE HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10477315September 27, 2012
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW R1200 GS MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY DETECTED THAT THE DRIVE-LINE SEAL WAS LEAKING INTERNALLY. THE CONTACT REFERENCED A CONCURRENT INVESTIGATION UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: DP12001 (POWER TRAIN:DRIVE LINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT) THAT COULD HAVE BEEN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000. UPDATED 10/24/12*LJ UPDATED 10/25/12
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10473442August 27, 2012
POWER TRAIN
FINAL DRIVE UNIT FAILED AND LOCKED UP THE REAR WHEEL
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10447859February 13, 2012
POWER TRAIN
REAR DRIVE FAILURE WHILE RIDING TWO UP, OIL SOAKED REAR WHEEL, WHEEL WOBBLE. BETWEEN WOBBLE AND OIL CONTROL LOST (AND SLOW SPEED AT THAT POINT). *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10447862February 13, 2012
POWER TRAIN
REAR WHEEL MOVED SIDE TO SIDE (BEARING ABOUT TO FAIL). SECOND R1200GS I OWNED WITH SAME SAFETY FAILURE, REPLACED AND SOLD MOTORCYCLE AT SEVERE LOSS AS TWO R1200GS REAR DRIVE FAILURES ON TWO LOW MILEAGE R1200GS. LOSS OF THOUSANDS UPON THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10447521February 11, 2012
POWER TRAIN
FINAL DRIVE AND DRIVESHAFT FAILED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10446715February 5, 2012
POWER TRAIN
FINAL DRIVE ON THE MOTORCYCLE FAILED. THIS IS A TYPICAL FAILURE FOR MANY BMW MOTORCYCLES. THERE WAS MINOR LEAKAGE/SEEPAGE OF FINAL DRIVE OIL BEFORE AND DURING THE FAILURE. NO CRASH RESULTED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10446688February 4, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
A PLASTIC FUEL LINE QUICK DISCONNECT FAILED AS THE FUEL LINE WAS BEING REMOVED FROM THE FUEL TANK TO PERFORM NORMAL MAINTENANCE. AS A RESULT THE BULKHEAD SIDE OF THE FITTING JAMMED OPEN ALLOWING FUEL TO POUR FROM THE FUEL TANK. THIS OCCURRED IN A GARAGE THAT ALSO CONTAINED A GAS FIRED WATER HEATER AND COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. IN THIS CASE I WAS ABLE TO TEMPORARILY BLOCK THE FLOW, VENTILATE THE GARAGE, AND THEN DRAIN THE TANK. CONVERSATIONS WITH THE MAKERS OF THE FUEL LINE FITTING INDICATE THAT BMW RECOMMENDED AGAINST THEIR USE, ESPECIALLY ON CALIFORNIA VEHICLES. THE FITTING MANUFACTURERS OFFER THE SAME FITTINGS IN BRASS, WHICH I USED TO REPLACE THE BMW SUPPLIED FITTINGS. HOWEVER, THE PLASTIC BULKHEAD INTO WHICH THE FEMALE FITTING FITS HAD BEEN EMBRITTLED BY EXPOSURE TO FUEL AND IT ALSO CRACKED. THE BULKHEAD WAS REPLACED BY AN ALUMINUM PART I FABRICATED FOR THAT PURPOSE. I NOTIFIED TWO BMW MOTORCYCLE DEALERS OF THE PROBLEM BUT NEITHER WERE FAMILIAR WITH IT OR ANY SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN. SEARCHES OF VARIOUS INTERNET MOTORCYCLE FORUMS SHOWS THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM NOT JUST ISOLATED TO THE BMW R1200GS. A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF MY EXPERIENCE CAN BE FOUND AT THE URL BELOW: HTTP://GUNSMOKE.COM/MOTORCYCLING/R1200GS/QUICK_CONNECTS/INDEX.HTML *KB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10444057January 17, 2012
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
THE TURN SIGNALS BEGAN WITH INTERMITTENT MALFUNCTION AND HAVE NOW FAILED COMPLETELY. AFTER INVESTIGATING I FOUND THAT THIS IS A TYPICAL FAILURE ON BMW MOTORCYCLES AND HAS BEEN TRACED TO NON-FUNCTIONAL MICRO SWITCHES IN THE HANDLE BAR CONTROL ASSEMBLIES, BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10443264January 10, 2012
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE FUEL GAUGE STOPPED WORKING BECAUSE OF A FAILURE OF THE "FUEL STRIP" SENDER IN THE GAS TANK. EVEN THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THE FUEL STRIPS EVEN ON THE SAME BIKE, BMW REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10433733October 31, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
THE FLANGE ON THE FUEL TANK, CRACK, LEAKING FUEL EVERYWHERE, THIS HAPPENS TO OTHERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10425962September 18, 2011
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
DETECTED FUEL LEAKING FROM LEFT SIDE OF MOTORCYCLE. LEFT SHIN WAS COVERED IN GASOLINE. REMOVED SIDE COVERS AND DETECTED GAS SPRAYING FROM A PLASTIC GAS LINE CONNECTOR DIRECTLY ABOVE THE FUEL PUMP. 300 MILES FROM HOME AND THE NEAREST BMW DEALER. TIE WRAPPED GAS LINE TO STOP LEAKING. MANAGED TO RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE HOME. BMW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS SELECTED A METAL CONNECTOR AS A REPLACEMENT. I HAD AN 18,000 MILE CHECK-UP PERFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP IN JUNE 2011. NO RECALL BY BMW. MOTORCYCLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, SO I MUST PAY FOR REPAIR. AFTER OPERATING MOTORCYCLE, GAS COLLECTS IN A BOWL ABOVE THE FUEL PUMP. WHEN YOU PLACE THE MOTORCYCLE ON THE SIDE STAND GAS CAN FALL ON THE HOT ENGINE. POTENTIAL FOR FIRE AND IGNITING GAS ON MY LEG IF A FIRE OCCURRED. THE MOTORCYCLE IS ALSO UNSAFE TO RIDE UNTIL REPAIRED. IF THIS WAS A CAR, THERE WOULD BE A RECALL. *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10373578December 30, 2010
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
BMW MOTORCYCLE, R1200/GS 2005 MODEL, GAS LEAK PROBLEM. ON PLASTIC QUICK DISCONNECTORS IN THE FUEL LINE, CRACKS CAN FORM IN THE THIN FITTINGS, JUST ABOVE THE FUEL PUMP. CAUSING GAS TO SPRAY, POOL, THEN LEAK DIRECTLY ON TO THE HOTTEST PART OF THE EXHAUST PIPE WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE IS PLACED ON THE SIDESTAND. THIS CREATES A FIRE HAZARD. THESE THIN PLASTIC FITTINGS ARE DESTINED TO FAIL, AND NEED TO BE CHANGED OUT WITH AVAILABLE BRASS FITTINGS TO REMEDY THIS POTENTIAL HAZARD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10364218November 5, 2010
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE, WHEELS, STRUCTURE
BMW R1200GS REAL WHEEL FLANGE THE FLANGE IS A BILLET PART THAT CONNECTS THE REAR WHEEL AND THE REAR BRAKE DISC TO THE MOTORCYCLE. WORLD-WIDE THERE ARE REPORTS FROM USERS OF R1200GS MODELS MANUFACTURED IN 2004 AND 2005 ABOUT CRACKS IN THE FLANGE AROUND EITHER THE MOUNTING HOLES FOR THE BRAKE DISC OR THE MOUNTING HOLES FOR THE REAR WHEEL. SEVERAL INCIDENTS ARE KNOWN WHERE THE REAR BRAKE DISC BROKE OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. ON LAST INSPECTION THE FLANGE ON MY MOTORCYCLE HAD DEVELOPED CRACKS AROUND ALL 5 MOUNTING HOLES FOR THE REAR WHEEL BOLTS. BMW DENIES THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ORIGINAL PART AND REFUSES REPLACEMENT, CLAIMING THAT IN ALL INCIDENTS THE BOLTS MUST HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH TOO HIGH TORQUE. THE REAR WHEEL HAS ALWAYS BEEN MOUNTED BY MYSELF, AND ALWAYS USING A TORQUE WRENCH WITH THE CORRECT SETTING. THE ORIGINAL PARTS ONE THESE MOTORCYCLES APPARENTLY WERE BMW PART-NUMBER 33117694910; AS REPLACEMENT BMW NOW SELLS A RE-DESIGNED PART WITH THE NEW PART-NUMBER 33117699631. THE DANGER FOR A CRASH SHOULD THE REAR WHEEL OR THE REAR BRAKE DISC BREAK OFF WHILE IN MOTION ARE OBVIOUS. BMW HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM, DOESN'T OFFER FREE REPLACEMENTS AND TO MY KNOWLEDGE HAS NOT SENT OUT A SERVICE BULLETIN OR ANY OTHER KIND OF WARNING TO DEALERS OR CUSTOMERS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10291417November 8, 2009
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ABS BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. HARD TO STOP BIKE AND A NEAR MISS WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. SEEMS TO BE A FAULTY FRONT BRAKE SWITCH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10290767November 3, 2009
POWER TRAIN
NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM ENGINE TRANSMISSION JUNCTURE BEING BLOWN BACK ONTO REAR TIRE ON MY 2005 BMW MOTORCYCLE. *YT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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