BMW R 1200 GS Complaints

325 consumer complaints on file.

#10585192April 28, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
UPON TRYING TO START MY 2007 R1200GS I GOT AN ERROR MESSAGE ON THE CLUSTER "EWS". A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH REPORTED THAT THE ERROR CODE MEANT "IGNITION KEY ANTENNA ERROR". SOME FORUMS READING REVEALED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY WITH THE 2007 R1200GS, BUT CAN HAPPEN TO OTHER MODEL YEARS AND OTHER BMW BIKES TOO. THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO TO START THE BIKE. I HAD TO BE TOWED. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10585138April 27, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL LEVEL SENSOR INDICATOR FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THIS HAPPENS ON ALL OF THESE MODELS BUT THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL OR EVEN AN ACCEPTABLE FIX FROM BMW. WE ARE ADVISED TO USE OUR ODOMETER AND IGNORE WARNING LIGHTS ON OUR DASHBOARDS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10584035April 21, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES, EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ABS SYSTEM FAILED- REQUIRED THE PURCHASE OF $2500 NEW ABS PUMP CONTROL MODULE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10578505April 9, 2014
WHEELS, SUSPENSION
THE REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY/SWINGARM IS DESCRIBED BY BMW AS "MAINTENANCE FREE," MEANING THAT THE OIL LEVEL IN THE REAR SWING-ARM CANNOT BE CHECKED OR REFILLED. MY MOTORCYCLE HAS DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK FROM SAID ASSEMBLY, AND HAS BEEN SLOWLY LEAKING FOR THE LAST 10,000+ MILES. IF THE OIL LEVEL DROPS LOW ENOUGH, I FEAR THE REAR WHEEL COULD LOCK WHILE RIDING, RESULTING IN A CRASH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575852March 31, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW ADVENTURE 1200GS MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, THERE WAS A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED A FUEL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575518March 29, 2014
STRUCTURE
I OWN A TOURATECH ZEGA PRO ALUMINIUM PANNIER SET ON MY BMW R1200GS 2012 BIKE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS ON MARCH 3RD 2014, DURING A ROUTINE BIKE RIDE ON A HIGHWAY, THE RIGHT HAND SIDE 45L PANNIER BECAME DETACHED AND FELL OFF THE BIKE, ALTHOUGH I HAVE REGULARLY CHECKED THE BIKE & PANNIERS BEFORE RIDING. I NOTICED THE MISSING PANNIER ONLY UPON ARRIVING MY DESTINATION. I'M EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED THIS HAS HAPPENED AS I WAS VERY HAPPY WITH MY TOURATECH SET, AND WAS USING IT ON A DAILY BASIS. I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS DETACHMENT DURING A REGULAR EVENTLESS BIKE RIDE. I CAN ASSURE YOU NO FAULTY USE OF THET ATTACHMENT SINCE I HAVE NOT DETACHED THE ZEGA PRO CASE FROM THE MOTORCYCLE FOR OVER 2 YEARS. THE CASE WAS USED AND CHECKED BY MYSELF DAILY, AS WELL AS BEFORE THE SPECIFIC RIDE OF THE INCIDENT, AND DID NOT APEAR TO BE UNSTABLE OR FAULTY. I DO THINK THIS IS SOMETHING TOURATECH SHOULD LOOK AT, AS THIS HAS OBVIOUSLY SERIOUS SAFETY IMPLICATIONS. I THINK TOURATECH SHOULD TAKE SOME RESPONSABILITY OF SUCH A SERIOUS INCIDENT THAT MAY HAVE ENDED MUCH MORE SERIOUSLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10568870March 12, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
UPON STARTING THE MOTORCYCLE GAS BEGIN SQUIRTING OUT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GAS TANK - APPROXIMATELY 1 QUART WITHIN A MINUTE OR TWO, COVERING MY PANT LEG AND FLOOR. UPON REMOVAL OF THE RIGHT SIDE TANK COVER IT WAS APPARENT THAT THE QUICK RELEASE COUPLING WAS SPLIT OR CRACKED AND WOULD SPEW GAS ANYTIME THE IGNITION WAS TURNED ON. THIS IS A VERY LOW MILEAGE HIGHLY MAINTAINED MOTORCYCLE KEPT IN A TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED GARAGE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS SITUATION HAD I BEEN RIDING AT SPEED AND THE GAS IGNITED. MY BMW REPAIR FACILITY INDICATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILING AND SOLD ME THE REPLACEMENT PART THAT IS THE IDENTICAL PLASTIC COUPLING I REMOVED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10567602March 6, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE HAD ISSUE WITH A LITHIUM IRON PHOSPHATE (LIFEPO4) BATTERY FROM BALLISTIC PERFORMANCE COMPONENTS (MODEL - 16 CELL HD BALLISTIC BATTERY) IN A MOTORCYCLE. THE DESIGN OF THE BATTERY CAN ALLOW WATER TO ENTER THROUGH THE TOP OF THE BATTERY THUS RESULTING IN THE BATTERY SHORTING OUT. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS OCCURRENCE SIMPLY BY RIDING THE BIKE IN THE RAIN. WITH THE BATTERY LOCATION DIRECTLY BELOW THE BACK OF THE FUEL TANK AND UNDER THE RIDER'S CROTCH, THE INHERENT SAFETY OF A BALLISTIC PERFORMANCE COMPONENTS BATTERY IS QUESTIONABLE. I WAS LUCKY THAT THE SHORTED BATTERY DID NOT RESULT IN A THERMAL RUNAWAY AND EXPLODE. I CAN PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. [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
#10567434March 5, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE ON THE HIGH-PRESSURE SIDE IS CRACKING AND LEAKING FUEL DUE TO A POOR DESIGN. PIPE-THREAD DESIGN IS CONTRIBUTING TO RADIAL CRACKS IN THE FLANGE CAUSING FUEL LEAKS. MACHINE THREADS WITH AN O-RING WOULD HAVE BEEN THE PROPER DESIGN. BMW HAS ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM IN LATER MODELS BY REINFORCING THE FLANGE WITH A METAL RING. THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY BMW. IT IS A POOR DESIGN UNDOUBTEDLY DRIVEN BY "VALUE ENGINEERING" CONCERNS RATHER THAN DEPENDABILITY OF A CRITICAL SYSTEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566775March 3, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE MOTORCYCLE RAN OUT OF FUEL WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CROSS A BUSY INTERSECTION INVOLVING A SMALL SIDE ROAD AND A DIVIDED 4 LANE ROAD. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10563505February 8, 2014
SERVICE BRAKES
THE ABS UNIT FAILED AS WELL AS THE STOP LIGHT, HEADLIGHT, SPEEDO, ODOMETER, TURN SIGNAL CANCEL AND BATTERY. DEALER SAID THAT ITS ALL CAUSED BY THE ABS PUMP UNIT. AFTER A $200 DIAGNOSIS, ESTIMATE TO RE[PAIR IS $2500. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH BMW MOTORCYCLES. UNSAFE, NO WARNING OF FAILURE! TWICE THE DEALER HAS REPLACED BRAKE LINES TO THE ABS UNIT DUE TO RECALL BUT THIS HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE ROOT PROBLEM, THE ABS UNIT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561438January 25, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE GAS TANK HAS QUICK DISCONNECT FITTINGS THAT SCREW INTO A PLASTIC FLANGE ON EACH SIDE OF THE TANK. THE FITTING THREADS ARE SIMILAR TO NPT PIPE THREADS WHICH OVER STRESS THE PLASTIC AND RESULT IN CRACKING, FUEL THEN LEAKS FROM THE TANK UNDER THE FAIRING ASSEMBLY ON TO ELECTRICAL WIRING, ENGINE PARTS AND HOT EXHAUST COMPONENTS. THIS COULD RESULT IN FIRE OR UNEXPECTED STOPPAGE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT OR FATALITY FROM A WRECK IN TRAFFIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10560047January 15, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR SHOWED EMPTY AFTER REFILLING. FLASHING LIGHTS INDICATING PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE. FILLED UP WITH 1/2 GALLON OF 91 OCTANE GASOLINE TO VISIBLE FULL IN TANK. THE TANK WAS NOT EMPTY, FAULTY FUEL LEVEL GAUGE/STRIP. THIS ITEM HAS BEEN REPLACED IN THE PAST WITH NO APPARENT PERMANENT FIX. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10557172December 24, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL PUMPS WERE FOUND CRACKED WITH BROKEN SEALS AND LEAKING DURING NORMAL SERVICE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10555171December 7, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
AFTER ABOUT 20-30 MINUTES OF RIDING THE BIKE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THIS MOTORCYCLE'S FUEL SYSTEM STARTS TO HAVE TROUBLE IDLING. FOR EXAMPLE, AFTER THE ENGINE IS HOT THE BIKE SEEMS HAVE PROBLEMS IDLING PROPERLY. FOR EXAMPLE, WHILE SLOWING FOR LIGHTS AND TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS, THE BIKE HAS A TENANCY TO STALL. THIS MOTORCYCLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS WHEN THE MOTOR IS WARM AND THE WHILE BREAKING AFTER DOWN-SHIFTING QUICKLY. IT HAPPENED OVER 20 TIMES IN THE LAST YEAR. THE BIKE STALLS IN BOTH COLD WEATHER AND IN HOT WEATHER. HOWEVER, IT APPEARS TO STALL MORE IN HOT WEATHER. NORMALLY, THE BIKE STALLS WHILE DECELERATING AT TRAFFIC SIGNALS. THE BIKE HAS 9000 MILES ON IT NOW. STALLS PUT THE RIDER AT RISK OF BEING RUN OVER FROM BEHIND AT TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES. HERE IS A VIDEO OF THE LAST TIME I HAD IT HAPPENED: HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=HIT1MG351LI&FEATURE=C4-OVERVIEW&LIST=UUP6Q_DHA0JUK5WA9VRDY5ZW. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10554036November 27, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I SMELLED GAS AND FOUND GAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL PUMP ATTACHED TO THE GAS TANK. I FOUND CRACKS ON THE PERIPHERY OF THE FUEL QUICK-DISCONNECT PORT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10552598November 17, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
ARBITRARY FAILURE OF THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR. IT OCCURRED AT 2,200 MILES. OPERATION OF THE MOTORCYCLE WAS UNINHIBITED EXCEPT FOR A FALSE READING ON THE FUEL GAUGE. AFTER THE FAILURE AND REPLACEMENT OF THE RECALLED FUEL PUMP CONTROLLER, THE FUEL GAUGE READS EMPTY REGARDLESS OF LEVEL. THIS RESULTS IN A CONSTANT WARNING LIGHT THAT CANNOT BE RESET OR TURNED OFF. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED AND A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS TYPE OF FUEL SENSOR IN THESE MOTORCYCLES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550394October 31, 2013
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW 1200 GS MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REAR FINAL DRIVE BEARING BECAME SEPARATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE MOTORCYCLE WITH THE FRONT BRAKE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE REAR FINAL BEARING WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,182. UPDATED 01/07/014*LJ UPDATED 1/17/2014 *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550300October 30, 2013
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TRAVELING APPROX 60 MPH DURING RUSH HOUR IN MIDDLE LANE OF THREE LANE DIVIDED HIGHWAY. FUEL GAUGE SHOWED TWO BARS AND DISPLAY INDICATED APPROX 60 MILES OF RANGE LEFT. ENGINE SUDDENLY LOST POWER. I WAS ABLE TO GET TO RIGHT SHOULDER WHEN ENGINE DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. WAS ABLE TO PUSH APPROX 1/4 MILE TO EXIT RAMP AND THEN TO FUEL STATION. FUEL TANK WAS EMPTY. FUEL GAUGE NEVER SHOWED EMPTY NOR DID LOW FUEL LIGHT COME ON. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549902October 28, 2013
SERVICE BRAKES
FRONT BRAKE LOCKED UP WHILE MY WIFE AND I WERE RIDING TO NEW ORLEANS, LA. WE WERE BARELY ABLE TO MOVE THE BIKE OUT OF TRAFFIC AND TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. HAD TO BLEED PRESSURE FROM THE BRAKE LINE TO MOVE IT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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