2008 BMW R 1200 R

Routine

Owners filed 11 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the fuel/propulsion system. It has been recalled 6 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Fuel/Propulsion System5
000
Service Brakes3
000
Fuel System, Gasoline2
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip1
000

6 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump20V471000
Filed Aug 10, 202016,926 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2009-2011 K1300 (S, GT), 2010-2011 S1000 RR, 2005-2011 R1200 (GS, GS Adventure, R, RT, S, ST), 2006-2010 HP2 (Enduro, Megamoto, Sport), 2005-2008 K1200 (R, R Sport, S, GT), and 2012 K1600 (GT, GTL) motorcycles that were repaired under recall 13V-617 with the support ring remedy and where the fuel pump was not replaced at a later date. This recall involves the fuel pump, and also the auxiliary fuel pump as applicable. The affected motorcycles have a fuel pump flange that may crack, possibly resulting in a fuel leak while the engine is running.

Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump(s) with an improved version, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs15V141000
Filed Mar 11, 201543,426 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 R1200GS and R1200RT, 2006-2010 R1200GS Adventure, 2007-2010 R1200R, 2007 R1200S and K1200R Sport, 2005-2007 R1200ST, 2008-2009 HP2 Megamoto, 2006 HP2 Enduro, 2008-2010 HP2 Sport, 2005-2008 K1200S, 2006-2008 K1200R, K1200GT, 2009-2011 K1300S, 2010-2011 K1300R, and 2009-2010 K1300GT motorcycles. In the affected motorcycles, the rear wheel mounting flange may crack if the rear wheel mounting bolts are over tightened.

Risk. If the rear wheel mounting flange cracks, the mounting bolts may loosen and the rear wheel may not remain secured to the motorcycle, causing a loss of stability and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the existing aluminum rear wheel flange with a steel one, free of charge. The recall began on May 7, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump13V617000
Filed Dec 12, 201350,184 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 model year R-model motorcycles, model year 2005-2012 K-model motorcycles, model year 2010-2011 S 1000 model motorcycles, and model year 2006-2010 HP2 motorcycles. In the affected motorcycles, the fuel pump flange (and the auxiliary fuel pump flange if equipped) could develop cracks and leak fuel.

Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

Remedy. BMW will notify owners, and dealers will either reinforce the fuel pump flange or replace the pump, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 16, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at [email protected].

Service Brakes, Hydraulic10V276000
Filed Jun 18, 201015,532 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 THROUGH 2009 R 1200 AND K 1200 SERIES MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 2006 THROUGH MAY 2009. DUE TO THE CURRENT ROUTING OF THE FRONT BRAKE LINES, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT DURING RIDING, AND THEREFORE ASSOCIATED VIBRATION. THE BRAKE LINES COULD BE UNDER STRAIN. IF THE VIBRATION/STRAIN IS SIGNIFICANT, THE BRAKE LINE COULD SPLIT AND START TO DEVELOP A LEAK.

Risk. IF THIS GOES UNNOTICED, AND THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR RUNS EMPTY, THE FRONT BRAKES COULD FAIL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW BRAKE LINES, CONTAINING A "SLEEVE" ALONG A PORTION OF THE LINES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 20, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.

Power Train › Manual Transmission08V290000
Filed Jul 1, 200846 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. BMW IS RECALLING 46 MY 2008 R1200 R, R1200 GS, AND R1200 GS ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLES. DUE TO A MATERIAL DEFECT IN THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT OF THE TRANSMISSION, THE SHAFT COULD BREAK. IF THIS OCCURRED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO SEIZE.

Risk. IF THIS HAPPENED, LOCK-UP OF THE REAR TIRE COULD OCCUR. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE FOR THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING TO BREAK. IF THIS HAPPENED, OIL COULD LEAK ONTO THE REAR WHEE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GEARBOX. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING AUGUST 2008. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-331-1117.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings08V254000
Filed Jun 5, 20084,922 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. BMW IS RECALLING 4,922 MY 2007-2008 R1200R, MY 2006-2007 R1200 GS, MY 2007 R1200 ST, AND MY 2008 R1200 GS ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLES. DUE TO THE CURRENT ROUTING OF THE FRONT BRAKE LINES, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT DURING RIDING, THE BRAKE LINES COULD BE UNDER STRAIN. IF THE VIBRATION/STRAIN IS SIGNIFICANT, THE BRAKE LINES COULD SPLIT AND START TO DEVELOP A LEAK. IF THE LEAK BECAME SIGNIFICANT, BRAKE FLUID COULD ESCAPE. IF THIS HAPPENED, THE LEVEL OF FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR OF THE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM COULD DROP.

Risk. IF FLUID LEVEL DROPS SIGNIFICANTLY, THE FRONT BRAKES COULD FAIL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND INSTALL NEW BRAKE LINES WITH A MODIFIED ROUTING FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING AUGUST 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Aug 6, 201754,000 milesNC

THE FUEL TANK {FROM THE INSIDE OUT} AT THE FILLER HOLE HAS MASSIVE CORROSION RENDERING THE TANK USELESS. FUEL HAS THE ABILITY TO LEAK AN LEAK SUBSTANIALLY WHEN THE BIKE IS IN MOTION. FUME LEAKAGE READILY APPARENT AS WELL. PER THE CERTIFIED BMW MECHANIC AN THE SERVICE SUPERVISOR AND I AGREE THE FUEL TANK IS USELESS DUE TO MASSIVE PRE-MATURE CORROSION AN DEGRADATION OF THE TANK ITSELF. NOTE THAT THE MOTORCYCLE IS MAINTAINED UNDER A CARPORT AND ALWAYS OUT OF THE ELEMENTS. THIS IS A KNOWN FAILURE WITH BMW AND OF COURSE BMW HAS A HISTORY AS YALL WELL KNOW OF REFUSING TO STEP UP AN CORRECT DESIGN FAILURES UNLIKE OTHER COMPANIES SUCH AS TOYOTA. THE DISCOVERY WAS MADE WHEN THE WELL DOCUMENTED FUEL STRIP FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE 3RD STRIP WAS BEING INSTALLED. HOLES THE SIZE OF A POSTAGE STAMP AND "ROTTEN PAPER THIN" DEGRADATED METAL UNDERNEATH THE FILLER CAP IS EASILY TOTALLY DETAECTABLE. PER BMW THE TANK IS USELESS AN THERE IS NO FIX UNDER THAN REPLACEMENT- AND GET THIS PER THE BMW DEALER QUOTE - THIS PART IS OBSOLET- BMW IS NOT EVEN MAKING A REPLACEMENT FOR A 9 YR OLD BIKE. IT IS A FIRE HAZARD NOT ONLY TO THE MOTORCYCLE BUT TO THE OPERATOR AS WELL. IT IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTORS DEFECT WHICH BMW REFUSES TO ADDRESS. IT PRESENTS A SITUATION WHERE THE OPERATOR SHOULD NOT BE IN TRAFFIC DUE TO BEING A HAZARD TO HIMSELF, PASSENGERS, OR OTHER DRIVERS. LEAKING FUEL AN FUMES PRESENT A CLEAR HAZARD WHETHER IN MOTION OR EVEN AT IDLE. YALL MUST INVESTIGATE AN DEMAND BMW CORRECT THIS OUTRAGEOUS DES

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Aug 6, 201754,000 milesNC

FUEL PUMP FLANGE LEAKING DUE TO CRACKING. BMW'S 1ST FACTORY ATTEMPT WAS TO PUT A "SIZING" RING ON FLANGE TO COMPRESS THE MICRO CRACKS WHICH OF COURSE WAS A JACKLEG APPROACH QUITE COMMON TO BMW MOTORCYCLES. EVENTUALLY WITH IN 1 YR FUEL STARTED MASSIVELY FLOWING DOWN ONTO HOT ENGINE MAKING THE BIKE A ROLLING FIREBALL POTENTIALLY.

Service Brakes
Filed Apr 15, 201516,210 milesNJ

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

Service Brakes
Filed Sep 30, 20143,900 milesCT

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.

Service Brakes
Filed Jun 14, 201440,000 milesNM

ABS MODULE SUDDENLY QUIT, RENDERING THE ABS FUNCTION INOPERABLE. *JS

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Aug 21, 20136,800 milesCO

FUEL GAUGE FAILURE, SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING AND READS EMPTY AT ALL TIMES. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Feb 20, 20134,900 milesVA

LOW FUEL WARNING LAMP DID NOT COME ON LEADING TO ME RUNNING OUT OF FUEL ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. FUEL GAUGE INDICATED APPROXIMATELY 1/4 TANK (3 BARS) BUT WAS INACCURATE. THIS IS AN UNSAFE CONDITION SINCE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FROM RUNNING OUT OF FUEL CAN BE QUITE DANGEROUS ON A MOTORCYCLE. THE "FUEL STRIP" (PER BMW NOMENCLATURE) FAILS CAUSING FUEL GAUGE TO READ INACCURATELY AND RENDERING LOW FUEL WARNING LAMP INOPERATIVE. THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE ON MANY BMW MOTORCYCLE MODELS FROM 2005-2013. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Feb 19, 20134,252 milesMD

FROM THE DEALER'S REPAIR ORDER DESCRIPTION: "THE CUSTOMER REPORTS THE FUEL GAUGE READS LOW (LIGHT ON) WHEN FULL AND READS FULL WHEN EMPTY. ALSO THE RESIDUAL RANGE TO ZERO COUNTS DOWN FROM 253 TO THREE DASHES IN ABOUT THREE MILES AFTER EVERY FILL-UP." FUEL LEVEL SENDER PART 16147697815 REPLACED. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Aug 20, 201241,100 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW R1200R MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT TRAVELING 55 MPH, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,100. ...UPDATED 10/10/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS LOSS OF BRAKING, WHEN THE ABS PUMP FAILED.

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jul 2, 20116,000 milesMD

MY 2008 BMW R1200R MOTORCYCLE FUEL GAUGE CONTINUES TO MALFUNCTION OR DOES NOT WORK. IT HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. MERGING WITH HIGH SPEED HIGH VOLUME TRAFFIC IN THE DC AREA CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS IF YOU RUN OUT OF GAS DUE TO A FUEL GAUGE ERROR. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH MY BMW R1200GS ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLE. MY BROTHER HAS HID GAUGE CHANGED ON HIS BMW R1200GS ADVENTURE AT LEAST 5 TIMES. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Sep 24, 20101,200 milesCO

THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWS FUEL REMAINING AND THE WARNING LIGHT IS NOT ON AND THE ENGINE RUNS OUT OF FUEL AND DIES WITH NO WARNING. IT HAS HAPPENED TO MY BIKE AND TO MY SISTERS BIKE. MY FUEL GAGE STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY AFTER I RAN OUT. BMW REPAIRED MINE AND IT WORKS OK NOW. I HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM DISCUSSED REPEATEDLY IN MANY ONLINE FORUMS. *TR

11 of 11 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2013
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20180100Routine
20170300Routine
20160300Routine
20151300Routine
20140100Routine
201312200Routine
201210100Routine
20116300Routine
20104300Routine
20095400Routine
2008 — this page11600Routine
20077600Routine
20061100Routine

Compare every R 1200 R year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Aug 10, 2020. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.