When starting my BMW motorcycle it normally can be started in two modes: (1) in neutral or (2) In gear with the clutch handle pulled back to the handlebar and the clutch disengaged. However, my BMW 2015 BMW R1200RT motorcycle will NOT engage the starter motor to start the engine with the Clutch handled pulled back to the handlebar which disengages the clutch. The problem was noticed at 17,500 miles and several others have reported the same issues. BMW Motorcycles refuses to repair this latent/systemic safety defect in the BMW dual microswitches (actually two are contained within one physical unit), BMW part number 32728537609. This failure puts a rider at severe risk when the BMW motorcycles that have this switch and it is in a failed state when the motorcycle stalls in traffic. The rider must quickly shift the transmission into neutral to enable the starter motor to engage and restart the engine. This is difficult to do as one attempts to quickly shift the transmission into neutral, restart the engine, shift the transmission into gear, and move forward with traffic. BMW is aware of this critical safety issue that affects several years and models of their motorcycles but instead either sells a new dual microswitch for $103.86 or installs it with labor for a total charge of $246.36 (Cal-Moto, Livermore, CA). There was no warning this dual microswitch was beginning to fail, only total failure. BMW motorcycle dealers are well aware of this issue and many are out of stock given t
2015 BMW R1200 RT
Owners filed 3 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the suspension. No safety recall has been issued.
| Component | Reports | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
What owners reported
Newest filingsMOTORCYCLE HAS LESS THAT 30,000 MILES AND IS LESS THAN FOUR YEARS OLD BUT THE FROM TPMS SENSOR HAS COMPLETELY FAILED AND NO LONGER READS ANY TIRE PRESSURE. I HAVE A CONSTANT TPMS FAILURE LIGHT ON MY DASH BOARD. A REPLACEMENT SENSOR IS OVER $200 NOT INCLUDING LABOR FOR INSTALLATION AND REPROGRAMMING OF THE ON-BOARD COMPUTER.
AFTER FIRST 200 MILES OIL WAS OBSERVED LEAKING FROM THE REAR SHOCK DYNAMIC ESA SYSTEM. CONFIRMED BY DEALERSHIP AND APPROVED FOR REPLACEMENT. *TR
3 of 3 complaints, reproduced as filed.
Across model years
Worst on record: 2006Reading 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.
Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.