2008 BMW R1200 GS fuel system problems

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHILE TRAVELLING AT THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE LEFT LANE IN BUSY TRAFFIC, THE MOTORCYCLE QUIT AS IF I HAD SHUT OFF THE KEY. I HAD TO MANEUVER THROUGH 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. I BELIEVE THAT THE FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR SHUT THE BIKE OFF EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS FUEL IN THE TANK. ONCE STOPPED, THE BIKE STARTED AGAIN AND RAN NORMALLY. I BELIEVE THAT THE FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR CAN INTERRUPT ENGINE OPERATION WHEN IT GETS TO A POINT OF ZERO RANGE, EVEN THOUGH THE BIKE HAS ADEQUATE FUEL IN THE TANK. I HAVE ASKED BMW TO VERIFY THIS AND THEY WILL NOT. OWNERS SHOULD BE ADVISED THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN AS I NARROWLY AVOIDED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IF IT CANNOT HAPPEN, THEN I NEED TO LOOK WHAT DID HAPPEN. BMW RECOMMENDS THAT I TALK TO THE DEALER, BUT HE HAS ALREADY TOLD ME THAT HE CANNOT ANSWER THE QUESTION. THEY HAVE ALSO OFFERED TO SEND A REP TO LOOK AT THE BIKE, BUT AS CUSTOMERS, WE NEED TO KNOW IF THIS CAN HAPPEN AND BE WARNED ABOUT IT SO WE KNOW WHAT TO DO. THE DEALER DID REPLACE THE FUEL STRIP AND SINCE THEN THE FUEL STRIP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWO MORE TIMES, AND IS NOW INOPERABLE. BMW NEEDS TO ANSWER MY QUESTION BECAUSE IF THE FUEL STRIP CAN INTERRUPT ENGINE OPERATION BMW OWNERS NEED TO KNOW. WITHOUT KNOWING THIS, IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHICH EASILY COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FATALITY WHICH PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO OPERATOR ERROR.

NHTSA complaint #10760928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I WAS RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE SUDDENLY STALLED. IT WAS A SCARY MOMENT SINCE I NOTICED THE VEHICLES BEHIND ME SLAMMING THERE BRAKES, TRYING TO AVOID HITTING ME!. THE FUEL LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND WARNING (YELLOW TRIANGLE) ON. I CALLED MY BMW DEALER FOR REPAIR APPOINTMENT AND THE TECH. SAID THAT IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS MODELS WITH A FUEL SENSOR FAILURE AND IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY BY BMW. AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL BMW OWNERS AND READING SOME FORUMS, I LEARNED THAT THIS MODEL EQUIPPED WITH A FUEL SENSOR STRIP THAT HAPPENS TO FAIL OFTEN. SOME R1200GS OWNERS HAD TO CHANGE IT 3-7 TIMES, BUT BMW OF NORTH AMERICA WANT ADMIT THERE FAULTY PART!. HOPE YOU CAN GET INVOLVED IN THIS HIGH RISK MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #10595133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

RUNNING OUT OF GAS DUE TO FAULTY FUEL STRIP SENSOR WHICH PREVENTS DETERMINING FUEL LEVEL IN GAS TANK. DANGER IS BEING REAR ENDED BY ON COMING VEHICLES. THIS IS THE 7TH BMW FUEL SENSOR STRIP THAT HAS FAILED FOR MY WIFE AND I IN THE YEARS FROM 2005 TO 2014. THERE HAVE BEEN 2 ON TWO 2005 K1200SES, 1 ON A 2006 K1200S, 3 ON TWO 2008 K1200SES, AND 1 ON A 2008 R1200GS FUEL LEVEL STRIPS THAT HAVE FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10593632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

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.

NHTSA complaint #10554036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL TANK IS LEAKING AT THE PLASTIC FLANGES WHERE THE FUEL PUMP RESIDES. THIS APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL YEAR AND OTHERS.

NHTSA complaint #10536724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHILE CRUISING AT MODERATE SPEED ON PAVED SURFACE ROAD FIRST NOTICED STRONG GASOLINE SMELL, FOLLOWED IN FEW MINUTES BY SOAKING OF THE LEFT LEG OF THE PANTS WITH GASOLINE, AND THEN OBSERVED GASOLINE DRIPPING ON THE LEFT CYLINDER HEAD. STOPPED, REMOVED LEFT SIDED COWLING TO INSPECT FUEL LINES AND NOTED STEADY STREAM OF FUEL LEAKING FROM FUEL PUMP HOUSING WHEN ENGINE RUNNING.

NHTSA complaint #10523549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW R1200 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS APPROXIMATELY 26,200.

NHTSA complaint #10503488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHILE RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE, I NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FRONT BOTTOM LEFT SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. FUEL WAS SPRAYING ON TO MY LEFT LEG SOAKING IT IN FUEL. THE LOCATION OF THE SPRAY WAS DIRECTLY ON TOP OF THE FRONT LEFT CYLINDER AND EXHAUST PIPE. THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE WAS REAL. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER ( GULF COAST BMW IN HOUSTON ), THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE AND SHOWED ME A SAMPLE OF THE FAILED PART. I WAS THEN FORCED TO BUY A COMPLETE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY AS BMW DID NOT SELL THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE THAT FAILED. THE FLANGE DEVELOPED A CRACK THAT ALLOWED FUEL TO ESCAPE UNDER HIGH PRESSURE. THE PARTS ALONE COST OVER 700 DOLLARS. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE COMMON TO THE R SERIES TWIN CYLINDER ENGINES. WHAT'S WORSE IS THAT THEY REPLACED THE FAILED PART WITH EXACTLY THE SAME THING SO NOW I AM WAITING FOR THIS PART TO FAIL AGAIN. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE EASILY ENDED TRAGICALLY. I AM WORRIED FOR THE SAFETY OF MANY OTHER RIDERS OUT THERE USING THIS MOTORCYCLE AND THUS I AM FILING THIS FORMAL COMPLAINT. I HAVE NOTIFIED BMW ABOUT THIS AND THEY JUST THANKED ME FOR INFORMING THEM - WITH NO FURTHER ACTION OR RELIEF FOR HAVING TO PURCHASE AN ENTIRE ASSEMBLY FOR WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL PART FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10467136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM

FUEL GAUGE SENSOR STRIP, FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK OR WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, IS A WELL KNOW PROBLEM WITH POST 2005 BMW MOTORCYCLES. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY FEATURE, COULD POSSIBLY RUN OUT OF GAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR RUN OUT OF GAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE. BMW NEEDS TO RECALL ALL BIKES WITH THIS FUEL STRIP AS A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE TO ENSURE THE PUBLIC IS OUT OF HARMS WAY!!!

NHTSA complaint #10455787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

2008 BMW GS MOTORCYCLE RAN OUT GAS WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT. GAS GAGE SHOWED A RANGE OF 50 MILES LEFT IN THE TANK BEFORE EMPTY. THIS HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE BECAUSE OF THE FUEL STRIP IN THE TANK FAILS TO READ THE FUEL LEVEL. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY, AND HAVE NOT HAD THIS HAPPEN WHILE IN MOTION ON THE FREEWAY OR HIGHWAY PUTTING ME IN DANGER FROM OTHER VEHICLES DUE TO SUDDEN LOSS OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #10404523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.