FaultScore report
Owners have filed 14 complaints about the 2015 BMW R1200 GS with NHTSA between 2015 and 2024. The largest single group is the brakes. Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 6 worst.
FaultScore 56/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the BMW R1200 GS.
How this is worked out14
Complaints
1
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
14,100 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
88%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Median failure at 7,000 miles
Median failure at 13,100 miles
Median failure at 36,850 miles
Median failure at 21,200 miles
1 crashes, 0 fires
Median failure at 500 miles
Median failure at 500 miles
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
STEERING
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON A NATIONAL FOREST ROAD THE FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH AND CAUSING INJURY MANUFACTURE REPLACED EVERYTHING UNDER WARRANTY NO DEFINITION TOO WHY PART FAILED
NHTSA complaint #11000810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
SERVICE BRAKES
It is not clear which brake component is failing. It seems to be either the master cylinder or the ABS control module, but nothing seems to be conclusive. The failure alters the power of and force required to apply the rear brakes, changing the riding characteristics of the motorcycle that could lead to serious injury or miscalculations in application of both front a rear brakes to minimize stopping distance. Apparently the component has been inspected by the manufacturer, however there has been no concrete solution that would guarantee a permanent solution. There are no warning lamps or visual indicators to prepare riders that the rear brakes may be compromised or dysfunctional. There have been multiple incidents of this failure from new.
NHTSA complaint #11630748 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEELS
While riding the 1200GS yesterday, the rear brake calliper somehow came off! Has anyone encountered such a problem before. After the caliper came off, it got stuck in the wheel spokes and completely shattered the spokes and wheels. I was very lucky not sure how the wheels did not completely jam or freeze as this would have been deadly. I as was on a freeway with cars travelling over 70-MPH! Luckily enough motorists behind me and in other lanes observed what had happened and provided me space to pull over.
NHTSA complaint #11537784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
While riding the 1200GS yesterday, the rear brake calliper somehow came off! Has anyone encountered such a problem before. After the caliper came off, it got stuck in the wheel spokes and completely shattered the spokes and wheels. I was very lucky not sure how the wheels did not completely jam or freeze as this would have been deadly. I as was on a freeway with cars travelling over 70-MPH! Luckily enough motorists behind me and in other lanes observed what had happened and provided me space to pull over.
NHTSA complaint #11537784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
Rear brake pedal gets soft and braking performance is lost. Feels like air is getting into the system. Bleeding the brake fixes the problem, but it comes back after a few thousand miles. Seems this isn't an isolated icindent based on forum information: https://www.advrider.com/f/threads/bmw-r1200gs-lc-rear-brake-failures.1264712/ https://www.gs-forum.eu/threads/umfrage-wer-ist-von-luft-im-hinteren-bremskreis-betroffen.153022/
NHTSA complaint #11516417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
REAR BRAKE REQUIRES MORE AND MORE TRAVEL UNTILL IT HIT THE STOP..NO REAR BRAKE. BLEEDING BRAKE SOLVES FOR A MONTH OR TWO, THEN CYCLE BEGINS AGAIN. BMW SAYS BLEED BRAKES EVERY 2 YEARS, I HAVE TO DO IT AT LEAST EVERY OIL CHANGE (6000 MILES). DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM, HAS NO SOLUTION
NHTSA complaint #11110571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CONTROL BUTTONS ON LEFT HANDLEBAR FAILING AFFECTING CRUISE CONTROL, SUSPENSION SETTINGS, AND RIDE MODE WHICH AFFECTS ENGINE PERFORMANCE. BUTTON FAILURES OCCUR JUST OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY AND WHEN MOTORCYCLE IS IN OPERATION AND SUSPENSION AND ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEMS ARE OPERATIONAL.
NHTSA complaint #11100023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
CONTROL BUTTONS ON LEFT HANDLEBAR FAILING AFFECTING CRUISE CONTROL, SUSPENSION SETTINGS, AND RIDE MODE WHICH AFFECTS ENGINE PERFORMANCE. BUTTON FAILURES OCCUR JUST OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY AND WHEN MOTORCYCLE IS IN OPERATION AND SUSPENSION AND ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEMS ARE OPERATIONAL.
NHTSA complaint #11100023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
CONTROL BUTTONS ON LEFT HANDLEBAR FAILING AFFECTING CRUISE CONTROL, SUSPENSION SETTINGS, AND RIDE MODE WHICH AFFECTS ENGINE PERFORMANCE. BUTTON FAILURES OCCUR JUST OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY AND WHEN MOTORCYCLE IS IN OPERATION AND SUSPENSION AND ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEMS ARE OPERATIONAL.
NHTSA complaint #11100023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
BMW MOTORCYCLE RECALL CAMPAIGN 17V-438 - FRONT FORK. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM BMW IN AUGUST 2017 AND SENT THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE WARRANTY/RECALL REPAIR CONDUCTED. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN AT MORTON'S BMW IN FREDERICKSBURG, VA SINCE 09 SEPTEMBER AND BMW HAS STILL NOT SENT THE DEALER THE REPAIR PARTS. I SENT BMW OF NORTH AMERICA A DETAILED EMAIL ON 24 SEPTEMBER AND THEY HAVE YET TO RESPOND AND EXPLAIN WHY THEY WILL NOT FIX MY MOTORCYCLE WITHIN A REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME.
NHTSA complaint #11030033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW R1200 GS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V438000 (SUSPENSION) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN UNKNOWN BMW DEALER OF MANHATTAN, NEW YORK WAS MADE AWARE OF THE RECALL AND STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PART DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11021750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON A NATIONAL FOREST ROAD THE FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH AND CAUSING INJURY MANUFACTURE REPLACED EVERYTHING UNDER WARRANTY NO DEFINITION TOO WHY PART FAILED
NHTSA complaint #11000810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL SAFETY FEATURES DO NOT WORK AS REQUIRED. WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND THE CLUTCH IS OPERATED TO DOWNSHIFT, THE CRUISE CONTROL REMAINS ENGAGED. THIS CAUSES THE ENGINE TO RACE AND, IF RIDER THEN RELEASES THE CLUTCH, IT CAN PROPEL MOTORCYCLE FORWARD IN A DANGEROUS AND UNCONTROLLED MANNER. THIS HAS OCCURRED TWICE, ONCE AT 70 MPH AND A SECOND TIME AT 45 MPH. BOTH TIMES I WAS INITIATING A DOWNSHIFT.
NHTSA complaint #10991957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW R1200 GS ADVENTURER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER EVERY THREE MONTHS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY TO PREVENT THE FAILURE FROM RECURRING. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10747595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 BMW R1200 GS ADVENTURER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER EVERY THREE MONTHS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ABLE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY TO PREVENT THE FAILURE FROM RECURRING. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10747595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.