64 of the
186 complaints filed about the BMW R1200 GS
are about the fuel system —
34% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2007.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW R1200 GS. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE A FUEL STATION, THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL LEAK ON THE FUEL PUMP. THE CONTACT ALSO SMELLED A FUEL ODOR. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V617000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW MOTORCYCLES OF ESCONDIDO (LOCATED AT 499 N HALE AVE, ESCONDIDO, CA 92029, (760) 520-1288) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. *LN*JB*CW
NHTSA complaint #11269361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING MY MOTORCYCLE WHEN I NOTICED A GAS LEAK COMING FROM THE FITTING WHERE THE FUEL LINE GOES INTO THE FUEL PUMP ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE GAS TANK. THIS CAUSED GAS TO DRIP DIRECTLY ONTO THE LEFT SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. IN THE PAST I HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE PLASTIC QUICK RELEASE FUEL LINE CRACKING WHERE IT SCREWED INTO THE FUEL PUMP (SAME LOCATION) AND DRIPPING GAS DIRECTLY ONTO THE LEFT EXHAUST MANIFOLD WHEN RIDING IT. I REPLACED THE PLASTIC QUICK RELEASE FUEL FITTING WITH A METAL ONE FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURER TO CORRECT THE ISSUE. CHECKING WITH OTHERS ONLINE, I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT BOTH OF THESE ISSUES ARE KNOWN, COMMON PROBLEMS ON THIS MODEL.
NHTSA complaint #11173602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW R1200 GS MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL STRIP FRACTURED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED MORE THAN THREE TIMES BY MORTON'S BMW MOTORCYCLES (540-891-9844, LOCATED AT 5099A JEFFERSON DAVIS HIGHWAY, FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA 22408). THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE FUEL STRIP PER SERVICE INFORMATION BULLETIN: 1600214(17) REGARDING THE FUEL STRIP BMW EXTENDED WARRANTY CAMPAIGN. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V617000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND TWO TSBS WERE ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #11153312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW R1200 GS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, FUEL HAD LEAKED FROM THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE AND SPRAYED ONTO THE RIDERS LEG AND PARTS OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND AN UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V617000 (FUEL SYSTEM) ALTHOUGH THE MOTORCYCLE HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.
NHTSA complaint #11144510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE ENGINE GOES INTO A FAULTED STATE SPONTANEOUSLY WITH NO WARNING PRIOR, THE ECU IS FAULTING AND PUTTING THE ENGINE INTO "LIMP MODE" WHICH IS ALMOST EQUIVALENT OF COMPLETELY KILLING THE ENGINE THE WAY IT IS CURRENTLY DONE, AND YOU ARE LEFT TO NAVIGATE OFF THE HIGHWAY IN A SEVERELY DEBILITATED STATE OF OPERATION. THE ENGINE IS PROGRAMMED WITH A "LIMP MODE" FAULT I ASSUME TO SAVE THE ENGINE? BUT MY COMPLAINT IS , THE WAY IT CURRENTLY OPERATES ON THE MOTORCYCLE,IT IS PATENTLY "UNSAFE" AND PUTS THE RIDER OR OPERATOR AND PASSENGER IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION SHOULD THE "LIMP MODE" FAULT BE ENGAGED . I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR THIS, WITHOUT ANY NOTICEABLE CHANGE IN THE WAY THE MOTOR IS RUNNING INITIALLY, WHATEVER THE ENGINE CONTROL COMPUTER IS SEEING, IS AN ANOMALY . IN THE CASE OF MY PERSONAL INCIDENT, I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND IN TRAFFIC ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY . THE MOTORCYCLE WAS RUNNING FLAWLESSLY AND JUST SUDDENLY IT FELT AS IF THE SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF. THE THROTTLE WAS NON RESPONSIVE INITIALLY, AND AFTER, ONLY MINUTELY. I WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE OFF THE HIGHWAY TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROADWAY, AS LUCKILY THE TRAFFIC WAS VERY LIGHT AT THIS PLACE AND TIME. HAD I BEEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS, THIS COULD HAVE ENDED VERY DIFFERENTLY AND I DON'T MEAN THAT IN A GOOD WAY. IT HAS SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP OF BMW DEALERS 2X FOR THIS ISSUE, AND NOW IS IN FOR THE 3RD TIME AS THEY HAVE TO DATE, BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN FINDING AND CORRECTING THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE ISSUE. THERE ARE APPARENTLY MALFUNCTIONS WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON THE MOTORCYCLE, THAT ARE FALSE READINGS, MOMENTARY "BLIPS" , OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT -- WHICH FOOLS THE COMPUTER AND TRIGGERS THE "LIMP MODE" FAULT TO ENGAGE.
NHTSA complaint #11092238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE CONNECTION IS CRACKED AND LEAKING FUEL. THERE ARE MULTIPLE PICTURES VIDEOS AND THREADS REGARDING RECALLS FOR THE EXACT SAME FUEL LEAK THAT I AM EXPERIENCING ON THE INTERNET. HOWEVER WHEN I CALLED BMW OF NORTH AMERICA THEY TELL ME THAT MY MOTORCYCLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. CLEARLY THIS TYPE OF FUEL LEAK REPRESENTS A FIRE HAZARD AND DIRECT LIFE SAFETY ISSUE. MY QUESTION IS HOW CAN MY PARTICULAR MOTORCYCLE BE EXCLUDED FROM THIS WELL PUBLICIZED BMW RECALL SITUATION ?? FORTUNATELY I DISCOVERED THE FUEL LEAK IN MY GARAGE AND NOT WHILE GOING 70 MPH DOWN THE INTERSTATE
NHTSA complaint #11083669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS ACCELERATING ON THE ON-RAMP TO MERGE IN TO THE SLOW LANE WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC ON THE 80 NORTH BOUND HEADING HOME. I HAD JUST SHIFTED THE MOTORCYCLE IN TO 3RD GEAR WHEN IT LOST ALL POWER AND STARTED SLOWING DOWN. THE NEXT EXIT WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO REACH SAFELY AND MY ONLY OPTION WAS TO COAST INTO THE SIDE EMERGENCY LANE. AS I WAS INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE A SMALL PLASTIC PULLEY FORM THE LEFT SIDE THROTTLE-BODY FELL TO THE GROUND. I'M CURRENTLY CONTACTING BMW MOTORCYCLES AS THIS WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT PUT ME IN HARMS WAY. THIS PLASTIC PIECE IS UNDER CONSTANT TENSION AND IN MY OPINION SHOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN MAKE OF PLASTIC.
NHTSA complaint #11003565 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW R1200 GS MOTORCYCLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP SIGN, THERE WAS AN ODOR OF FUEL AROUND THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICED FUEL ON HIS LEG, WHICH DRIPPED DOWN THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A CROCK FLANGE ON THE FUEL PUMP THAT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,000.
NHTSA complaint #10917633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
IN JUNE 2014 MY MOTORCYCLE WOULDN'T START. I TOWED THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP. THEY HAD INFORMED ME THAT MY GASOLINE WAS STALE. I HAD NOT RIDDEN THE MOTORCYCLE FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SUGGESTED THAT I PURCHASE FUEL STABILIZER IF I DO NOT INTEND TO RIDE IT REGULARLY. I PURCHASED THE FUEL STABILIZER AND THEN RODE THE BIKE MONTHLY FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS. LAST WEEKEND IT WOULD NOT START AGAIN. I TOWED THE BIKE TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY AGAIN CLAIMED THE BIKE HAD STALE GASOLINE. THEY CLAIMED THAT SINCE THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP LAST TIME, THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT AGAIN AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET. I EXPLAINED THAT THIS TIME, I HAD RIDDEN MY BIKE MORE OFTEN AND HAD USED FUEL STABILIZERS AND THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE GASOLINE TO BE STALE. MORE LIKELY THERE IS SOME SORT OF DEFECT IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THEY ARE CLAIMING ITS MY RESPONSIBILITY AND REFUSING TO HELP.
NHTSA complaint #10654615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE FUEL GAGE HAS FAILED. TWICE IT SHOWED FUEL WHILE RUNNING EMPTY, ONCE IN TRAFFIC. ON TWO OTHER OCCASIONS THE FUEL SCREEN HAS GONE BLANK. THREE TIMES THEY HAVE REPAIRED IT UNDER WARRANTY. IT HAS NOW HAPPENED AGAIN. I HAVE SINCE HEARD THEY RECALLED THERE CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS COULD BE A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM IN HEAVY TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #10608789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL GAUGE SUDDENLY FAILED AND GAVE INACCURATE READING. I HAVE HAD THE FUEL GAUGE REPLACED 4 TIMES, MOST RECENTLY LESS THAN ONE MONTH AGO, ALWAYS BY A BMW DEALER. THAT MOST RECENT GAUGE, INSTALLED 6/7/2014 BY THE DEALER, FAILED COMPLETELY, WITHOUT WARNING, ON 7/3/14 AFTER LESS THAN 250 MILES. THE FUEL GAUGE FAILURE CAN LEAD TO SUDDEN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER, IF THE GAUGE INDICATES FUEL REMAINING, WHILE IN FACT THE TANK IS EMPTY. I AM ASTONISHED THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOT ORDERED BMW TO FIND A RELIABLE FIX THIS. ANECDOTAL INDICATIONS ARE THOUSANDS OF GAUGES HAVE FAILED, OVER APPROXIMATELY A FIVE MODEL YEAR PERIOD THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN WAS USED.
NHTSA complaint #10608335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10567434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10555171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.