32 of the
162 complaints filed about the BMW R1200 RT
are about the transmission —
20% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2006.
32
Complaints
20%
Share of all complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year
The contact owns a 2018 BMW R1200 RT. The contact stated while riding approximately 50 mph, the motorcycle went into a limp mode which resulted in the motorcycle losing power. The motorcycle required a restart to regain functionality. The contact stated that the check engine warning lights was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 8,690.
NHTSA complaint #11428742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FIRST TIME WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ON TO A CITY STREET THE MOTORCYCLE SUDDENLY LOST POWER,MISFIRED,CUT OUT AND WOULD BARELY RUN AND WOULD ONLY RUN AT IDLE OR A LITTLE ABOVE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. SECOND TIME THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN THE DRIVEWAY WHILE THE MOTORBIKE WAS NOT MOVING.THE THIRD TIME THIS HAPPENED ON A REMOTE HIGHWAY WHILE MOVING AT AROUND 60 MPH IN A CURVE (TURNING).SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER THE ENGINE WENT INTO LIMP MODE.I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND RIDE ALONG THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH BARELY ENOUGH POWER TO MOVE ALONG UNTIL I COULD GET TO A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER.ON ALL OCCASIONS AFTER TURNING OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTARTING THE ENGINE IT SEAMED TO RESET AND RUN OK.THIS IS A VERY HAZARDOUS SITUATION ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE AND IT SEEMS THAT IT COULD BE A DEFECT WITH THE ECU AND THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR.
NHTSA complaint #11373026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL (FINAL DRIVE). THE DRIVE BEGAN MAKING GRINDING AND SQUEALING NOISES. I THEN FELT THE REAR WHEEL LOOSING TRACTION. I PULLED TO THE SHOULDER IMMEDIATELY. I NOTICED AT THAT TIME A BRAKE FAILURE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. MY REAR BRAKE WAS INEFFECTIVE. UPON EXAMINING THE DRIVE AREA THERE WAS GEAR OIL ALL OVER THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER, DISC AND REAR WHEEL, INCLUDING THE TIRE. THE FINAL DRIVE WAS SERVICED APPROXIMATELY 1200 MILES PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE, IT HAD BEEN FILLED WITH THE CORRECT VISCOSITY OIL AT THE RECOMMENDED LEVEL OF 180CC. AT THAT TIME THERE WERE NO METALLIC SHAVING OF ANY KIND VISIBLE IN THE OIL THAT WAS DRAINED FROM THE DRIVE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TEXAS STATE HIGHWAY 6 IN A RURAL AREA.
NHTSA complaint #11092807 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DRIVE SHAFT U-JOINT FAILURE RIDING ON INTERSTATE 5. BIKE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND WHEN CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED, VIBRATION STOPPED. RELEASED CLUTCH AND VIBRATION STARTED AGAIN. DEPRESSED CLUTCH AGAIN AND PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE DRIVE SHAFT LOCKED UP. PULLED BACK REAR BOOT ON FINAL DRIVE AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE SWING ARM SHAFT. BMW DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILED U-JOINT BUT COULD NOT REPAIR UNLESS THEY REMOVED TRANSMISSION TO REMOVE U-JOINT STUCK ON TRANSMISSION SPLINE. PRICE FOR DRIVE SHAFT ALONE WAS $1,100 DOLLARS PLUS LABOR TO REMOVE TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA complaint #10914193 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING SOUTHBOUND ON I-79 NEAR PITTSBURGH AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE REAR UNIVERSAL JOINT LET GO. THIS CAUSED THE MOTORCYCLE REAR WHEEL TO INTERMITTENTLY LOCK UP AND RELEASE. THE UNIVERSAL HAS NO MEANS TO LUBRICATE IT AND NO NOISE OR VIBRATION WAS HEARD OR FELT BEFORE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10885480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WITH JUST 16124 MILES, MY MOTORCYCLE HAS A FINAL DRIVE RING BEARING FAILURE. THE BMW DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM WHEN CONDUCTING THE REAR FLANGE RECALL REPAIR. THIS FAILURE IS SO COMMON THAT IT HAS BECOME ENDEMIC. BMW OFFERS NO HELP WITH THE REPAIR AN OBVIOUS DESIGN ERROR.
NHTSA complaint #10781671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FINAL DRIVE BEARING SUDDENLY DEVELOPED PLAY (WHEEL CAN BE MOVED LATERALLY BY HAND). VERY UNSTABLE HANDLING AND WOBBLE UPON DECELERATION DUE TO WHEEL MOVEMENT. VEHICLE WILL "SHIMMY" CONSIDERABLY FROM SIDE-TO-SIDE UPON ENGINE BRAKING.
NHTSA complaint #10781385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE BMW MOTORCYCLE WAS BEING RIDDEN AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS WHEN IT BEGAN TO DEVELOP A VIBRATION. THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWED AND THE FIRST AVAILABLE EXIT WAS TAKEN. BY THIS TIME THE REAR WHEEL FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO LOCK UP. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS STOPPED AT THE FIRST SAFE PARKING AND A WRECKER WAS DISPATCHED. THE REPAIR FACILITY INFORMED ME THAT THE DRIVESHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT HAD FAILED AND WAS BEATING AGAINST THE SWING ARM WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN A TOTAL FAILURE. THE DRIVESHAFT IS NOT A TEARDOWN AND INSPECT ITEM AND THEREFORE LEAVES THE RIDER WITH NO WARNING OF IMPENDING FAILURE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.
NHTSA complaint #10641062 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS I WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY I FELT MY MOTORCYCLE ALL OF A SUDDEN WOBBLE AND LOST CONTROL. I STRUGGLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND WAS ABLE TO BRING THE MOTORCYCLE TO A STOP BY THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. IT APPEARED MY FINAL DRIVE (TRANSMISSION ) HAD FAILED PREMATURELY. THERE WERE OIL FROM THE FINAL DRIVE SPLATTERED ALL OVER MY REAR WHEEL. THIS WAS A FREIGHTING EXPERIENCE AND COULD HAVE RESULTANT IN SERIOUS INJURY TO ME BECAUSE OF A PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE FINAL DRIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10637145 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS RIDING ALONG AT ABOUT 50 MPH WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE BEGAN EXPERIENCING A LACK OF STABILITY AND DIRECTIONAL CONTROL. IT FELT LIKE I HAD A FLAT TIRE. AT THE SAME TIME THERE WAS LOUD RUMBLING AND A VIBRATION FELT THROUGHOUT THE BIKE.
NHTSA complaint #10621168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW R1200RT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE DRIVE SHAFT FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST ON TO THE ROAD SHOULDER BUT SUFFERED SCRAPES AND BRUISES WHILE DOING SO. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,000. UPDATED 09-18-13
NHTSA complaint #10534997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW R1200 RT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED GREASE COVERING THE BRAKES AND REAR WHEEL. THE GREASE CAME FROM A BROKEN REAR DIFFERENTIAL/FINAL DRIVE. THE CONTACT TOWED THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE FINAL DRIVE RIGHT ANGLE GEAR BOX NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT DID NOT HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,580.
NHTSA complaint #10525757 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FINAL DRIVE OIL SEAL FAILED. OIL LEAKED, CAUSING THE REAR BRAKES TO BE NON-FUNCTIONAL. THE LOCAL BMW DEALER, HOPKINS HITCHING POST IN HOPKINS, MN, FOUND SEAL, BEARING, AND BEVEL GEAR FAILURE THAT REQUIRES FINAL DRIVE REPLACEMENT. THIS IS THE SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN ODI NO. 10439549 AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001.
NHTSA complaint #10524382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SYMPTOM. REAR OF MOTORCYCLE WEAVES WHEN RIDING IN A STRAIGHT LINE AND IN TURNS. REAR WHEEL HAD APPROXIMATELY 3MM PLAY WHEN HOLDING WHEEL AT 12 AND 6 O'CLOCK AND TWISTING WHEEL SIDE TO SIDE. ANALYSIS. BRAKE CARRIER ON FINAL DRIVE HAS LATERAL PLAY. REMOVED BRAKE CARRIER, SLID OFF FINAL DRIVE BY HAND. FINAL DRIVE NEEDS REPLACED. SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN ODI 10439549 AND BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP 12001. BMW PARALEVER. RESOLUTION. DEALER REPLACED FINAL DRIVE BMW PART NUMBER 33117726895, SYNTHETIC GEAR OIL 75 W90, AND ROTOR BOLTS BMW PART NUMBER 33177709205.
NHTSA complaint #10522464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRAVELING TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE UNUSUAL VIBRATION IN DRIVE LINE CHECKED. RIDING ALONG AT 55 MPH WHEN REAR WHEEL OF MOTORCYCLE BEGAN TO SWAY AS IF TIRE WAS GOING FLAT. HAULED TO DEALER. DIAGNOSED AS FINAL DRIVE CROWN BEARING FAILURE (ESSENTIALLY A REAR WHEEL BEARING). I FEEL FORTUNATE NOT TO HAVE CRASHED!
NHTSA complaint #10493508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DURING REAR WHEEL BRAKE REPLACEMENT, FOUND CRACK IN ONE BOLT HOLE THAT SECURES REAR WHEEL TO DRIVE FLANGE. CRACK COULD ALLOW BOLT SECURING THE REAR WHEEL TO LOOSEN WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA complaint #10465491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FINAL DRIVE BEARING FAILURE IN 2009, REPLACED BEARING THEN HAD FINAL DRIVE HUB FAILURE AT APPROX12K MILES IN 2011, MAY OF 2012 AGAIN HAVE FINAL DRIVE BEARING FAILURE AT JUST OVER 13K MILES. EACH TIME WAS CAUGHT EARLY AND HAD NO OIL LEAKAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10459544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IN RESPONSE TO A REQUEST FROM OWNERS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS TO REPORT THESE TO THE NHTSA, I AM ADDING MY OWN INFORMATION: DURING A TIRE-CHANGE SERVICE, THE DEALER'S MECHANIC NOTED THAT THE BEARING IN THE REAR WHEEL FINAL DRIVE HAD BECOME "CRUNCHY" AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPON POINTING OUT THE PROBLEM, I WAS ABLE TO DETECT THE RESISTANCE IN THE WHEEL MYSELF. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BEARING UNDER WARRANTY AND ON COMPARISON WITH A NEW BEARING, THERE WAS DEFINITELY RESISTANCE AND A LACK OF SMOOTH FUNCTION IN THE ORIGINAL BEARING. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT OTHERS WITH SIMILAR PARALEVER FINAL DRIVES HAVE ENCOUNTERED SERIOUS BEARING FAILURE RENDERING THE MOTORCYCLE SUDDENLY UNABLE TO PROCEED NORMALLY, SOMETIMES WITH A MAJOR LEAKAGE OF THE FINAL DRIVE LUBRICANT. I BELIEVE MINE WAS SIMPLY CAUGHT EARLY ENOUGH TO AVOID A MORE DRAMATIC FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10446392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.