Bmw R1200 RT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
145 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
25,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 to 2018 model years. Data snapshot: . 134 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 65 of 145 complaints (44.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 64 | 44.1% |
| Braking behavior | 27 | 18.6% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 6.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 2.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 2.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 0.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 65 |
| Power Train | 23 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 15 |
| Service Brakes | 14 |
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Wheels | 5 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 4 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 65; Power Train: 23; Fuel System, Gasoline: 15; Service Brakes: 14; Electrical System: 8; Wheels: 5; Engine: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 65 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 48 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 14 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 4 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 65; 25,000 to 49,999: 48; 50,000 to 74,999: 14; 75,000 to 99,999: 4; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (65). 11 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 2 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 28 |
| 2013 | 34 |
| 2014 | 9 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 12 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 9 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2005: 2; 2006: 3; 2007: 4; 2008: 4; 2009: 4; 2010: 4; 2011: 6; 2012: 28; 2013: 34; 2014: 9; 2015: 9; 2016: 12; 2017: 10; 2018: 3; 2019: 9; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 64 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 10 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10435984 · 2011-11-15 (November 15, 2011)
FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FLANGE AROUND THE FEMALE QUICK-DISCONNECT FITTING. PLASTIC FLANGE IS LOCATED ON TOP OF FUEL TANK. REPLACED PLASTIC FITTING WITH METAL ONE BUT LEAKS CONTINUED. PLACED ORIGINAL FITTING BACK AND USED A FUEL-RESISTANT SEALING COMPOUND TO STOP LEAKS. HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANY LARGE LEAKS RECENTLY BUT AM CONCERNED THIS PATCH WILL START LEAKING AGAIN. IT WAS A FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE TO BE RIDING AND SEEING GAS SPLATTER ON YOUR CLOTHES - COULDN'T WAIT UNTIL I GOT HOME. THE FLANGE DESIGN IS AT FAULT BECAUSE IT PREVENTS A S…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,076 miles reported. Look up ODI 10435984 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10444876 · 2012-01-23 (January 23, 2012)
MULTIPLE CRACKS IN FUEL PUMP HOUSING AT FLANGE WHERE FUEL LINE CONNECTS. ODOR AND GAS LEAKAGE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10444876 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10143124 · 2005-11-18 (November 18, 2005)
FRONT BRAKES LOCKING UP,AND REAR BRAKES SQUEELING. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 908 miles reported. Look up ODI 10143124 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10471471 · 2012-08-19 (August 19, 2012)
ABS MODULATOR FAILED. $3500 REPAIR. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10471471 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10356151 · 2010-09-17 (September 17, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW R1200 RT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DOWN SHIFT BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT GEARS. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DECELERATE UNTIL THE CONTACT BEGAN TO REPEATEDLY APPLY PRESSURE TO THE CLUTCH. AS THE CONTACT WAS MOVING THE VEHICLE FROM THE ROADWAY, IT STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE AND AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT EITHER THE MASTER CYLINDER OR THE SLAY CYLINDER WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 77,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10356151 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10459714 · 2012-05-25 (May 25, 2012)
ENGINE BEGAN STALLING FREQUENTLY AT END OF RIDING SEASON (FALL 2011) WHEN THE ENGINE WAS AT ITS NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. ENGINE STALLING OCCURRED WHEN DECELERATING WITH CLUTCH ENGAGED OR AT IDLE, ENGINE WOULD NOT RETURN TO NORMAL IDLE SPEED WITHOUT STALLING. THE ENGINE WAS SERVICED/MAINTAINED BY AN AUTHORIZED LOCAL BMW MOTORCYCLE DEALER ON 3/10/2012 ? 3/13/2012 WITH HOPES THAT ENGINE WOULD RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATING BEHAVIOR FOR THE FOLLOWING RIDING SEASON (2012). THIS SERVICE/ MAINTENANCE INCLUDED BUT WAS NOT LIMITED TO BMW INSPECTION W…
Owner-reported narrative. 42,772 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459714 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10534389 · 2013-08-08 (August 8, 2013)
FUEL SMELL ON CLOTHING AND LEAKING FUEL FOUND DRIPPING ON HOT EXHAUST DURING STOP AT GAS STATION TO REFUEL. IMMEDIATELY PUSH MOTORCYCLE TO SAFE AREA AWAY FROM GAS STATION TO ASSESS CAUSE OF LEAK. FOUND MULTIPLE CRACKS IN PLASTIC FUEL PUMP HOUSING FLANGE THAT WHICH THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE QUICK DISCONNECT THREADS INTO. FUEL WAS POOLING APPROXIMATELY ONE INCH DEEP ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING AND NEXT TO FUEL PUMP ELECTRICAL CONTROL RELAY AND WIRING. MOTORCYCLE HAD TO BE TOWED 75 MILES TO NEAREST BMW MOTORCYCLE DEALER FOR FUEL PUMP AND HOU…
Owner-reported narrative. 39,127 miles reported. Look up ODI 10534389 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10758488 · 2015-08-21 (August 21, 2015)
THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED STALLING AFTER I WOULD DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP. IT WOULD NOT START BACK UP UNLESS I TURNED THE THROTTLE AND HELD THE RPM'S ABOVE 1500. THE BIKE WOULD NOT IDLE UNLESS I KEPT THE THROTTLE PARTIALLY OPEN. I BROUGHT THE BIKE TO THE DEALER AND THEY RE-FLASHED THE COMPUTER AND UP-GRADED THE SOFTWARE. THAT LASTED 2 WEEKS AND THE STALLING STARTED BACK AGAIN. ALL RE-CALLS FOR THIS BIKE WERE PERFORMED BY BMW. NO TROUBLE CODES WERE SHOWN TO EXIST ON THE BIKES ECU WHEN TESTED BY THE DEALERS SCAN EQUIPMENT. I HAVE SI…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,456 miles reported. Look up ODI 10758488 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10914193 · 2016-10-06 (October 6, 2016)
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…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10914193 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10637145 · 2014-09-17 (September 17, 2014)
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. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 37,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10637145 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10487624 · 2012-12-07 (December 7, 2012)
I STARTED THE MOTORCYCLE ENGINE. A FEW SECONDS AFTER IT STARTED, GASOLINE STARTED TO GUSH FROM THE FRONT OF THE BIKE ONTO THE ENGINE. BEFORE I KNEW IT, I WAS IN A PUDDLE OF GASOLINE. I SHUT IT OFF AS SOON AS I REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I MOPPED UP THE GASOLINE OFF OF THE FLOOR TO ELIMINATE THE FIRE DANGER. I LOCKED THE STEERING AND PUT THE KEY AWAY AFTER THAT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 27,658 miles reported. Look up ODI 10487624 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
2005: 3; 2006: 4; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2015: 0; 2017: 0; 2018: 0