2008 Bmw R1200 GS: complaints, problems and recalls

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. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 5,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10404523 at NHTSA ↗

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!!! *JS

Owner-reported narrative. 36,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10455787 at NHTSA ↗

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…

Owner-reported narrative. 61,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10467136 at NHTSA ↗

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. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 26,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10503488 at NHTSA ↗

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. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10523549 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE RIDING DOWN THE FREEWAY AN ODD VIBRATION IN THE BIKE OCCURRED WHEN THE SUSPENSION UNLOADED. ABOUT A HALF MILE LATER THE REAR WHEEL SUDDENLY LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE BIKE TO JERK VIOLENTLY. IMMEDIATELY PULLING IN THE CLUTCH ALLOWED ME TO COAST TO THE SIDE. SMOKE WAS COMING OUT THROUGH THE TWO SWING ARM JOINT BOOTS. THE LOWER U-JOINT OF THE DRIVE SHAFT SEIZED AND BROKE DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A NON-MAINTAINABLE SEALED BEARING. THE DRIVESHAFT IS LOCATED IN THE SWINGARM AND THE FLAILING DRIVESHAFT CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THAT PART AS WELL. …

Owner-reported narrative. 51,063 miles reported. Look up ODI 10535147 at NHTSA ↗

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. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 33,850 miles reported. Look up ODI 10536724 at NHTSA ↗

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. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 11,565 miles reported. Look up ODI 10554036 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2008-06-05 (June 5, 2008)

BMW IS RECALLING 4,922 MY 2007-2008 R1200R, MY 2006-2007 R1200 GS, MY 2007 R1200 ST, AND MY 2008 R1200 GS ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLES. DUE TO THE CURRENT ROUTING OF THE FRONT BRAKE LINES, IT IS POSSIBLE THAT DURING RIDING, THE BRAKE LINES COULD BE UNDER STRAIN. IF THE VIBRATION/STRAIN IS SIGNIFICANT, THE BRAKE LINES COULD SPLIT AND START TO DEVELOP A LEAK. IF THE LEAK BECAME SIGNIFICANT, BRAKE FLUID COULD ESCAPE. IF THIS HAPPENED, THE LEVEL OF FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR OF THE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM COULD DROP.

Consequence: IF FLUID LEVEL DROPS SIGNIFICANTLY, THE FRONT BRAKES COULD FAIL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND INSTALL NEW BRAKE LINES WITH A MODIFIED ROUTING FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING AUGUST 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Reported: 2008-07-01 (July 1, 2008)

BMW IS RECALLING 46 MY 2008 R1200 R, R1200 GS, AND R1200 GS ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLES. DUE TO A MATERIAL DEFECT IN THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT OF THE TRANSMISSION, THE SHAFT COULD BREAK. IF THIS OCCURRED, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE TRANSMISSION TO SEIZE.

Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENED, LOCK-UP OF THE REAR TIRE COULD OCCUR. IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE FOR THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING TO BREAK. IF THIS HAPPENED, OIL COULD LEAK ONTO THE REAR WHEE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GEARBOX. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING AUGUST 2008. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-331-1117.

Reported: 2009-04-17 (April 17, 2009)

BMW IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2008 R1200 GS AND R1200 GS ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLES. IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS, SUCH AS HIGH GENERATOR SPEEDS COMBINED WITH LARGE DEMANDS FOR ELECTRICAL CURRENT, SPURIOUS SIGNALS COULD EMERGE WITHIN THE MOTORCYCLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, IT COULD AFFECT THE PRESSURE SENSOR SIGNALS OF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) CONTROL UNIT. IF THIS HAPPENED, THE ABS COULD SWITCH OFF; HOWEVER, IN SUCH A SITUATION, A WARNING LAMP WOULD ILLUMINATE. NORMAL BRAKING WOULD STILL BE AVAILABLE TO SLOW AND STOP THE MOTORCYCLE.

Consequence: ANY TIME VEHICLE CONTROL IS COMPROMISED A CRASH MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR OR REPLACE THE NECESSARY COMPONENTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 26, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Reported: 2009-08-07 (August 7, 2009)

BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2008 R1200 GS MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JANUARY 2008. THE SEALING OF THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL UNIT HOUSING MIGHT BE INSUFFICIENT AND WATER COULD INTRUDE INTO THE CONTROL UNIT HOUSING CREATING A HUMID ATMOSPHERE. UNDER SUCH CONDITIONS, THE FUEL PUMP COULD CORRODE AND THEN FAIL.

Consequence: FAILURE OF THE FUEL PUMP WILL CAUSE INADEQUATE FUEL TO REACH THE ENGINE AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING. A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP CONTROL UNIT FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 9, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.

Reported: 2020-08-10 (August 10, 2020)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2009-2011 K1300 (S, GT), 2010-2011 S1000 RR, 2005-2011 R1200 (GS, GS Adventure, R, RT, S, ST), 2006-2010 HP2 (Enduro, Megamoto, Sport), 2005-2008 K1200 (R, R Sport, S, GT), and 2012 K1600 (GT, GTL) motorcycles that were repaired under recall 13V-617 with the support ring remedy and where the fuel pump was not replaced at a later date. This recall involves the fuel pump, and also the auxiliary fuel pump as applicable. The affected motorcycles have a fuel pump flange that may crack, possibly resulting in a fuel leak while the engine is running.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump(s) with an improved version, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.