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U.S. public vehicle records

2015 Bmw R1200 GS: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

10 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

7,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 10 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior440.0%
Engine operation110.0%

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.

Service Brakes
4
Suspension
3
Vehicle Speed Control
2
Electrical System
1
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
1
Engine
1
Steering
1
Wheels
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Service Brakes4
Suspension3
Vehicle Speed Control2
Electrical System1
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)1
Engine1
Steering1
Wheels1

Service Brakes: 4; Suspension: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Engine: 1; Steering: 1; Wheels: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
4
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
1
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0004
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9991
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 5 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.

2015
1
2017
4
2018
2
2023
2
2024
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20151
20174
20182
20232
20241

2015: 1; 2017: 4; 2018: 2; 2023: 2; 2024: 1

Pattern summary

Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10747595 · 2015-08-10 (August 10, 2015)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10747595 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10991957 · 2017-05-27 (May 27, 2017)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 52,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10991957 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11000810 · 2017-06-23 (June 23, 2017)

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11000810 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11021750 · 2017-09-06 (September 6, 2017)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11021750 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11030033 · 2017-09-26 (September 26, 2017)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11030033 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11100023 · 2018-06-05 (June 5, 2018)

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 21,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11100023 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11110571 · 2018-07-10 (July 10, 2018)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11110571 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11516417 · 2023-04-10 (April 10, 2023)

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/

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11516417 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

17V438000 · Suspension:Front

Reported: 2017-07-10 (July 10, 2017)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2017 BMW R1200GS and BMW R1200GS Adventure motorcycles. The motorcycle fixed fork tube may separate from the pressed in seal plug that secures the tube to the upper triple clamp.

Consequence: If the fork tube detaches from the sealing plug, the handling and stability of the motorcycle will be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will add an additional fixed fork tube bush. A fork that is sufficiently damaged will be replaced with a modified new part. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began August 31, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
17V481000 · Equipment

Reported: 2017-07-28 (July 28, 2017)

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2017 F800R and F800GT motorcycles, 2014-2018 R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure motorcycles, 2016-2017 S1000XR motorcycles and 2015-2017 R1200R and R1200RS, 2008-2012 F650GS, 2008-2018 F800GS, and 2014-2017 F800GS Adventure motorcycles. When equipped with the optional aluminum luggage cases, the rear reflex reflectors may be partially blocked. The aluminum case mounts for the R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure may also partially block the reflectors. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence: If the rear reflex reflectors are obscured from view, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install reflectors on the cases or for the case mounts, an additional bracket with rear reflex reflectors, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

NHTSA campaign record ↗