2009 Bmw R1200 RT: complaints, problems and recalls

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 UNDERSTAND…

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10446392 at NHTSA ↗

THE GAS GAUGE SENSOR STRIP STOPS WORKING AND WILL READ THAT YOU HAVE MORE GAS THAN YOU ACTUALLY DO. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND CAN CAUSE THE RIDER TO RUN OUT OF GAS AND BE STRANDED IN MOVING TRAFFIC. THERE ARE TOO MANY COMPLAINTS FROM BMW MOTORCYCLE OWNERS TO IGNORE THIS PROBLEM ANY LONGER! PLEASE MAKE THE MANUFACTURER ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM INSTEAD OF CONTINUING TO PROFIT OFF OF A SAFETY ISSUE. A GOOGLE SEARCH ON "BMW MOTORCYCLE FUEL STRIP" WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE LEVERAGE YOU NEED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 8,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10485221 at NHTSA ↗

THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR HAS FAILED (TWICE) AND HAS BEEN REPLACED BY THE BMW MOTORCYCLE DEALERSHIP. THE LATEST FUEL LEVEL SENSOR IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY EITHER AND WILL EVENTUALLY BE REPLACED AGAIN BEFORE THE WARRANTY EXPIRES IN FEB 2013. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 7,013 miles reported. Look up ODI 10485368 at NHTSA ↗

AT THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP, WHERE THE FUEL LINE QUICK DISCONNECT IS THREADED INTO THE HOUSING, MULTIPLE CRACKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 26,422 miles reported. Look up ODI 10492199 at NHTSA ↗

MOTORCYCLE RAN OUT OF FUEL DUE TO FUEL SENSOR FAILURE. BOTH ANALOG AND DIGITAL GAUGES SHOWED 40+ MILES REMAINING IN THE FUEL TANK. VEHICLE WAS IN FAST LANE OF INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND MY EMERGENCY STOP REQUIRED STATE PATROL ASSISTANCE DO TO THE LOCATION OF THE STOP. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 31,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10514560 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 30,580 miles reported. Look up ODI 10525757 at NHTSA ↗

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 N…

Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10641062 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR, THE ENGINE SPEED DROPPED TO IDLE AND I LOST ALL POWER AND THE ABILITY TO CONTROL ENGINE SPEED. I COASTED TO THE SHOULDER AND HAD TO CALL FOR A TOW AS THE BIKE WOULD ONLY IDLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION AFTER I GOT THE BIKE HOME, I DISCOVERED THAT THE PLASTIC PULLEYS ON THE THROTTLE BODIES HAD SHEARED OFF. THIS REQUIRES REPLACEMENT OF THE THROTTLE BODIES. I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND OUT THE PULLEYS ARE PLASTIC. PREVIOUS MODELS WERE METAL AND MOST CARS/BIKES USE METAL, WHICH WOULD BE MORE RESISTANT TO FAILURE. TO QUOTE ANO…

Owner-reported narrative. 29,843 miles reported. Look up ODI 10671553 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2009-07-08 (July 8, 2009)

BMW IS RECALLING 1,535 MY 2007-2009 R1200RT MOTORCYCLES. DUE TO ROUTING AND ASSEMBLY TOLERANCES OF THE FRONT BRAKE LINES, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE LINES TO BE UNDER STRAIN. IN COMBINATION WITH VIBRATION DURING RIDING, THE BRAKE LINES COULD DEVELOP A LEAK. THE LEVEL OF FLUID IN THE FRONT BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR COULD DROP RENDERING THE FRONT BRAKES INOPERATIVE.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT THAT ONLY THE REAR BRAKES WERE OPERATIONAL, SEVERE LOSS OF CONTROL DURING HARD BRAKING COULD RESULT. THIS COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS CRASH.

Remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE MOTORCYCLES WITH NEW FRONT BRAKE LINES, WITH MODIFIED ROUTING FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 5, 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.