1998 Bmw R1200C: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
12 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
15,231 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 12 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 33.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 8.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 1; Power Train: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 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: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 2 |
2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 4; 2004: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 2
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights 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 10014423 · 2003-04-15 (April 15, 2003)
MY BMW 1998 R1200 C, HAD OIL LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE SEALS SINCE AT LEAST 300 MILES. THE BIKE WAS BOUGHT NEW IN 1998. I COMPLAINED OF A BLUE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE, BUT THE OWNER OF THE STORE TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL FOR BMW'S. THE TAILLIGHT BROKE ON THE BIKE AND WERE REPLACED BY BMW, BUT I WAS TOLD BY THE OWNER THAT I COULD NOT CLAIM ANY OTHER PROBLEMS ON THE MOTORCYCLE. BMW HAS OFFERED TO PAY FOR HALF OF THE LABOR COST TO REPAIR THE BIKE, BUT NOT THE FULL COST. THE CURRENT NEW OWNER OF THE SHOP SAID THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN …
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014423 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016137 · 2003-04-17 (April 17, 2003)
EXHAUST BURNED MY LEG, MY PASSENGERS LEG AND THE LEG OF OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN PASSENGERS ON MY MOTORCYCLE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016137 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023744 · 2003-06-25 (June 25, 2003)
TAIL LIGHT ASSY KEEPS CRACKING ON THE UPPER LEFT BOLT, I AM ON MY 4TH TAIL LIGHT AND IT IS ALSO BROKEN. ON THE SAME ASSY THE TURN LIGHT STALKS CAN BRAKE OFF AND JUST HANG BY THE WIRES, THIS HAS HAPPEN TWICE TO ME. ON THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL THE LEFT TURN LIGHT BROKE OFF AND WAS HANGING BY THE WIRES, THIS HAS HAPPEN TWICE TO ME AND IS STILL BROKEN AT THIS TIME, TEMP FIX WITH A HOSE CLAMP. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023744 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028405 · 2003-07-16 (July 16, 2003)
I 0WN A 1998 BMW R1200C CRUISER MOTORCYCLE, I BOUGHT IT NEW. MY TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY WICH INCLUDES BRAKE LIGHT AND BLINKERS CREATES A CRACK ON THE LEFT SIDE CAUSING THE ASSEMBLY TO EVENTUALLY CRACK IN TWO PARTS LOOSING THE LEFT BLINKER ASSEMBLY. I HAVE REPLACED THIS FAULTY PART ONCE BEFORE 2 YEARS AND APPROXIMENTLY 3000 MILES AGO. MY MOTORCYCLE WAS OUT OF WARENTY SO IT COST ME $180.00 FOR A NEW PART PLUS INSTALLATION. THE NEW PART IS CRACKED AGAIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 7,280 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028405 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072410 · 2004-05-11 (May 11, 2004)
FUEL LEAKED FROM FUEL DISTRIBUTION SPIDER DIRECTLY ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND ONTO THE REAR TIRE. DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM WITH THE DEALER WHO SAID THE MOTORCYCLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND CHARGED ME FOR THE PARTS NECESSARY TO FIX IT. UPDATED 04/19/06. *NM UPDATED 04/28/06. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 15,231 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072410 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074790 · 2004-06-04 (June 4, 2004)
THE HOSE CONNECTING THE FUEL UNIT TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COLLAPSED, CAUSING IMMEDIATE LOST OF POWER. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AT COOS BAY, OREGON WHILE I WAS ON A MULTI-DAY TRIP. I HAD TO RENT A U-HAUL TRUCK TO TRANSPORT THE BIKE TO THE PORTLAND BMW DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT TWO OTHER R1200C MOTORCYCLES WERE REPAIRED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM DURING THE PRIOR WEEK. THIS MAY BE THE SAME PROBLEM REPORTED BY ANOTHER COMPLAINT ODI ID# 537575.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 8,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074790 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10384009 · 2011-02-22 (February 22, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW R1200C. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH AND TRYING TO DECELERATE, HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE FAILING. HE PLACED THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 25,000. UPDATED 03/29/11 *BF UPDATED 08/15/11
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10384009 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10449767 · 2012-02-29 (February 29, 2012)
THE FINAL DRIVE STARTED LEAKING GEAR OIL ALL OVER MY REAR DISC BRAKE AND REAR TIRE AND RIM. IT IS UNSAFE TO RIDE LIKE THIS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10449767 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.
01V217000 · Structure:Frame And Members
Reported: 2001-06-26 (June 26, 2001)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES EQUIPPED WITH CHROME-PLATED FRAMES. COPPER RESIDUE CAN REMAIN IN THE TAPPED HOLE WHERE THE UPPER FORK BRIDGE ATTACHES TO THE FRAME. MOISTURE CAN CAUSE CORROSION TO OCCUR BETWEEN THE COPPER RESIDUE AND THE ALUMINUM FRAME. THE STRESS OF THE CONNECTING BOLT ATTACHING THE UPPER FORK TO THE FRAME COULD THEN DECREASE, LEADING TO LOOSENING, AND ULTIMATELY, BREAKAGE OF THE BOLT.
Consequence: IF THIS HAPPENED, THE DYNAMIC STABILITY OF THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD BE AFFECTED AND A LOSS OF CONTROL COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REAM THE HOLE IN THE FRAME HEAD AND INSTALL A HELICOIL THREAD INSERT AND A NEW BOLT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 13, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117, OPTION #4.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V134000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Reported: 1997-08-08 (August 8, 1997)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE ADJUSTING SCREW FOR THE PRESSURE POINT OF EITHER THE BRAKE OR CLUTCH LEVERS MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENTLY TIGHT, DUE TO GREASE CONTAMINATION OF THE THREADS.
Consequence: THE SCREW(S) CAN BACK OUT OVER TIME WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED CAUSING A CHANGE IN THE PRESSURE POINT OF THE MASTER CYLINDER FOR THE CLUTCH AND/OR FRONT BRAKE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK THE ADJUSTMENT SCREWS OF THE FRONT BRAKE AND CLUTCH LEVERS FOR MOVEMENT. IF THE SCREWS ARE TIGHT, NO FURTHER ACTION WILL BE TAKEN. IF A SCREW IS FOUND TO BE LOOSE, IT WILL BE REMOVED, CLEANED AND REINSTALLED WITH NEW LOCTITE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗