2016 BMW R1200 GS

12 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

1. Filed May 31, 2023Failure May 18, 2023Santa Maria, CAService brakes

   Rear brake on motorcycle does not stop the motorcycle. After three BMW dealer visits and rear brakes having been bled, the rear brake pedal becomes soft and does not stop the motorcycle. The same problem occurred each time within 2-3 months of the repair. The only way to stop the motorcycle is to use the front brake. The BMW service department cannot explain the reason this keeps happening.

   NHTSA complaint 11524564
2. Filed Aug 21, 2019Failure Aug 20, 201912,000 milesSanta Monica, CAService brakes

   THE REAR BRAKE BECOMES INEFFECTIVE. DEALER SAYS THAT AIR INVADES THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. BLEEDING THE OLD BRAKE FLUID AND REPLACING IT WITH NEW BRAKE FLUID SOLVES THE PROBLEM FOR A FEW MONTHS. THEN IT HAPPENS AGAIN AND THE BLEEDING MUST BE DONE AGAIN. FRONT BRAKE CONTINUES TO BE EFFECTIVE AT ALL TIMES.

   NHTSA complaint 11245377
3. Filed May 7, 2018Failure Mar 31, 2018490 milesLongview, TXEngine, Fuel/propulsion system, Power train

   WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE ENGINE GOES INTO A FAULTED STATE SPONTANEOUSLY WITH NO WARNING PRIOR, THE ECU IS FAULTING AND PUTTING THE ENGINE INTO "LIMP MODE" WHICH IS ALMOST EQUIVALENT OF COMPLETELY KILLING THE ENGINE THE WAY IT IS CURRENTLY DONE, AND YOU ARE LEFT TO NAVIGATE OFF THE HIGHWAY IN A SEVERELY DEBILITATED STATE OF OPERATION. THE ENGINE IS PROGRAMMED WITH A "LIMP MODE" FAULT I ASSUME TO SAVE THE ENGINE? BUT MY COMPLAINT IS , THE WAY IT CURRENTLY OPERATES ON THE MOTORCYCLE,IT IS PATENTLY "UNSAFE" AND PUTS THE RIDER OR OPERATOR AND PASSENGER IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION SHOULD THE "LIMP MODE" FAULT BE ENGAGED . I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR THIS, WITHOUT ANY NOTICEABLE CHANGE IN THE WAY THE MOTOR IS RUNNING INITIALLY, WHATEVER THE ENGINE CONTROL COMPUTER IS SEEING, IS AN ANOMALY . IN THE CASE OF MY PERSONAL INCIDENT, I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND IN TRAFFIC ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY . THE MOTORCYCLE WAS RUNNING FLAWLESSLY AND JUST SUDDENLY IT FELT AS IF THE SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF. THE THROTTLE WAS NON RESPONSIVE INITIALLY, AND AFTER, ONLY MINUTELY. I WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE OFF THE HIGHWAY TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROADWAY, AS LUCKILY THE TRAFFIC WAS VERY LIGHT AT THIS PLACE AND TIME. HAD I BEEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS, THIS COULD HAVE ENDED VERY DIFFERENTLY AND I DON'T MEAN THAT IN A GOOD WAY. IT HAS SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP OF BMW DEALERS 2X FOR THIS ISSUE, AND NOW IS IN FOR THE 3RD TIME AS THEY HAVE TO DATE, BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN FINDING AND CORRECTING THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE ISSUE. THERE ARE APPARENTLY MALFUNCTIONS WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON THE MOTORCYCLE, THAT ARE FALSE READINGS, MOMENTARY "BLIPS" , OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT -- WHICH FOOLS THE COMPUTER AND TRIGGERS THE "LIMP MODE" FAULT TO ENGAGE.

   NHTSA complaint 11092238
4. Filed Feb 1, 2018Failure Jan 25, 2018600 milesOAK Point, TXSuspension

   I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT AN IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL. NO NOTIFICATION VIA MAIL, EMAIL, PHONE CALL, ETC. I WAS ONLY ALERTED TO THIS RECALL WHEN I BROUGHT MY BMW MOTORCYCLE BACK TO THE BMW DEALER FOR NON-RELATED WARRANTY WORK. THE DEALER WAS VERY SURPRISED I HAD NOT HAD THE FRONT FORK RECALL DONE, AND MY REPLY WAS THAT I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED. THIS IS SAFETY RECALL # 17V-438, FYI. THIS RECALL BEGAN IN AUGUST, 2017. NO NOTIFICATION IS VERY SURPRISING AND UPSETTING TO ME, AS I PURCHASED THIS BMW MOTORCYCLE BRAND NEW AT THIS DEALER, SO BMW CLEARLY HAS MY INFORMATION ON FILE. MY INFO HAS NOT CHANGED SINCE PURCHASE OF THIS MOTORCYCLE IN AUGUST OF 2016. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL DEALING WITH THE FRONT FORKS OF A MOTORCYCLE. WHAT WENT WRONG HERE WITH NO NOTIFICATION??? I HAVE RECEIVED WRITTEN NOTIFICATION OF RECALLS ON MANY OTHER VEHICLES OVER THE YEARS (SUCH AS TAKATA INFLATORS), BUT NOTHING FROM BMW ON THIS MOTORCYCLE, EXCEPT BEING SURPRISED BY THE DEALER OVER 5 MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL BEGAN.

   NHTSA complaint 11066189
5. Filed Jun 23, 2017Failure May 13, 201711,500 milesDenver, COSuspension

   ON MAY 13, 2017, WHILE RIDING MY 2016 BMW R1200GS WITH 11500 MILES, ONE OF MY RIDING PARTNERS NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM THE SUSPENSION FORK TUBES. AFTER PEELING THE RUBBER BOOTS THAT COVER THE STANCHIONS, WE NOTICED THAT BOTH STANCHIONS ON THE BIKE HAD SEPARATED. I WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT, EXCEPT ONE OF THE PERSONS WITH WHOM I WAS RIDING, HAD THE SAME ISSUE HAPPEN WITH HIS 2013 BMW R1200GS. I STILL HAD TO RIDE 170 MILES HOME WITH 15 MILES OF IT ON DIRT. I RODE STRAIGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULDN'T LET ME TAKE THE BIKE BECAUSE THEY CONSIDER THIS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AND, DEALERSHIP KNEW OF THE ISSUE BECAUSE IT HAPPENED TO OTHER CUSTOMERS. THIS IS DEFECTIVE DESIGN. ONE PERSON BECOMING PERMANENTLY INJURED OR DYING IS ONE TOO MANY. BMW CANNOT PLEAD IGNORANCE. BMW REPLACED THE STANCHIONS ON UNDER WARRANTY AND I COLLECTED THE REPAIRED BIKE ON JUNE 6TH. THE FOLLOWING WEEKEND, JUNE ON 11, AFTER LESS THAN 300 MILES OF RIDING, BOTH STANCHIONS SEPARATED, AGAIN. BMW ROADSIDE SERVICE TOWED BIKE TO THE SHOP FOR REPAIR. THIS IS DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT REQUIRES A RECALL.

   NHTSA complaint 11000804
6. Filed May 19, 2017Failure May 12, 20175,500 milesNewport Beach, CA, CASteering, SuspensionCrash

   I WAS TRAVELING IN ON A STRAIGHT PORTION OF PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY IN HUNTINGTON BEACH. THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AROUND AND NO DEBRIS IN THE ROAD. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE HANDLEBAR ON MY MOTORCYCLE VIOLENTLY JERKED TO THE LEFT FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND CORRECTED ITSELF. THIS WAS NOT NORMAL AND VERY DANGEROUS. I LOOKED AT THE HANDLEBAR AND NOTICED THAT IT WASN'T STRAIGHT OR SQUARE TO THE DIRECTION I WAS TRAVELING. A SECOND AFTER SEEING THE HANDLE BAR THE BIKE JERKED TO THE LEFT AGAIN, THIS TIME CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH. IT WAS OBVIOUS TO ME THAT SOMETHING VERY UNUSUAL HAPPENED. WHEN I LOOKED AT THE BIKE AFTER THE CRASH I SAW THE FORK WAS SEPARATED (SEE ATTACHED PICTURES). I BEGAN RESEARCHING ABOUT FORK SEPARATION AND BMW 1200 GS MOTORCYCLES AND FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO.

   NHTSA complaint 10990628
7. Filed May 15, 2017Failure May 1, 20174,300 milesMurray, UTSuspension

   POTENTIAL CRITICAL FAILURE IN UPPER FORK TUBE STANCHIONS.

   NHTSA complaint 10985656
8. Filed May 6, 2017Failure May 6, 201711,000 milesBroken Arrow, OKSuspension

   THE LEFT STANCHION HAS COME LOOSE FROM THE CRIMPED CONNECTION AT THE TOP OF THE UPPER TUBE. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS DESIGN ON OTHER BIKES ON THE SOCIAL MEDIA FORUM I TRACK. GS GIANTS ON FACEBOOK, AND ALSO ON ADVRIDER.COM. I TOOK IT TO THE BMW SHOP TODAY IN TULSA OK. I HAD TO SHOW THEM EXACTLY HOW IT WAS LOOSE. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT WITH THIS BIKE. I DO RIDE IT ON ROUGH GRAVEL ROADS, BUT THE BIKE IS DESIGNED FOR THIS TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT.

   NHTSA complaint 10983838
9. Filed Dec 29, 2016Failure Sep 29, 20167,275 milesWoodbridge, VAEngine

   ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ON 6 INCIDENCES. 2 INCIDENTS - IN MOTION ON I-81 HIGHWAY 1 INCIDENT ' STATIONARY ON I-81 HIGHWAY 1 INCIDENT - IN MOTION TN-68 HIGHWAY 1 INCIDENT ' STATIONARY TN-68 HIGHWAY 1 INCIDENT ' IN MOTION VA-55

   NHTSA complaint 10938524
10. Filed Aug 29, 2016Failure Jul 25, 2016700 milesKingwood, TXEngine

    CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AT 75 MPH U.S. 59N. THE ENGINE BEHAVES AS IF IT SHUTS OFF. I ENGAGE THE CLUTCH AND COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I WAS SURPRISED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, WITH A SURGING IDLE FROM 1000-2000 RPMS. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD TWO WARNINGS ILLUMINATED, YELLOW "WARNING" TRIANGLE AND AN ENGINE SYMBOL WHICH BMW DESCRIBES AS "ENGINE IN EMERGENCY-OPERATING MODE". I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE USING THE KEYLESS IGNITION BUTTON. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND OPERATION WAS NORMAL. NO WARNINGS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE BIKE IS RELATIVELY NEW. I OWNED IT ABOUT 6 WEEKS AND HAD ACCUMULATED APPROXIMATELY 700 MILES. SINCE THE BIKE WAS RUNNING NORMAL AND THERE WAS NO NEARBY BMW SERVICE I CONTINUED ON. I COMPLETED MY 10 DAY TRIP ACCUMULATING ANOTHER 4000 MILES WITHOUT ANOTHER OCCURRENCE. ON MY RETURN I TOOK THE BIKE TO MY BMW DEALERSHIP WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER WAS CONNECTED. THE READ OUT CONFIRMED THE FAULT AS: 21F982 THROTTLE VALVE 1 MAINTENANCE NOTES: CHECKED THROTTLE VALVE, OK PLUG CONNECTION, OK CLEARED FAULT CODE, DID NOT COME BACK BIKE=OK NO RECOMMENDATIONS I KNOW THERE ARE NUMEROUS INSTANCES SIMILAR TO MY EXPERIENCE. THE BMW OWNERS MANUAL PAGES 30,31 DESCRIBE THIS CONDITION AS AN "ACCIDENT HAZARD". I WAS FORTUNATE THAT TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND I HAD A PAVED ROAD SHOULDER ON WHICH TO STOP.

    NHTSA complaint 10899372
11. Filed Apr 19, 2016Failure Feb 28, 2016500 milesPort Washington, NYHorn

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BMW R1200 GS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, THE HORN OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HORN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.

    NHTSA complaint 10860318
12. Filed Apr 15, 2016Failure Mar 23, 2016650 milesHilliard, OHHorn

    TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 BMW R1200 GS. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE HORN FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 650.

    NHTSA complaint 10859803