Total Complaints
6 filings
BMW R 1200 GS · model year
6 NHTSA complaints, and 2 recall campaigns listed for this cohort. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2011BMWR 1200 GS carries 6 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 2011 R 1200 GS is fuel/propulsion system with 3 filings, followed by suspension (1) and service brakes (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns listed below. Enter a VIN in NHTSA's official recall lookup to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2011 R 1200 GS. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
Total Complaints
6 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 3 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 model year R-model motorcycles, model year 2005-2012 K-model motorcycles, model year 2010-2011 S 1000 model motorcycles, and model year 2006-2010 HP2 motorcycles. In the affected motorcycles, the fuel pump flange (and the aux
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2014 S 1000 RR/R/ HP4, R 1200 GS/GS Adventure/R/RT, K 1300 S, K 1600 GT/GTL/GTL Exclusive and 2014 R nine T motorcycles. The fuel pump, and auxiliary fuel pump in certain models, may crack and leak fuel during vehicle operation.
While under hard acceleration to pass a vehicle on a two-lane highway, the engine power suddenly cut out completely that created a dangerous situation and suddenly put me at risk for a collision. Fortunately, the vehicle I was passing noticed I had a malfunction and reduced speed allowing me to return back into my lane and safely coast to the shoulder of the road. The vehicle was able to idle only, but turning the throttle had no effect as if the throttle cable had snapped. I had my vehicle towed back home and after inspection determined that the plastic throttle body cable pulleys on both throttle bodies have split in two pieces disabling the throttle cable's ability to open the butterflies on the throttle bodies. The plastic pulleys are brittle and obviously an inferior material used on a critical safety component. Part numbers 1354 7705239 and 1354 7705240. Online forums revealed that this is a very common failure on BMW motorcycle boxer engines with many owners suggesting pre
Fuel pump flange failure resulting in leaking fuel while I was riding the bike. It is available for inspection. My safety was put at risk because the bike could have caught fire while riding and also potentially could have caused me to crash. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The component hasn't been inspected by BMW or any representative. There was no warning or symptom other than I could smell fuel while I was riding. In April 2014 BMW issued recall notice 13V-617 for a potential fuel leak at the fuel pump flange. The remedy by BMW was to place a reinforcing ring around the fuel pump flange or replace the fuel pump with a new pump that had a preinstalled reinforcing ring. My fuel pump was replaced in November 2015 under the recall. At the conclusion of my ride on 11/16/24 my inspection revealed fuel leaking around the fuel pump flange with fuel puddling on top of the fuel pump. Enough fuel leaked and dispersed during
Found fuel vapor to be strongly smelled while at a stop light. Upon arrival at home when turning the motorcycle around there were drips coming from the right side of the motorcycle (more specifically the fuel tank). After removing the faring, there was a collection of fuel sitting on top of the fuel tank outlet. Upon closer inspection, the quick disconnect which threads into the fuel tank cap to pull fuel out of the tank has a hairline crack. it continually purges fuel at a trickling pace when the fuel level is above the tank port, there is a steady flow when the bike is in operation. The location of the fuel drip falls directly on the exhaust pipe header on the front right side of the motorcycle which could lead to a fire causing property damage and or bodily harm. The motorcycle has not been inspected by the local dealer as they are backlogged with a summertime influx of customers.
First reported front brake failure to BMW Motorcycle dealer in Chattanooga TN in fall of 2019. Lever went to grip and had to be pumped several times to engage. Dealer could not replicate problem or find anything wrong. June 2022, experienced rear brake failure though several pumps would recover system but only temporarily. Dealer suspected rear master cylinder was culprit but a new one made no difference. Now I’m told it is the ABS servo which is very expensive. Motorcycle has been maintained according to schedule by this dealer. Brakes are a vital part of this motorcycle.
RECALL WORK WAS DONE IN 2014. NEW PART FAILED 2020 AND BMW SAYS ONLY 2 YEAR WARRANTY ON RECALL PART. THAT'S ACCORDING TO BMW SERIVICE AS WELL AS BMW OF WESTERN OREGON. THE FUEL LEAKS ONTO THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST. FIRE AND LIFE HAZARD!!!! FAILURE LEAKS FUEL ON ENGINE AND EXHAUST. *TR
Mileage: 5,500
THE ELECTRONIC SUSPENSION ADJUSTMENT EQUIPPED, NON-SERVICEABLE, REAR SHOCK FAILED AT ONLY 15,500 MILES. THE REPLACEMENT UNIT IS $2000. I TAKE THE POSITION THAT BMW NORTH AMERICA'S EXPECTATION THAT THE CONSUMER SHOULD BEAR THE BURDEN OF THE FAILURE OF SUCH AN EXPENSIVE PART AFTER ONLY 4 YEARS AND 15,500 MILES IS EXCEPTIONALLY UNREASONABLE, AND BELIEVE A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED.
Mileage: 15,500
Data vintage: August 2026. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 2011 BMW R 1200 GS; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.