Total Complaints
4 filings
BMW R1200 GS · model year
2004 BMW R1200 GS
4 NHTSA complaints, and 2 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2004BMWR1200 GS carries 4 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.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2004 R1200 GS is power train with 1 filings, followed by unknown or other (1) and suspension:rear (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 2 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2004 R1200 GS. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
4
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 1 |
Recalls (2)
06V13400024/04/2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, IF CERTAIN PROCEDURES ARE PERFORMED THAT INVOLVES REMOVAL OF THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE CALIPER, THE ABS SENSOR CABLE CAN BE ROUTED INCORRECTLY AND WHEN THE CALIPER IS REINSTALLED, THE SENSOR CABLE CAN COME INTO CONTACT AND RUB AGAINST THE FRONT BRAKE DISC. OVERTIME, IF THE CHAFIN
06V16400015/05/2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, UNDER RAPID, REPEATED, AND UNUSUALLY HARSH BRAKING, LOSS OF ABS CAPABILITY COULD TEMPORARILY OCCUR.
Recent Complaints
20110115SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
RIDING THE BIKE SLOWLY (ABOUT 40 KPH) AND BRAKED HEAVILY. DISINTEGRATION OF REAR WHEEL CARRIER (FLANGE) ON BMW GS1200 (2004) . THIS BILLET ALUMINUM FLANGE IS THE SINGLE COMPONENT CONNECTING THE REAR WHEEL WITH THE MOTORCYCLE. AND ALSO THE BRAKE DISK. THE PART BROKE APART UNDER HEAVY BRAKING AND THE BRAKE DISK DETACHED, RESULTING IN NO REAR WHEEL BRAKING AND DAMAGE TO THE ABS UNIT. CRITICAL FAILURE WILL CERTAINLY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. BMW AUSTRALIA HAS BEEN ADVISED AND OFFERED NO RECOURSE TO CORRECT RO ADVISE OTHER OWNERS. ABS MODULE ALSO FAILED, WITH AN INTERNAL LEAK (POSSIBLY CAUSED BY PRESSURE SPIKE FROM FLANGE DISINTEGRATING). NUMEROUS OTHER REPORTS OF SIMILAR FAULTS ON ADVENTURE RIDERS WEBSITE. VIN NO IS [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Mileage: 45,000
20091210SUSPENSION:REAR
STRESS FRACTURE ON BMW GS1200 (2004) REAR WHEEL ATTACHMENT FLANGE. THIS BILLET ALUMINUM FLANGE IS THE SINGLE COMPONENT CONNECTING THE REAR WHEEL WITH THE MOTORCYCLE. CRITICAL FAILURE WILL CERTAINLY RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY. BMWNA INDICATE THAT THIS IS A NORMAL WEAR ITEM AND OFFER NO RECOURSE TO CORRECT. *TR
Mileage: 36,250
20070704UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I HAVE A 2007 BMW R1150 GS MOTORCYCLE WITH A FAILING SIGHT GLASS. IT HAS NOT MELTED, BUT HAS A WHITE HALO AROUND THE OUTSIDE EDGE WHICH INDICATES OVERHEATING OF THE SIGHT GLASS. ACTION NUMBER ON THIS ISSUE IS PE07031.
Mileage: 6,000
20060901POWER TRAIN
FINAL DRIVE SEAL BLEW OUT AFTER ONLY 30K MILES. *JB
Mileage: 29,500
Compare 2004BMWR1200 GS to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2004 BMW R1200 GS have?▼
The 2004 BMW R1200 GS has 4 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2004 BMW R1200 GS?▼
Yes, the 2004 BMW R1200 GS has 2 recall(s). The most common affected component is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 BMW R1200 GS?▼
The most-complained component for the 2004 BMW R1200 GS is POWER TRAIN with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER and SUSPENSION:REAR.
Is the 2004 BMW R1200 GS safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.