BMW R1200 GS Adventure · model year

2017 BMW R1200 GS Adventure

7 NHTSA complaints, and 4 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

Complaints
7
Recalls
4

The verdict

The 2017 BMW R1200 GS Adventure posts above-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.

40th pctile
complaint volume, own model years
4
recall campaigns

The 2017BMWR1200 GS Adventure carries 7 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 2017 R1200 GS Adventure is service brakes with 3 filings, followed by unknown or other (1) and fuel/propulsion system (1). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 4 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 2017 R1200 GS Adventure. 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.

7
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
2017 BMW R1200 GS Adventure

PlainCars' own composite of NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings and rollover-risk assessment, each dimension normalized against the federal scale or the full national model-year corpus. Not an official NHTSA figure, and not a substitute for a specific vehicle's VIN-level recall check.

NHTSA Overall Rating N/A
Not rated
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program overall crash-test rating.
Front Crash N/A
Not rated
Frontal barrier crash-test rating.
Side Crash N/A
Not rated
Side barrier and pole crash-test rating.
Rollover Resistance N/A
Not rated
Static stability factor + dynamic rollover test rating.
Rollover Risk N/A
Not reported
NHTSA single-vehicle rollover probability, dynamic test.

Total Complaints

7 filings

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

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:BRAKE FLUID LOW WARNING:SWITCH/SENSOR/FLOAT1
POWER TRAIN1

Recalls (4)

17V48100028/07/2017

EQUIPMENT

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2017 F800R and F800GT motorcycles, 2014-2018 R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure motorcycles, 2016-2017 S1000XR motorcycles and 2015-2017 R1200R and R1200RS, 2008-2012 F650GS, 2008-2018 F800GS, and 2014-2017 F800GS Adventure motorcycles. When equi

17E05200021/08/2017

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain accessory turn signals manufactured for 2006-2017 R1200GS, 2007-2008 and 2010-2017 R1200GS Adventure, 2017 F700GS and F800GS, 2013-2017 F800GT, 2015-2016 F800R, 2014-2017 F800GS Adventure, 2014-2016 S1000R, 2015-2017 R1200R, 2016-2017 R1200RS, and

18E01600021/03/2018

EQUIPMENT

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain Accessory Windscreens, sold for installation on various motorcycles. Specifically being recalled is Windscreen model number 8531917, sold for use on model year 2012-2018 F700GS motorcycles, Windscreen model number 8544629, sold for use on model y

17V43800010/07/2017

SUSPENSION:FRONT

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2017 BMW R1200GS and BMW R1200GS Adventure motorcycles. The motorcycle fixed fork tube may separate from the pressed in seal plug that secures the tube to the upper triple clamp.

Recent Complaints

20250524SERVICE BRAKES

It is not clear which rear brake component is failing. It seems to be either the master cylinder or the ABS control module, but nothing seems to be conclusive. The failure alters the power of, and force required to apply, the rear brakes, changing the riding characteristics of the motorcycle that could lead to serious injury or miscalculations in application of the rear brake to minimize stopping distance. Apparently the component has been inspected by the manufacturer, however there has been no concrete solution that would guarantee a permanent fix. There are no warning lamps or visual indicators to prepare riders that the rear brakes may be compromised or dysfunctional. There have been multiple incidents of this failure from new. After 7 years and over 800 posts (in this thread alone), owners and BMW dealers have not been able correct the defects with 100% certainty. [XXX] This impacts owners of this motorcycle with a Production Date Range of Sept 1, 2012 through to Aug 31, 2020.

20231016SERVICE BRAKES

I bought a 2017 BMW R 1200 GS used from a dealer with 554 miles on it. Basically new. I put 1100 miles on the bike before I had a work related accident. The Bike has 1687 miles on it now. Bike has been sitting for 3+ years in a garage. The rear brake goes all the way to the bump stop with no resistance. With the bike on the center stand and the rear brake lever all the way down to the bump stop, the rear wheel spins freely. I rode this bike 2 days before my accident in July of 2020 and the rear brake worked fine. I have not rode the bike in 3+ years and the rear brake went flat. This is unacceptable. I think BMW knows there is a problem. I want you to know there is a problem so maybe the problem get fixed. I've read post on BMW forums, explaining the rear master cylinder sucks in air. Air in brake lines is no good. That means the rear brake master cylinder could suck in air and render the rear brake useless. I think Brakes are an especially important part of vehicle safety.

20230314POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2017 BMW R1200 GS Adventure. The contact stated while riding at approximately 65 MPH, there was an abnormal "clunking" sound coming from the rear of the motorcycle. The contact stated that immediately the motorcycle started to lose motive power. While attempting to accelerate, the motorcycle started to vibrate without accelerating properly. The contact stated there was no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that he coasted to the side of the road and turned off the motorcycle. The contact noticed that a rubber grommet that covered the universal joint connection to the final drive was torn. The contact had the motorcycle towed to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the universal joint and driveshaft needed to be replaced. The motorcycle had been repaired. The contact also noticed an oil leak and had to return the motorcycle to the same dealer to have additional bearings and seals replaced. The manufacturer had been informed of the fai

Mileage: 40,000

20221026SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:BRAKE FLUID LOW WARNING:SWITCH/SENSOR/FLOAT

The contact owns a 2017 BMW R 1200 GS Adventure motorcycle. The contact stated while riding 65 MPH, while attempting to stop the motorcycle, the brakes failed to operate properly causing a delay in stopping the motorcycle. The motorcycle was taken to the dealer, and the contact was informed that they aware of the failure. The mechanic bled the brake lines and the motorcycle remained at the dealer overnight; however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 3,400.

Mileage: 3,400

20191118FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I EXPERIENCED THREE INSTANCES OF THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON AND THE ENGINE LOSING POWER AND THROTTLE CONTROL. THE MOTOR CONTINUED TO RUN BUT WAS RESTRICTED TO A FAST IDLE OF APPROX. 2000RPM AND NO THROTTLE. SPEED WAS THEREFORE RESTRICTED TO 2000 RPM DEPENDING ON WHAT GEAR WHICH WAS ABOUT 5-10 MPH.. ONE EVENT HAPPENED AT SLOW SPEED AND TWO WERE AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 55 MPH ALL HAPPENING IN A SPAN OF ABOUT 30 MILES. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE ON A RURAL HIGHWAY WITH LIGHT TRAFFIC AS THERE WAS NO WARNING AND NO POSSIBILITY TO LOOK FOR A SAFE PULL OFF SPOT. EACH TIME I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE MOTOR AND RETURN TO NORMAL OPERATION AFTER SHUTTING OFF THE IGNITION FOR A SHORT TIME AND RESTARTING, MOTOR RAN FINE WITH WARNING LIGHTS. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO A BMW REPAIR FACILITY AND HAD THE ENGINE CODES DOWNLOADED BUT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE A CAUSE. I WAS TOLD TO CONTINUE RIDING IT AND IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN TO NOT START IT BUT HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. I FEEL THIS IS A BIT DANGERO

Mileage: 8,450

20180523SERVICE BRAKES

I HAD LESS THAN 6000 MILES ON MY BMW R1200GS ADVENTURE AND NOTICED THAT I HAD NO REAR BAKE AT ALL WHEN I WAS RIDING OFF ROAD WITH MY "ENDURO PRO" MODE ENGAGED. THIS ALLOWS ME TO USE THE REAR BRAKE IN AN OFF ROAD MODE AND SHUTS DOWN ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL.. I NOTICED THAT A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE. SEE ADVRIDER.COM AND SEARCH REAR BRAKE FAILURE ON BMW R1200GS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY BLED THE BRAKES. THEY NOW WORK FINE. IT HAD BEEN SUGGESTED BY OTHERS THAT THE BREMBO REAR MASTER CYLINDER IS TO BLAME. IT ALLEGEDLY ALLOWS AIR INTO THE SYSTEM.SOME DEALERS HAVE REPLACED THIS AND IT HAS SOLVED THE PROBLEM. THE BRAKE SHOES WERE IN GOOD SHAPE AND WERE NOT REPLACED. I AM ASKING THAT YOU LOOK INTO THIS AS FAILURE OF THE REAR BRAKE COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY ESPECIALLY OFF ROAD AND GOING DOWNHILL. THIS IS WHERE THE REAR BRAKE IS VERY IMPORTANT. VERY RESPECTFULLY,

Mileage: 5,800

20171102UNKNOWN OR OTHER

REAR REFLECTOR RECALL. THE DEALER WILL NOT INSTALL THE MOUNTING RACK FOR THE REAR SIDES LUGGAGE OR THE LUGGAGE WITH MY NEW BIKE. THEY ARE WAITING ON THE FIX BEFORE THEY WILL RELEASE THESE PARTS. BEEN WAITING FOR MONTHS????

Compare 2017BMWR1200 GS Adventure to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Vehicle Safety Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2017 BMW R1200 GS Adventure have?▼
The 2017 BMW R1200 GS Adventure has 7 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2017 BMW R1200 GS Adventure?▼
Yes, the 2017 BMW R1200 GS Adventure has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is EQUIPMENT. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 BMW R1200 GS Adventure?▼
The most-complained component for the 2017 BMW R1200 GS Adventure is SERVICE BRAKES with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER and FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.
Is the 2017 BMW R1200 GS Adventure 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.

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 2017 BMW R1200 GS Adventure; 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.