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BMW · vehicle model

BMW R1200 RT

162 NHTSA complaints and 6 safety recalls across model years 2005–2018.

Complaints
162
Recalls
6
Model years
10

The BMWR1200 RT appears in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database with 162 consumer safety complaints and 6 recall campaigns across 10 model years (2005–2018). That averages roughly 16 complaints per model year. Report counts can differ between model years for many reasons; this dataset does not establish the cause of a difference.

Complaint volume on a nameplate alone is not a reliability verdict: a long-running bestseller can accumulate more filings than a low-volume niche model because more vehicles are on the road. The table below shows report counts and published NHTSA crash-test ratings side by side for each model year. The filing-year histogram shows the timing of submitted reports, not a causal trend.

NHTSA has 34 investigation files tied to this model. Investigation records, complaint reports, and recall campaigns each provide different context. Use the official NHTSA VIN lookup and the underlying notices to research a specific vehicle; PlainCars does not infer a vehicle-risk or pricing conclusion from these records.

Complaints by Year

YearComplaints
20183
20173
20151
201113
20104
200914
200823
200735
200642
200524

Complaint Filing Trend

NHTSA complaint volume by year filed (not model year).

2
’05
4
’06
4
’07
6
’08
5
’09
4
’10
8
’11
31
’12
36
’13
11
’14
11
’15
12
’16
10
’17
3
’18
9
’19
2
’20
2
’21
1
’24
1
’25

Year filed (bar labels show the complaint count).

View all trending models →

Compare BMWR1200 RT to Similar Vehicles

BMWR1200 RT vs FORDF-53 → BMWR1200 RT vs FORDF-450 → BMWR1200 RT vs CHEVROLETEXPRESS 3500 → BMWR1200 RT vs FORDF SERIES (LIGHT) →

NHTSA Investigations

PE20002Preliminary EvaluationClosed2020-04-01

Brake fluid leak at front brake caliper

EA19003Engineering AnalysisClosed2019-10-11

Steering Oscillation

PE19002Preliminary EvaluationClosed2019-03-25

Steering Oscillation

RQ18001Recall QueryClosed2018-04-18

Idler Pulley Bolt Failure

AQ15004Audit QueryClosed2015-09-24

BMW Safety Act Violations

PE13030Preliminary EvaluationClosed2013-09-06

Loss of power assist braking

EA13006Engineering AnalysisClosed2013-07-12

Fuel Leak - Motorycle

EA12002Engineering AnalysisClosed2012-04-10

Vehicle Rollaway

DP12001Defect PetitionClosed2012-01-20

M/C final drive ball bearing failure

PE11025Preliminary EvaluationClosed2011-08-05

Vehicle Rollaway

View all 34 investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How reliable is the BMW R1200 RT?▼
The BMW R1200 RT has received 162 NHTSA complaints spanning model years 2005 to 2018, with 6 recalls. That averages about 16 complaints per model year.
What years of BMW R1200 RT are available?▼
PlainCars has complaint and recall data for the BMW R1200 RT from 2005 to 2018 (10 model years). Select any year to see component-level complaint breakdowns and safety ratings.
Does the BMW R1200 RT have safety ratings?▼
NHTSA safety ratings (NCAP 5-star program) are available for many BMW R1200 RT model years from 2011 onward. Select a specific year to see front crash, side crash, and rollover ratings where available.
What are the most common BMW R1200 RT complaints?▼
NHTSA complaints for the BMW R1200 RT are categorized by component, common areas include engine, transmission, electrical system, airbags, and brakes. Select a model year for a detailed component-by-component breakdown.
How do I check if my BMW R1200 RT has been recalled?▼
Visit the year-specific page on PlainCars to see all recalls for your model year, or enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov for official recall status and available remedies.
Data sources

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. BMW R1200 RT totals are aggregated from the linked NHTSA model-year rows; 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.