BMW R1200 RT · model year

2005 BMW R1200 RT

36 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 5 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
36
Recalls
5

The verdict

The 2005 BMW R1200 RT posts above-average complaint volume among its own model-year siblings.

27th pctile
complaint volume, own model years
5
recall campaigns

The 2005BMWR1200 RT carries 36 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 1 injury, 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 2005 R1200 RT is fuel/propulsion system with 12 filings, followed by fuel system, gasoline (8) and service brakes, hydraulic (2). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause. This cohort has 5 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 2005 R1200 RT. 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.

36
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
F
PlainCars Safety Score
0/100
2005 BMW R1200 RT

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

36 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM12
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE8
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2
POWER TRAIN2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP2
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES1
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE1
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT1
STRUCTURE:MOTORCYCLE:KICKSTAND/CENTER STAND1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
STRUCTURE1
SERVICE BRAKES1
ENGINE1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1

Recalls (5)

05V17200027/04/2005

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, EXPOSURE OF THE THROTTLE HOUSING TO ROAD DEBRIS COULD FALL AND BECOME CAUGHT BETWEEN THE THROTTLE-BODY AND THE ENGINE BLOCK.

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

13V61700012/12/2013

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

15V14100011/03/2015

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 R1200GS and R1200RT, 2006-2010 R1200GS Adventure, 2007-2010 R1200R, 2007 R1200S and K1200R Sport, 2005-2007 R1200ST, 2008-2009 HP2 Megamoto, 2006 HP2 Enduro, 2008-2010 HP2 Sport, 2005-2008 K1200S, 2006-2008 K1200R, K1200GT, 20

20V47100010/08/2020

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2009-2011 K1300 (S, GT), 2010-2011 S1000 RR, 2005-2011 R1200 (GS, GS Adventure, R, RT, S, ST), 2006-2010 HP2 (Enduro, Megamoto, Sport), 2005-2008 K1200 (R, R Sport, S, GT), and 2012 K1600 (GT, GTL) motorcycles that were repaired under recall 13V-6

Recent Complaints

20230325FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

2005 BMW r1200rt that I have owned since 2016 with little to no issue. Leak from winter storage in the front left side of the engine. It matches a thread of a cracked fuel pump. With your site they submitted the problem under JBN1-18051. Also under a complaint number 10428629. I wish to know if it is a issue that is a recall or something I can submit for BMW to take care of, or if I will need to get fixed myself. I saw that riding with it can result in fuel landing on the ride during transit making it dangerous to ride.

20210928FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

The contact owns a 2005 BMW R 1200 RT. The contact stated while starting the motorcycle and it began to stall. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The motorcycle was not drivable. The motorcycle was towed to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The motorcycle was repaired. The contact stated that on 7/2021, he noticed fuel leaking from the fuel pump onto the engine. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The motorcycle was not repaired but was pending repairs. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V617000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.

Mileage: 52,000

20210424ENGINE

CRACKED THROTTLE CONTROL CABLE CONNECTIONS TO BOTH THROTTLE BODY THROTTLE CONTROL SHAFTS. IF THIS FAILS, THE THROTTLES RETURN TO IDLE WITHOUT ANY ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL. I NEED TO REPAIR PRIOR TO TRAVEL USE TO AVOID THIS SITUATION.

Mileage: 32,000

20210424VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CRACKED THROTTLE CONTROL CABLE CONNECTIONS TO BOTH THROTTLE BODY THROTTLE CONTROL SHAFTS. IF THIS FAILS, THE THROTTLES RETURN TO IDLE WITHOUT ANY ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MODEL. I NEED TO REPAIR PRIOR TO TRAVEL USE TO AVOID THIS SITUATION.

Mileage: 32,000

20171115FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW R1200. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE CYCLE, IT FAILED AND FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FRONT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER (HAP'S CYCLE SALES, INC, 2530 17TH ST, SARASOTA, FL, 34234) WAS CONTACTED AT 941-365-3443. THE CONTACT TOOK THE FUEL PUMP APART AND CONFIRMED THROUGH THE PHONE WITH THE DEALER THAT THE COUPLING TO THE FUEL PUMP OF THE FLANGED HAD FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CYCLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED BY THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE CYCLE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V617000 (FUEL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,120.

Mileage: 17,120

20161006POWER TRAIN

DRIVE SHAFT U-JOINT FAILURE RIDING ON INTERSTATE 5. BIKE STARTED TO VIBRATE AND WHEN CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED, VIBRATION STOPPED. RELEASED CLUTCH AND VIBRATION STARTED AGAIN. DEPRESSED CLUTCH AGAIN AND PULLED TO SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE DRIVE SHAFT LOCKED UP. PULLED BACK REAR BOOT ON FINAL DRIVE AND THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE SWING ARM SHAFT. BMW DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS A FAILED U-JOINT BUT COULD NOT REPAIR UNLESS THEY REMOVED TRANSMISSION TO REMOVE U-JOINT STUCK ON TRANSMISSION SPLINE. PRICE FOR DRIVE SHAFT ALONE WAS $1,100 DOLLARS PLUS LABOR TO REMOVE TRANSMISSION.

Mileage: 110,000

20160227FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHILE PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN THE MOTORCYCLE INCREASED SPEED AND RPM'S IN EXCESS OF THE AMOUNT OF THROTTLE I WAS TWISTING. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED IN THE CLUTCH AND RELEASED THE THROTTLE. THE RPM'S CONTINUED TO CLIMB OVER 4000 AND THE ENGINE SUSTAINED THIS LEVEL. THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD ONLY RETURN TO A NORMAL IDLE LEVEL (1100 RPM) IF I FORCED THE THROTTLE CLOSED (FORWARD TWISTING MOTION). THIS MATTER COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING. I DELIVERED THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE BMW DEALER TO HAVE THE MATTER DIAGNOSED. THE BMW MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE PULLEY'S HAD BROKEN ON BOTH THROTTLE BOTH THROTTLE BODIES. I WAS FURTHER ADVISED THAT THESE PULLEY'S ARE MADE OF A MOLDED PLASTIC MATERIAL AND THAT THIS MATERIAL BROKE. THE MECHANIC HAS ALSO INFORMED ME THAT THESE PARTS (ALTHOUGH EXTERNAL ON THE THROTTLE BODIES) ARE NOT REPLACEABLE. THE ENTIRE THROTTLE BODIES MUST BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE THAT BMW SHOULD BE RECALL THESE ITEMS FOR THE OBVIOUS SAFETY RISKS REL

Mileage: 169,500

20140826FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

MOTORCYCLE FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING. ALWAYS SHOWING EMPTY. TOOK MOTORCYCLE TO DEALER AND HAD FUEL LEVEL SENSOR REPLACED. MOTORCYCLE FUEL GAUGE NOW SHOWING FULL ALL THE TIME UNTIL ONE RECENT FUEL FILL UP IT WENT BACK TO SHOWING EMPTY. I HAD BEEN USING THE TRIP METER TO JUDGE FUEL LEVEL FILLING THE TANK AT 250 MILES. ON THE DATE OF THIS INCIDENT, IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY TRAFFIC, I RAN OUT OF FUEL AT APPROX. 200 MILES. I MANAGED TO GET OFF OF THE ROAD WITHOUT GETTING RUN OVER. I HAVE CALLED BMW NORTH AMERICA AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FUEL SENSOR PROBLEM WAS NOT KNOWN ABOUT BUT THAT SHE WOULD TAKE MY COMPLAINT. I HAVE READ MANY, MANY......MANY COMPLAINTS FROM BMW OWNERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD BY A DEALER THAT BMW HAD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO COVER THIS PROBLEM FOR 12 YEARS BUT BMW HAD NOT FIXED THE PROBLEM. THEY WOULD JUST CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE SENSORS UNTIL THE 12 YEARS PASSED. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM EVIDENTLY NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY BY BMW. IN THE LATTER PART OF 2010 THEY W

Mileage: 22,000

20140514FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

REPORT RECEIPT DATE: DEC 12, 2013 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V617000 COMPONENT(S): FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE MY COMPLAINT : RECALL LETTER NOT RECEIVED FROM BMW. *TR

Mileage: 42,300

20131111FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

AFTER FILLING MY BMW MOTORCYCLE WITH GAS I PARKED IT TO VISIT WITH SOME OTHER RIDERS. AFTER A SHORT TIME RETURNED TO MY BIKE TO FIND GAS RUNNING ONTO THE HOT ENGINE AND POOLING ON THE GROUND. LEFT THE BIKE WENT HOME GOT A TRAILER AND TOOK IT HOME. I DRAINED THE GAS, TOOK THE COVER OFF THE GAS TANK AND FOUND THE QUICK DISCONNECT ON THE FUEL LINE CRACKED ALLOWING FUEL TO RUN DOWN THE TANK AND ONTO THE ENGINE. *TR

Mileage: 21,000

20131006FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

WHILE RIDING MY BMW R1200RT TODAY I STARTED SMELLING GAS. I RETURNED HOME AND PUT THE MOTORCYCLE IN THE GARAGE. IT HAD A VERY STRONG GAS SMELL COMING FROM IT. I REMOVED THE LEFT UPPER FAIRING TO INSPECT THE FUEL PUMP AREA. ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP RAW GASOLINE WAS POOLED AND LEAKING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE GAS TANK TOWARDS THE LEFT CYLINDER EXHAUST PIPE NEAR THE CYLINDER HEAD. THANK GOODNESS ENOUGH GAS HAD NOT LEAKED YET TO RUN ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE EXHAUST PIPE! I TURNED THE KEY ON TO ENERGIZE THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP AND PRESSURIZE THE FUEL SYSTEM TO SEE WHERE THE GAS WAS LEAKING FROM. IT IS LEAKING FROM THE FEMALE PLASTIC FUEL FITTING THAT IS PART OF THE PLASTIC GAS TANK. THERE ARE MULTIPLE CRACKS RADIATING FROM THIS FEMALE FUEL FITTING AND I CAN SEE GASOLINE DRIBBLING OUT OF AT LEAST ONE CRACK AT A FAST ENOUGH RATE TO PUDDLE ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD EASILY CAUSE A FIRE WHILE I AM RIDING DOWN THE ROAD. *TR

Mileage: 49,753

20130404FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

PLASTIC FEMALE FITTING ON TOP OF FUEL PUMP HAS SEVERAL CRACKS WHICH WILL EVENTUALLY RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE. *TR

Mileage: 14,500

20130322FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL LEAK FROM THREADS ON TANK. *TR

Mileage: 97,163

20130223FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE FUEL STRIP FAILED ON THE MOTORCYCLE. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE MOTORCYCLE, EVEN BY BMW. THIS COULD CREATE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IF THE FUEL QUANTITY DEPLETES ON A BUSY INTERSTATE OR IN A BUSY INTERSECTION. *TR

Mileage: 11,750

20130222FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I WAS RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE IN A 50MPH RESIDENTIAL ZONE IN FAIRLY HEAVY EVENING TRAFFIC WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO SEVERELY MISFIRE AND STUMBLE / SPUTTER. LUCKILY I WAS IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE BECAUSE THE ENGINE THEN DIED AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE WITHOUT TOO MUCH DIFFICULTY ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE BEHIND CAME VERY CLOSE TO ME SINCE THE BIKE SO RAPIDLY SLOWED WITHOUT MY BRAKELIGHT ON TO INDICATE A SLOW DOWN. THE BIKE WOULD NOT RESTART AND I HAD A FRIEND TRAILER IT TO MY HOUSE, SINCE THIS WAS AT NIGHT AND THE DEALERSHIP WAS CLOSED. UPON INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THE GAS TANK WAS BONE DRY, WHICH CAME AS A HUGE SURPRISE SINCE THE GAS GAUGE SHOWED A 1/4 TANK REMAINING AND OVER 100 MILES TO GO BEFORE EMPTY. I PUT A GALLON OF GAS IN IT AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER IN THE MORNING AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE FUEL SENSOR FILM STRIP TO THE TUNE OF $265.68, WHICH MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERED EXCEPT FOR THE $50 DEDUCTIBLE. I CONSIDER MYSELF VERY LU

Mileage: 32,191

20120819SERVICE BRAKES

ABS MODULATOR FAILED. $3500 REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 21,000

20120708FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THIS FAILURE IS NOT LIMITED TO THE 2005 BMW R1200RT. THE SAME FUEL PUMP IS USED FROM 2005-2009 IN THE RT1200RT AND R1200GS. THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING HIGH-PRESSURE FUEL QUICK DISCONNECT REINFORCEMENT FLANGE CRACKS UNDER HIGH PRESSURE CYCLING AND LEAKS, SENDING RAW FUEL DOWN THE LEFT FAIRING IN CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THE VEHICLES LEFT EXHAUST PIPE AND IGNITION SYSTEM COMPONENTS. THE MOTORCYCLE FAIRING EFFECTIVELY CAPTURES THE FUEL VAPORS CREATING A SIGNIFICANT RISK FOR FIRE. IN ADDITION, LEAKING FUEL, STREAMING ALONG THE LEFT FAIRING IS EXHAUSTED ON THE RIDERS LEFT LEG, CREATING SIGNIFICANT RISK FOR THE RIDER EVEN AFTER DISMOUNTING THE VEHICLE. CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE THE COMBINATION OF HIGH FUEL PRESSURE AND NEGLIGENT DESIGN CREATE SUBSTANTIAL RISK FOR RIDERS OF THE IMPACTED VEHICLES. CONSEQUENCES OF THIS FAILURE ARE OUTLINED BELOW: 1. RIDERS BECOME FUEL SOAKED AS FUEL LEAKS DOWN THE LEFT FAIRING AND THEN IS FORCED BY FAIRING AIRFLOW DYNAMICS ON TO THE RIDERS LEFT LEG. 2. FUEL VAPORS, CAPTU

Mileage: 22,000

20120622FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL TANK QUICK DISCONNECT CRACKED SPILLING FUEL WHILE RIDING. *TT

Mileage: 42,000

20120411FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 BMW R 1200 RT. WHILE PARKED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, FUEL BEGAN TO SPILL ONTO THE ENGINE AND ONTO THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A FRACTURE ON THE FUEL FLANGE NEAR THE FUEL PUMP QUICK DISCONNECT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

Mileage: 53,000

20120206SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

2005 BMW R 1200 RT REAL WHEEL FLANGE CRACKED THIS FLANGE SUPPORTS THE REAR WHEEL BRAKE DISC AND ALSO THE REAR WHEEL ITSELF COMPLETE FAILURE OF THIS FLANGE WOULD RESULT IN TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *TR

Mileage: 41,000

Compare 2005BMWR1200 RT to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Vehicle Safety Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2005 BMW R1200 RT have?▼
The 2005 BMW R1200 RT has 36 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2005 BMW R1200 RT?▼
Yes, the 2005 BMW R1200 RT has 5 recall(s). The most common affected component is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 BMW R1200 RT?▼
The most-complained component for the 2005 BMW R1200 RT is FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM with 12 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC.
Is the 2005 BMW R1200 RT 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 2005 BMW R1200 RT; 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.