Total Complaints
6 filings
BMW R1200C · model year
2002 BMW R1200C
6 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002BMWR1200C 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.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 R1200C is seats:front assembly:recliner with 3 filings, followed by power train:clutch assembly:pedal/hand lever(motorcycle) (1) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder (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.
NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2002 R1200C. 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.
6
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 |
|---|---|
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE) | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20120203POWER TRAIN
MY FINAL DRIVE HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AT 29,963 MILES ON 12/18/08. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CROWN GEAR OR BEARINGS DETERIORATED, CHEWED UP THE SEALS, AND CAUSED GEAR OIL TO LEAK ONTO MY REAR WHEEL. A BMW DEALER REBUILT THE DRIVE USING OEM PARTS, AND IT FAILED AGAIN AT 32,164 MILES ON 6/25/09. IT WAS REBUILT A 2ND TIME AND RECENTLY FAILED A 3RD TIME ON 9/29/11 AT 47,647. THIS TIME I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW FINAL DRIVE FROM BMW IN GERMANY FOR ALMOST $1400 RATHER THAN REBUILDING AGAIN, HOWEVER, I'M AFRAID ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. LAST TIME I NEEDED TO GET TOWED HOME AND BROKE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NORTHERN STATE PARKWAY IN LONG ISLAND. EACH TIME THE REPAIR WAS PAID FOR OUT OF MY POCKET AS THE BIKE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. EACH TIME THE DEALER AND BMW DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF FINAL DRIVE INTEGRITY ISSUES WITHOUT EH BMW R1200C MODELS. *KB
Mileage: 29,963
20040428POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
I OWN A 2002 BMW R1200C THAT HAD ABOUT 5500 MILES ON IT BEFORE THE FOLLOWING FAILURE; THE BEARING ON THE END OF THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER PISTON FAILED, SPINNING THE SLAVE CYLINDER PISTON IN IT'S BORE, BURNED THE BRAKE FLUID AND BLED ALUMINUM PARTICLES THROUGHOUT THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH CIRCUIT. THIS RENDERED THE CLUTCH LEVER INOPERABLE AND I COULD NO LONGER PUT THE MOTORCYCLE IN NEUTRAL. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND LET THE BIKE STALL IN GEAR, WHICH HAD A TENDENCY TO LOCK UP THE REAR TIRE. BMW FIXED THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I'VE FOUND OUT THROUGH CONVERSATION WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS, THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM HAPPENS FAIRLY FREQUENTLY. IF THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW, HOW LONG WILL IT BE BEFORE THE NEW COMPONENTS FAIL.
Mileage: 5,500
20040428SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
I OWN A 2002 BMW R1200C THAT HAD ABOUT 5500 MILES ON IT BEFORE THE FOLLOWING FAILURE; THE BEARING ON THE END OF THE CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER PISTON FAILED, SPINNING THE SLAVE CYLINDER PISTON IN IT'S BORE, BURNED THE BRAKE FLUID AND BLED ALUMINUM PARTICLES THROUGHOUT THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH CIRCUIT. THIS RENDERED THE CLUTCH LEVER INOPERABLE AND I COULD NO LONGER PUT THE MOTORCYCLE IN NEUTRAL. I HAD TO PULL OVER ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY AND LET THE BIKE STALL IN GEAR, WHICH HAD A TENDENCY TO LOCK UP THE REAR TIRE. BMW FIXED THE PROBLEM UNDER WARRANTY, BUT I'VE FOUND OUT THROUGH CONVERSATION WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS, THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM HAPPENS FAIRLY FREQUENTLY. IF THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW, HOW LONG WILL IT BE BEFORE THE NEW COMPONENTS FAIL.
Mileage: 5,500
20020710SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHILE RIDING BACKREST FELL OFF.*AK
20020710SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHILE RIDING, BACK REST FELL OFF.*AK *YH
20020710SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
WHILE RIDING BACK REST FELL OFF.*AK OUTSIDE SCOPE OF RECALL_ID 11776 (00V-289)
Compare 2002BMWR1200C to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2002 BMW R1200C have?▼
The 2002 BMW R1200C has 6 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 BMW R1200C?▼
The most-complained component for the 2002 BMW R1200C is SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE) and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER.
Is the 2002 BMW R1200C 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.