BMW R1200 GS Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 237 consumer complaints across the 12 model years of the BMW R1200 GS (2005–2016) that have at least 5 complaints. 2005 has the most, with 51. Across all years, the part named most often is fuel system (116 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
Best and worst R1200 GS years →
All R1200 GS model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 12 | 4,300 | 2 | 48 | — | Not enough data |
| 2015 | 10 | 7,000 | 2 | 41 | — | Not enough data |
| 2014 | 14 | 27,000 | 3 | 56 | — | Not enough data |
| 2013 | 12 | 33,169 | 4 | 113 | — | Not enough data |
| 2012 | 10 | 37,000 | 1 | 50 | — | Not enough data |
| 2011 | 7 | 14,000 | 3 | 57 | — | Not enough data |
| 2010 | 8 | 21,750 | 3 | 57 | — | Not enough data |
| 2009 | 30 | 13,914 | 4 | 61 | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Rising |
| 2008 | 32 | 28,100 | 8 | 68 | Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years) | Falling |
| 2007 | 42 | 22,858 | 6 | 69 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 9 | 25,000 | 9 | 67 | — | Not enough data |
| 2005 | 51 | 31,000 | 9 | 65 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Fuel system116 44%
- Transmission and drivetrain45 17%
- Brakes29 11%
- Suspension21 8.0%
- Electrical system16 6.1%
- Engine15 5.7%
- Body and structure12 4.6%
- Wheels9 3.4%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2005: “After noticing a small amount of excessive movement in the rear wheel when riding through turns, I got home and inspected the area and found cracks in the aluminum rear wheel flange at the wheel mounting holes. After researching the issue, I discovered this is a recalled part under recall campaign 15v-141. The recall instructs replacing the aluminum flange with a new steel flange. …”
NHTSA complaint #11322263, filed 2020-04, 12,078 miles2007: “After starting the bike and allowing it to warm up, I noticed a large puddle forming under the front of the bike. Upon closer inspection I found the fuel line quick connect to the fuel pump had split and spraying fuel when under pressure. This was dripping down onto the hot header.”
NHTSA complaint #11309054, filed 2020-02, 11,000 miles2013: “The vehicle speedometer malfunctioned and records a speed 20 MPH below actual speed. This LED to both a safety risk due to excessive speed and an inability to accurately comply with the speed limit. Excessive speed is the #1 cause of motorcycle accidents. I nearly experience an accident due to inaccurate speedometer reading on a curvy road. I called Bmw and complained about this safety risk”
NHTSA complaint #11099088, filed 2018-05, 15,000 milesOther BMW models
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About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology