1998 BMW R1200C Problems
- Complaints
- 14filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 15,231miles, 7 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 2campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1998 BMW R1200C (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
NHTSA recorded 14 consumer complaints for the 1998 BMW R1200C. The part named most often is engine cooling, with 5 complaints (36% of the total), followed by exterior lighting (5) and brakes (2). 7 of the complaints include a mileage, and 86% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 15,231 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 5 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 1 technical service bulletin for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Engine cooling5 36%
- Exterior lighting5 36%
- Brakes2 14%
- Electrical system1 7.1%
- Fuel system1 7.1%
- Suspension1 7.1%
Example complaints
Engine cooling: “The hose connecting the fuel unit to the left side of the engine collapsed, causing immediate lost of power. The incident occurred at coos bay, oregon while I was on a multi-day trip. I had to rent a u-haul truck to transport the bike to the portland Bmw dealership. The mechanic at the dealership told me that two other R1200C motorcycles were repaired for the same problem during the prior week. This may be the same problem reported by another complaint odi id# 537575.”
NHTSA complaint #10074790, filed 2004-06, 8,200 milesExterior lighting: “I 0wn a 1998 Bmw R1200C cruiser motorcycle, I bought it new. My tail light assembly wich includes brake light and blinkers creates a crack on the left side causing the assembly to eventually crack in two parts loosing the left blinker assembly. I have replaced this faulty part once before 2 years and approximently 3000 miles ago. My motorcycle was out of warenty so it cost me $180.00 for a new part plus installation. The new part is cracked again.”
NHTSA complaint #10028405, filed 2003-07, 7,280 milesBrakes: “The contact owns a 1998 Bmw R1200C. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35-40 MPH and trying to decelerate, he noticed that the brakes were failing. He placed the gear into neutral and coasted to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to a dealer and they advised him that the clutch master cylinder had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were approximately 25,000. Updated 03/29/11 updated 08/15/11”
NHTSA complaint #10384009, filed 2011-02, 25,000 milesElectrical system: “Motorcycle bursted into flames while driving at approximately 10 MPH or less. Motorcycle inspected by dealer, and informed consumer that the ABS harness had cut into a wire which shorted out, causing a fire.”
NHTSA complaint #842253, filed 1999-07Mileage when problems were reported
86% of the 7 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 8,200 and 25,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Recalls and investigations
- 01V217000Jun 26, 2001Structure › Frame and membersCovers: BMW R1200C 1998–1999
Vehicle description: motorcycles equipped with chrome-plated frames. Copper residue can remain in the tapped hole where the upper fork bridge attaches to the frame. Moisture can cause corrosion to occur between the copper residue and the aluminum frame. The…
- 97V134000Aug 8, 1997Service brakes, hydraulicCovers: BMW R1200C 1998, K1200RS 1998
Vehicle description: motorcycles. The adjusting screw for the pressure point of either the brake or clutch levers may not be sufficiently tight, due to grease contamination of the threads.
Recall details for the 1998 BMW R1200C → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 1 on record; the latest 1 are shown.
- 10030825Nov 1, 2007Fuel system, Other or unknown. Bmw motorcycle: engine fuels containing ethanol. Bmw motorrad has no objection to the use of si engine fuels containing up to a maximum of 10% ethanol and imposes no warranty restrictions. Ethanol…
Other model years of the BMW R1200C
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 13 | 2,865 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2002 | 5 | 17,732 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1998 | 14 | 15,231 | 2 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1998 BMW R1200C have?
NHTSA recorded 14 consumer complaints for the 1998 BMW R1200C as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1998 BMW R1200C is reported most often?
Engine cooling is named most often, in 5 complaints (36% of the total), followed by exterior lighting with 5.
Has the 1998 BMW R1200C been recalled?
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 1998 BMW R1200C reported?
Among the 7 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 15,231 miles and the middle half falls between 8,200 and 25,000 miles; 86% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.