CSR

BMW · NHTSA safety record

2015 BMW R1200 GS

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

10

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2015 BMW R1200 GS have filed 10 safety complaints with NHTSA between August 2015 and December 2024. The most complained-about system is the brakes, named in 4 of them (40%). The typical failure was reported at 7,000 miles, the median across the 5 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 2 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (2)

EQUIPMENT

17V481000 · July 28, 2017

The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2017 F800R and F800GT motorcycles, 2014-2018 R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure motorcycles, 2016-2017 S1000XR motorcycles and 2015-2017 R1200R and R1200RS, 2008-2012 F650GS, 2008-2018 F800GS, and 2014-2017 F800GS Adventure motorcycles. When equipped with the optional aluminum luggage cases, the rear reflex reflectors may be partially blocked. The aluminum case mounts for the R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure may also partially block the reflectors. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk
If the rear reflex reflectors are obscured from view, it can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install reflectors on the cases or for the case mounts, an additional bracket with rear reflex reflectors, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 47,775 vehicles across all model years covered

SUSPENSION:FRONT

17V438000 · July 10, 2017

The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2017 BMW R1200GS and BMW R1200GS Adventure motorcycles. The motorcycle fixed fork tube may separate from the pressed in seal plug that secures the tube to the upper triple clamp.
The risk
If the fork tube detaches from the sealing plug, the handling and stability of the motorcycle will be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will add an additional fixed fork tube bush. A fork that is sufficiently damaged will be replaced with a modified new part. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began August 31, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

BMW of North America, LLC · up to 14,626 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 10.

SERVICE BRAKES 4 40%
SUSPENSION 3 30%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2 20%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 1 10%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 10%
ENGINE 1 10%
STEERING 1 10%
WHEELS 1 10%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2017 at 4.

2015 2017 2024
2015 to 2024

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

STEERING

1 injured · crash

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON A NATIONAL FOREST ROAD THE FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH AND CAUSING INJURY MANUFACTURE REPLACED EVERYTHING UNDER WARRANTY NO DEFINITION TOO WHY PART FAILED

NHTSA complaint 11000810. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
It is not clear which brake component is failing. It seems to be either the master cylinder or the ABS control module, but nothing seems to be conclusive. The failure alters the power of and force required to apply the rear brakes, changing the riding characteristics of the motorcycle that could lead to serious injury or miscalculations in application of both front a rear brakes to minimize stopping distance. Apparently the component has been inspected by the manufacturer, however there has been no concrete solution that would guarantee a permanent solution. There are no warning lamps or visual indicators to prepare riders that the rear brakes may be compromised or dysfunctional. There have

NHTSA complaint 11630748, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
While riding the 1200GS yesterday, the rear brake calliper somehow came off! Has anyone encountered such a problem before. After the caliper came off, it got stuck in the wheel spokes and completely shattered the spokes and wheels. I was very lucky not sure how the wheels did not completely jam or freeze as this would have been deadly. I as was on a freeway with cars travelling over 70-MPH! Luckily enough motorists behind me and in other lanes observed what had happened and provided me space to pull over.

NHTSA complaint 11537784. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
Rear brake pedal gets soft and braking performance is lost. Feels like air is getting into the system. Bleeding the brake fixes the problem, but it comes back after a few thousand miles. Seems this isn't an isolated icindent based on forum information:

NHTSA complaint 11516417. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES

7,000 miles

REAR BRAKE REQUIRES MORE AND MORE TRAVEL UNTILL IT HIT THE STOP..NO REAR BRAKE. BLEEDING BRAKE SOLVES FOR A MONTH OR TWO, THEN CYCLE BEGINS AGAIN. BMW SAYS BLEED BRAKES EVERY 2 YEARS, I HAVE TO DO IT AT LEAST EVERY OIL CHANGE (6000 MILES). DEALER IS AWARE OF PROBLEM, HAS NO SOLUTION

NHTSA complaint 11110571. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

21,200 miles

CONTROL BUTTONS ON LEFT HANDLEBAR FAILING AFFECTING CRUISE CONTROL, SUSPENSION SETTINGS, AND RIDE MODE WHICH AFFECTS ENGINE PERFORMANCE. BUTTON FAILURES OCCUR JUST OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY AND WHEN MOTORCYCLE IS IN OPERATION AND SUSPENSION AND ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEMS ARE OPERATIONAL.

NHTSA complaint 11100023. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION

5,000 miles

BMW MOTORCYCLE RECALL CAMPAIGN 17V-438 - FRONT FORK. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM BMW IN AUGUST 2017 AND SENT THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE WARRANTY/RECALL REPAIR CONDUCTED. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN AT MORTON'S BMW IN FREDERICKSBURG, VA SINCE 09 SEPTEMBER AND BMW HAS STILL NOT SENT THE DEALER THE REPAIR PARTS. I SENT BMW OF NORTH AMERICA A DETAILED EMAIL ON 24 SEPTEMBER AND THEY HAVE YET TO RESPOND AND EXPLAIN WHY THEY WILL NOT FIX MY MOTORCYCLE WITHIN A REASONABLE PERIOD OF TIME.

NHTSA complaint 11030033. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the BMW R1200 GS

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2016 12 2
2014 14 3 1
2013 11 4
2012 10 1
2010 8 3

Other 2015 BMW models

Every BMW on this site — 249 vehicles, 484 recall campaigns and 2 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

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