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Bmw

2012 Bmw R 1200 GS

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2012 Bmw R 1200 GS has 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.2x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is fuel system problems (38% of all complaints), specifically: fuel pump starting leaking while engine is running. this is a known problem for this model, but not for my model year 2012. obviously, the defect wasn't corrected on my bike, causing a dangerous situation. i am planning on bringing the motorcycle to the shop tomorrow for remediation..

3 injuries

13

Total Complaints

0

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.2x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

FUEL SYSTEM

5 complaints
38%
  • • FUEL PUMP STARTING LEAKING WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL, BUT NOT FOR MY MODEL YEAR 2012. OBVIOUSLY, THE DEFECT WASN'T CORRECTED ON MY BIKE, CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I AM PLANNING ON BRINGING THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE SHOP TOMORROW FOR REMEDIATION.
  • • FUEL PUMP FLANGE HAS A VERTICAL CRACK ON THE INSIDE OF THE BOSS, WHERE THE THREADS ARE.
  • • SPRAY LEAK FROM FUEL PUMP, QUICK CONNECTOR ON THE FLANGE BROKE AND HAD A STRONG SPRAY OF FUEL LEAKING ON THE HOT ENGINE AND MY CLOTHES, THIS HAPPEND ON THE FREEWAY WHILE RIDING AT 70MPH. THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS BIKES UP TO 2011, MINE IS 2012.
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“FUEL PUMP STARTING LEAKING WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL, BUT NOT FOR MY MODEL YEAR 2012. OBVIOUSLY, THE DEFECT WASN'T CORRECTED ON MY BIKE, CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I AM PLANNING ON BRINGING THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE SHOP TOMORROW FOR REMEDIATION.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

3 complaints
23%
  • • BMW MOTORRAD USA CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES PO BOX 1227 WESTWOOD, NJ 07675-1227 DEAR SIR: I HAVE RECENTLY HAD A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE WITH MY NEW 2012 R1200GS ADVENTURE. I BROUGHT MY MOTORCYCLE TO MY DEALER FOR THE 600 MILE BREAK-IN SERVICE AND MENTIONED TO SERVICE MANAGER THAT I HAVE BEE
  • • BRAKING STARTED TO FEEL SOFT AND SLOW, I NOTICED THAT FLUID HAD STARTED TO LEAK FROM FINAL DRIVE AREA. TOOK TO DEALER (RIDE WEST BMW, SEATTLE), FOR WARRANTY REPAIR. DEALER VERIFIED FINAL DRIVE FAILURE.TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, THESE WERE THE REPLACED ITEMS: CROWN BEARINGS, SEALING O-RING, SUPPORT
  • • I WAS TRAVELLING SAFELY IN THE MIDDLE LANE AT SPEED LIMIT IN HEAVY INTERSTATE TRAFFIC. I CHANGED LANES INTO THE FAST LANE UNDER SLIGHT ACCELERATION AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER COMPLETELY. I COULD NOT RESTART THE BIKE AND SO TRIED TO GET INTO THE SLOW LANE AS THERE WAS NO ROOM ON THE INSIDE SHOULDER. I
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“BMW MOTORRAD USA CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES PO BOX 1227 WESTWOOD, NJ 07675-1227 DEAR SIR: I HAVE RECENTLY HAD A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE WITH MY NEW 2012 R1200GS ADVENTURE. I BROUGHT MY MOTORCYCLE TO MY DEALER FOR THE 600 MILE BREAK-IN SERVICE AND MENTIONED TO SERVICE MANAGER THAT I HAVE BEE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

2 complaints
15%
  • • I WAS TRAVELLING SAFELY IN THE MIDDLE LANE AT SPEED LIMIT IN HEAVY INTERSTATE TRAFFIC. I CHANGED LANES INTO THE FAST LANE UNDER SLIGHT ACCELERATION AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER COMPLETELY. I COULD NOT RESTART THE BIKE AND SO TRIED TO GET INTO THE SLOW LANE AS THERE WAS NO ROOM ON THE INSIDE SHOULDER. I
  • • SEVERAL TIMES THE BIKE THREW AN ERROR MESSAGE ABOUT "ENGINE CONTROLLER FAULT" AND LOST POWER, GOING INTO "LIMP-HOME" MODE. ALL OCCURRENCES WERE WHILE THE BIKE WAS BEING OPERATED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, SOMETIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF A CORNER. THE BIKE WAS UNRIDEABLE IN LIMP-HOME MODE SO WAS NAVIGATED OUT O
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I WAS TRAVELLING SAFELY IN THE MIDDLE LANE AT SPEED LIMIT IN HEAVY INTERSTATE TRAFFIC. I CHANGED LANES INTO THE FAST LANE UNDER SLIGHT ACCELERATION AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER COMPLETELY. I COULD NOT RESTART THE BIKE AND SO TRIED TO GET INTO THE SLOW LANE AS THERE WAS NO ROOM ON THE INSIDE SHOULDER. I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SUSPENSION

1 complaints
8%
  • • BMW MOTORRAD USA CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES PO BOX 1227 WESTWOOD, NJ 07675-1227 DEAR SIR: I HAVE RECENTLY HAD A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE WITH MY NEW 2012 R1200GS ADVENTURE. I BROUGHT MY MOTORCYCLE TO MY DEALER FOR THE 600 MILE BREAK-IN SERVICE AND MENTIONED TO SERVICE MANAGER THAT I HAVE BEE
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“BMW MOTORRAD USA CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES PO BOX 1227 WESTWOOD, NJ 07675-1227 DEAR SIR: I HAVE RECENTLY HAD A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE WITH MY NEW 2012 R1200GS ADVENTURE. I BROUGHT MY MOTORCYCLE TO MY DEALER FOR THE 600 MILE BREAK-IN SERVICE AND MENTIONED TO SERVICE MANAGER THAT I HAVE BEE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

1 complaints
8%
  • • I OWN A TOURATECH ZEGA PRO ALUMINIUM PANNIER SET ON MY BMW R1200GS 2012 BIKE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS ON MARCH 3RD 2014, DURING A ROUTINE BIKE RIDE ON A HIGHWAY, THE RIGHT HAND SIDE 45L PANNIER BECAME DETACHED AND FELL OFF THE BIKE, ALTHOUGH I HAVE REGULARLY CHECKED THE BIKE & PANNIERS BEFORE RIDING.
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I OWN A TOURATECH ZEGA PRO ALUMINIUM PANNIER SET ON MY BMW R1200GS 2012 BIKE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS ON MARCH 3RD 2014, DURING A ROUTINE BIKE RIDE ON A HIGHWAY, THE RIGHT HAND SIDE 45L PANNIER BECAME DETACHED AND FELL OFF THE BIKE, ALTHOUGH I HAVE REGULARLY CHECKED THE BIKE & PANNIERS BEFORE RIDING. ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)
$500
TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)
$500
ENGINE(~50K mi)
$500
SUSPENSION(~50K mi)
$500
BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)
$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 13 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • ☐
    FUEL SYSTEM: FUEL PUMP STARTING LEAKING WHILE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL, BUT NOT FOR MY MODEL YEAR 2012. OBVIOUSLY, THE DEFECT WASN'T CORRECTED ON MY BIKE, CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I AM PLANNING ON BRINGING THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE SHOP TOMORROW FOR REMEDIATION.

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    TRANSMISSION: BMW MOTORRAD USA CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES PO BOX 1227 WESTWOOD, NJ 07675-1227 DEAR SIR: I HAVE RECENTLY HAD A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE WITH MY NEW 2012 R1200GS ADVENTURE. I BROUGHT MY MOTORCYCLE TO MY DEALER FOR THE 600 MILE BREAK-IN SERVICE AND MENTIONED TO SERVICE MANAGER THAT I HAVE BEE

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    ENGINE: I WAS TRAVELLING SAFELY IN THE MIDDLE LANE AT SPEED LIMIT IN HEAVY INTERSTATE TRAFFIC. I CHANGED LANES INTO THE FAST LANE UNDER SLIGHT ACCELERATION AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER COMPLETELY. I COULD NOT RESTART THE BIKE AND SO TRIED TO GET INTO THE SLOW LANE AS THERE WAS NO ROOM ON THE INSIDE SHOULDER. I

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    SUSPENSION: BMW MOTORRAD USA CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND SERVICES PO BOX 1227 WESTWOOD, NJ 07675-1227 DEAR SIR: I HAVE RECENTLY HAD A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE WITH MY NEW 2012 R1200GS ADVENTURE. I BROUGHT MY MOTORCYCLE TO MY DEALER FOR THE 600 MILE BREAK-IN SERVICE AND MENTIONED TO SERVICE MANAGER THAT I HAVE BEE

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • ☐
    General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

Bmw R 1200 GS — Year Comparison

How does 2012 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.

2014
11Excellent Reliability
2013
6Excellent Reliability
2012
13Excellent Reliability
2011
6Excellent Reliability
Full years-to-avoid analysis →

NHTSA Safety Rating

No NHTSA safety rating available

At a Glance

Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Fire reports
0
Crash reports
0
Injury reports
3
Segment avg
80

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2012 Bmw R 1200 GS

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