2008 BMW R 1200 Gs Fuel system Problems

The contact owns a 2008 BMW R 1200. The contact stated that while the motorcycle was parked, the contact smelled fuel on several occasions. No warning light was illuminated. The motorcycle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign number: 20V471000 (Fuel system, Gasoline). The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.

NHTSA ID

11555710

Incident

Oct 22, 2023

Mileage

69,000 mi

Fuel strip sensor failure. The fuel strip sensor that sends fuel level information to the motorcycle dash has failed. This is a known issue by BMW. When the strip fails, it no longer sends accurate fuel level information and the fuel indicator on the dash is no longer reliable. In my case, the fuel level reads full permanently even though fuel has been completely depleted. BMW's remedy is/was to replace the faulty fuel strip with another of the same faulty design rendering a situation where the rider can never rely on the fuel gauge. There are no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the issue which results in unsafe riding conditions when the engine suddenly dies unexpectedly from lack of fuel.

NHTSA ID

11528242

Incident

Jun 9, 2023

There is a small plastic cam on the throttle body that gets pulled by the throttle cable to control the butterfly valve. They break easily and cause a loss of power and engine control. I have seen many others posting on line with same issue

NHTSA ID

11466015

Incident

May 24, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 BMW R 1200 GS Motorcycle. The contact stated the vehicle was leaking fuel without warning. The contact called the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified however, no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000.

NHTSA ID

11439387

Incident

Oct 28, 2021

Mileage

35,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW R 1200 GS MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE FUEL SENSOR STRIPS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES, UNDER THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE MOTORCYCLE TO IRON HORSE MOTORCYCLES (344 E. GRANT RD, TUCSON, AZ, 85716, (520) 327-0773 AND THE THIRD FUEL SENSOR STRIP WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE REPAIR FAILED TO FIX THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL TANK READ EMPTY WHETHER THE FUEL TANKS WAS FULL OR EMPTY. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 50,956. *BF

NHTSA ID

11383357

Incident

Jan 1, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW R 1200 GS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING AN ABNORMAL ODOR APPEARED AS FUEL POURED ONTO THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT COASTED THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROADWAY AND CONTACTED HIS FRIEND WHO HAULED THE MOTORCYCLE BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. BIG #1 MOTORSPORTS (505 COBB STREET, 1-65 & OXMOOR RD BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE MOTORCYCLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V471000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.

NHTSA ID

11364332

Incident

Aug 29, 2019

Mileage

20,000 mi

FUEL IS LEAKING FROM GAS TANK FLANGE ONTO HOT ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

11363130

Incident

Sep 21, 2020

Mileage

30,000 mi

IN 2014 THERE WAS A BMW RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP AND AUX PUMP FLANGE AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER THAT OWNED THE BIKE REPLACED THE PUMP AND FLANGE AT THAT TIME. IT IS NOW ONLY 6 YEARS LATER; LAST YEAR I PAID MY LOCAL DEALER $382 TO REPLACE THE AUXILIARY FUEL PUMP AND GASKET IN MAY OF 2019, AND CURRENTLY (AUGUST 15, 2020) I AM PAYING $743 TO REPLACE THE MAIN FUEL PUMP AND FLANGE. MY QUESTIONS ARE: WHY DIDN'T THE 2014 RECALL SOLVE THE INITIAL PROBLEM WITH THE CRACKED AND LEAKING FLANGE AND IS THIS GOING TO BE A RE-OCCURRING PROBLEM EVERY 5 TO 6 YEARS? THE AUXILARY FUEL PUMP FLANGE AND THE MAIN FUEL PUMP FLANGE LEAK WAS NOTICIBLE WHEN I FIRST STARTED UP MY MOTORCYCLE. FUEL WAS STANDING / PRESENT ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP AND AUX. FUEL PUMP WHEN I STARTED THE BIKE. I BELIEVE THAT THE FLANGE AND THE QUICK CONNECT LINES ARE DEFECTIVE ON MY BIKE AND THAT THIS EVENT IS GOING TO KEEP RE-OCCURING EVERY 5 TO 6 YEARS. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON CERTAIN BMW R1200GS MOTORCYCLES BY BMWUSA, BUT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE HAS INFORMED ME THAT MY VIN # IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, BUT HE FAILED TO EXPLAIN WHY ITY WASN'T.

NHTSA ID

11351212

Incident

Aug 15, 2020

Mileage

34,283 mi

THIS IS A SEVERE FUEL LEAK THAT WAS FIRST NOTICED WHEN RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE WHEN I BEGAN TO SMELL GAS. AS SOON AS I COULD GET IT PARKED, FUEL STARTED POURING OUT OF THE FUEL PUMP AREA. I STARTED MY MOTORCYCLE AGAIN AND FUEL CONTINUED TO GUSH OUT. IT APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP. THIS EXACT ISSUE WAS ADDRESSED WITH A PREVIOUS RECALL 13V-617 WHICH WAS PERFORMED ON MY MOTORCYCLE ON 7/2014. HOWEVER, THE EXACT ISSUE HAS SURFACED 8/2019 AGAIN AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM A SECOND TIME. IF I HADN'T REACHED MY DESTINATION WHEN I DID, I FEAR THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD HAVE BURST INTO FLAMES! I HAVE CONTACTED BMW CORPORATION AND THEY WILL NOT GET INVOLVED AND THE DEALERSHIP STILL REFUSES TO FIX THE ISSUE THAT OBVIOUSLY WASN'T REPAIRED THE FIRST TIME PROPERLY! THIS OCCURRED ON A CITY STREET DURING NORMAL USAGE. THE "FIX" IS OBVIOUSLY NOT A "FIX" AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS ON THE INTERNET FORUMS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME THING. I AM VERY LUCKY IT DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE WHILE I WAS RIDING.

NHTSA ID

11300592

Incident

Aug 15, 2019

Mileage

20,470 mi

WHILE TRAVELLING AT THE SPEED LIMIT ON THE LEFT LANE IN BUSY TRAFFIC, THE MOTORCYCLE QUIT AS IF I HAD SHUT OFF THE KEY. I HAD TO MANEUVER THROUGH 4 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. I BELIEVE THAT THE FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR SHUT THE BIKE OFF EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS FUEL IN THE TANK. ONCE STOPPED, THE BIKE STARTED AGAIN AND RAN NORMALLY. I BELIEVE THAT THE FUEL LEVEL INDICATOR CAN INTERRUPT ENGINE OPERATION WHEN IT GETS TO A POINT OF ZERO RANGE, EVEN THOUGH THE BIKE HAS ADEQUATE FUEL IN THE TANK. I HAVE ASKED BMW TO VERIFY THIS AND THEY WILL NOT. OWNERS SHOULD BE ADVISED THAT THIS CAN HAPPEN AS I NARROWLY AVOIDED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. IF IT CANNOT HAPPEN, THEN I NEED TO LOOK WHAT DID HAPPEN. BMW RECOMMENDS THAT I TALK TO THE DEALER, BUT HE HAS ALREADY TOLD ME THAT HE CANNOT ANSWER THE QUESTION. THEY HAVE ALSO OFFERED TO SEND A REP TO LOOK AT THE BIKE, BUT AS CUSTOMERS, WE NEED TO KNOW IF THIS CAN HAPPEN AND BE WARNED ABOUT IT SO WE KNOW WHAT TO DO. THE DEALER DID REPLACE THE FUEL STRIP AND SINCE THEN THE FUEL STRIP HAS BEEN REPLACED TWO MORE TIMES, AND IS NOW INOPERABLE. BMW NEEDS TO ANSWER MY QUESTION BECAUSE IF THE FUEL STRIP CAN INTERRUPT ENGINE OPERATION BMW OWNERS NEED TO KNOW. WITHOUT KNOWING THIS, IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WHICH EASILY COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FATALITY WHICH PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO OPERATOR ERROR.

NHTSA ID

10760928

Incident

Jul 5, 2015

Mileage

12,000 mi

I WAS RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE SUDDENLY STALLED. IT WAS A SCARY MOMENT SINCE I NOTICED THE VEHICLES BEHIND ME SLAMMING THERE BRAKES, TRYING TO AVOID HITTING ME!. THE FUEL LIGHT WAS FLASHING AND WARNING (YELLOW TRIANGLE) ON. I CALLED MY BMW DEALER FOR REPAIR APPOINTMENT AND THE TECH. SAID THAT IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS MODELS WITH A FUEL SENSOR FAILURE AND IT'S NOT UNDER WARRANTY BY BMW. AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL BMW OWNERS AND READING SOME FORUMS, I LEARNED THAT THIS MODEL EQUIPPED WITH A FUEL SENSOR STRIP THAT HAPPENS TO FAIL OFTEN. SOME R1200GS OWNERS HAD TO CHANGE IT 3-7 TIMES, BUT BMW OF NORTH AMERICA WANT ADMIT THERE FAULTY PART!. HOPE YOU CAN GET INVOLVED IN THIS HIGH RISK MATTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10595133

Incident

May 25, 2014

Mileage

30,500 mi

RUNNING OUT OF GAS DUE TO FAULTY FUEL STRIP SENSOR WHICH PREVENTS DETERMINING FUEL LEVEL IN GAS TANK. DANGER IS BEING REAR ENDED BY ON COMING VEHICLES. THIS IS THE 7TH BMW FUEL SENSOR STRIP THAT HAS FAILED FOR MY WIFE AND I IN THE YEARS FROM 2005 TO 2014. THERE HAVE BEEN 2 ON TWO 2005 K1200SES, 1 ON A 2006 K1200S, 3 ON TWO 2008 K1200SES, AND 1 ON A 2008 R1200GS FUEL LEVEL STRIPS THAT HAVE FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10593632

Incident

May 22, 2014

Mileage

7,757 mi

ENGINE STOPPED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING. DROPPED BIKE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10587579

Incident

Apr 15, 2014

Mileage

3,000 mi

I SMELLED GAS AND FOUND GAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL PUMP ATTACHED TO THE GAS TANK. I FOUND CRACKS ON THE PERIPHERY OF THE FUEL QUICK-DISCONNECT PORT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10554036

Incident

Jan 11, 2013

Mileage

11,565 mi

HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LEAK AT HOSE CONNECTION TO FUEL PUMP HOUSING. PLASTIC FITTING CRACKED AND CRACKS IN BOSS ON FUEL PUMP HOUSING. NOTICED FUEL PUDDLE ON FLOOR WHILE MOTORCYCLE WAS IDLING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10543701

Incident

Sep 14, 2013

Mileage

34,000 mi

FUEL TANK IS LEAKING AT THE PLASTIC FLANGES WHERE THE FUEL PUMP RESIDES. THIS APPEARS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM FOR THIS MODEL YEAR AND OTHERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10536724

Incident

Aug 22, 2013

Mileage

33,850 mi

WHILE CRUISING AT MODERATE SPEED ON PAVED SURFACE ROAD FIRST NOTICED STRONG GASOLINE SMELL, FOLLOWED IN FEW MINUTES BY SOAKING OF THE LEFT LEG OF THE PANTS WITH GASOLINE, AND THEN OBSERVED GASOLINE DRIPPING ON THE LEFT CYLINDER HEAD. STOPPED, REMOVED LEFT SIDED COWLING TO INSPECT FUEL LINES AND NOTED STEADY STREAM OF FUEL LEAKING FROM FUEL PUMP HOUSING WHEN ENGINE RUNNING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10523549

Incident

Jul 7, 2013

Mileage

18,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW R1200 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS APPROXIMATELY 26,200. *TR

NHTSA ID

10503488

Incident

Mar 11, 2013

Mileage

26,200 mi

FUEL PUMP FLANGE, A PLASTIC PART, ON THE GASOLINE TANK, HAD A NUMBER OF CRACKS. I FOUND THE PROBLEM THROUGH DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHER MOTORCYCLISTS. I FEEL THAT IF I HAD NOT CHECKED FOR THE KNOWN PROBLEM (AMONG THE BMW MOTORCYCLING COMMUNITY) FUEL WOULD HAVE LEAKED AND POSED A SERIOUS FIRE PROBLEM AND POSSIBLE INJURY TO MYSELF, POSSIBLY FATAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10487932

Incident

Dec 22, 2011

Mileage

20,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW R1200 GS MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT AND DRIVE SHAFT WERE LEAKING A SMALL AMOUNT OF OIL. THE REAR WHEEL BEGAN TO WOBBLE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED ONE WHEEL BEARING AND THE SEAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY REPLACED THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT AND THE DRIVE SHAFT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,700. UPDATED 09/11/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN ODOR OF FUEL. THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL PUMP AND RELAY WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 09/11/12

NHTSA ID

10471518

Incident

Jul 10, 2012

Mileage

36,700 mi

WHILE RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE, I NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FRONT BOTTOM LEFT SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. FUEL WAS SPRAYING ON TO MY LEFT LEG SOAKING IT IN FUEL. THE LOCATION OF THE SPRAY WAS DIRECTLY ON TOP OF THE FRONT LEFT CYLINDER AND EXHAUST PIPE. THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE WAS REAL. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER ( GULF COAST BMW IN HOUSTON ), THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A COMMON FAILURE AND SHOWED ME A SAMPLE OF THE FAILED PART. I WAS THEN FORCED TO BUY A COMPLETE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY AS BMW DID NOT SELL THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE THAT FAILED. THE FLANGE DEVELOPED A CRACK THAT ALLOWED FUEL TO ESCAPE UNDER HIGH PRESSURE. THE PARTS ALONE COST OVER 700 DOLLARS. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE COMMON TO THE R SERIES TWIN CYLINDER ENGINES. WHAT'S WORSE IS THAT THEY REPLACED THE FAILED PART WITH EXACTLY THE SAME THING SO NOW I AM WAITING FOR THIS PART TO FAIL AGAIN. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE EASILY ENDED TRAGICALLY. I AM WORRIED FOR THE SAFETY OF MANY OTHER RIDERS OUT THERE USING THIS MOTORCYCLE AND THUS I AM FILING THIS FORMAL COMPLAINT. I HAVE NOTIFIED BMW ABOUT THIS AND THEY JUST THANKED ME FOR INFORMING THEM - WITH NO FURTHER ACTION OR RELIEF FOR HAVING TO PURCHASE AN ENTIRE ASSEMBLY FOR WHICH AN INDIVIDUAL PART FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10467136

Incident

Jul 9, 2012

Mileage

61,500 mi

FUEL GAUGE SENSOR STRIP, FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK OR WORKS INTERMITTENTLY, IS A WELL KNOW PROBLEM WITH POST 2005 BMW MOTORCYCLES. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY FEATURE, COULD POSSIBLY RUN OUT OF GAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT OR RUN OUT OF GAS IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE. BMW NEEDS TO RECALL ALL BIKES WITH THIS FUEL STRIP AS A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE TO ENSURE THE PUBLIC IS OUT OF HARMS WAY!!! *JS

NHTSA ID

10455787

Incident

Apr 5, 2012

Mileage

36,000 mi

A PLASTIC FLANGE ON THE FUEL PUMP CRACKED ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK. THE FLANGE CONTAINS AN INTERNAL THREAD THAT SECURES ONE OF THE FUEL LINES. SEVERAL CRACKS ARE VISIBLE AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE FLANGE. CRACKS, IN MY OPINION, APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO OVER-TORQUE AT ASSEMBLY AND/OR MATERIAL DEGRADATION DUE TO THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO FUEL, TIME AND AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. THE FUEL PUMP IS LOCATED IN THE FUEL TANK THAT IS POSITIONED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST PIPE. FORTUNATELY THE VOLUME OF LEAKED FUEL WAS SMALL (<1 FL OZ) AND WAS CONTAINED WITHIN A DEPRESSED CAVITY ON THE TOP OF THE PUMP, OTHERWISE IT COULD HAVE DRIPPED ONTO THE HOT ENGINE AND EXHAUST HEADER POSSIBLY CAUSING A FIRE.

NHTSA ID

10417320

Incident

Jul 29, 2011

Mileage

22,569 mi

2008 BMW GS MOTORCYCLE RAN OUT GAS WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT. GAS GAGE SHOWED A RANGE OF 50 MILES LEFT IN THE TANK BEFORE EMPTY. THIS HAS BEEN REPAIRED TWICE BECAUSE OF THE FUEL STRIP IN THE TANK FAILS TO READ THE FUEL LEVEL. I HAVE BEEN LUCKY, AND HAVE NOT HAD THIS HAPPEN WHILE IN MOTION ON THE FREEWAY OR HIGHWAY PUTTING ME IN DANGER FROM OTHER VEHICLES DUE TO SUDDEN LOSS OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10404523

Incident

May 18, 2010

Mileage

5,800 mi