2014 BMW R 1200 Gs Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 2014 BMW R1200 GS Motorcycle. The contact stated that while operating the motorcycle, the odor of fuel was present. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V060000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that the motorcycle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 40,000.

NHTSA ID

11603321

Incident

Jul 19, 2022

Mileage

40,000 mi

The contact owns a 2014 BMW R 1200 GS. The contact stated that while parked, the front suspension passenger side fork tube had separated. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the VIN was not included in a recall. The contact referred to NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V438000 (Suspension). The failure mileage was approximately 41,800.

NHTSA ID

11549685

Incident

Oct 10, 2023

Mileage

41,800 mi

The contact owned a 2014 BMW R 1200 GS. The contact stated while the contact's father was driving 25 MPH, the motorcycle unintendedly accelerated at high speed. The contact was unsure if any warning light illuminated, but it caused the contact's father to lose control of the motorcycle, and to avoid striking other vehicles, the contact struck a pole and a utility box. The contact's father stuffed severe injuries causing the contact's father to pass away. The contact’s father was wearing safety equipment. A police report was filed. The motorcycle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11520947

Incident

Apr 22, 2023

The contact owns a 2014 BMW R 1200 Motorcycle. The contact stated while driving at 60 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and emitted abnormal sounds and failed to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact continuously depressed the brake pedal until it responded. The contact was able to drive to his residence, where he noticed that the front forks were leaking oil onto the wheel and onto the brakes. The dealer was notified of the failure and an appointment was scheduled for diagnostic test. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 30,400.

NHTSA ID

11487236

Incident

Sep 9, 2022

Mileage

30,400 mi

Rear drive shaft universal joint failed causing the motorcycle to lose power to the rear wheel. If I had been in a turn when the motorcycle lost power, I could have lost control of the vehicle, and my passenger and myself may have crashed and been harmed or died. Per BMW: There have been a mounting number of instances where condensation within the hollow swingarm unit has caused corrosion to accumulate on the drive shaft and/o rear u-joint, creating issues that can include loss of power to the rear wheel. BMW has now a Service Action SA 0033130000, to correct the condensation. No inspection other than by me mechanic. No warning lamps or messages prior to the failure. Symptoms prior to the failure were a strange vibrating sensation and hum emitting from the rear of the bike. This began 2 days prior to the joint failure. I believe condensation in the swing arm caused the corrosion that led to the failure of the drive shaft rear universal joint.

NHTSA ID

11485484

Incident

May 16, 2020

The motorcycle has a known flaw in the design of the cam and decompression mechanism in the right hand cylinder. The part has been redesigned, and BMW has in certain cases replaced the part for vehicles in and out of warranty. The BMW internal report designation associated with this flaw is INFO 772590. When riding my motorcyle, the flawed cam/decompression mechanism causes the engine to stumble and lose power at random. As a result, the engine loses power, increasing the risk of an accident and injury. I have asked that BMW replace the part. BMW NA referred me to the dealership. The dealership has refused to cover replacement.

NHTSA ID

11463481

Incident

May 3, 2022

FRONT FORKS OR STAUNCHIONS BEGAN TO SEPARATE AT THE TOP WHERE FORKS CONNECT TO HANDLEBARS. MY DEALER, BMW OF DENVER, WAS SERVICING THE BIKE IN FEB 2017 AND INFORMED ME OF THE ISSUE. THE STAUNCHIONS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY OR RISK THEM COMING APART AND POSSIBLY CRASH. BMW DID NOT WARRANTY ALTHOUGH THE BIKE WAS STILL COVERED UNDER THE 3 YEAR WARRANTY. I'M HEARING OF MANY OTHER STORIES OF THESE FORKS COMING APART.

NHTSA ID

10983854

Incident

Feb 28, 2017

Mileage

24,000 mi

THE POOR DESIGN OF THE FORK STANCHIONS CAUSES THE FORK TUBE TO SEPARATE FROM THE FORK CAP. OVER TIME, THE FORK CAP WILL WORK ITS WAY OUT OF THE FORK TUBE CAUSING THE FORK TO SEPARATE FROM THE CAP WHERE IT MOUNTS TO THE TRIPLE TREE. AS IT WEARS, THE STEERING BECOMES IMPRECISE. A COMPLETE FAILURE WOULD RESULT IN COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED IN THE FOLLOWING THREAD: HTTP://ADVRIDER.COM/INDEX.PHP?THREADS/BOTH-INNER-FORK-TUBE-BROKEN-AT-FIRST-DAY-OF-RIDE-150-MILLE-OF-USE.1185036/ IN MY CASE, THE DEALER CAUGHT THE ISSUE BEFORE A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AND REPLACED THE PARTS, BUT I AM CONCERNED AS THE REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE THE SAME FAULTY DESIGN AND COULD POTENTIALLY FAIL AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

10983736

Incident

Aug 15, 2016

Mileage

55,000 mi

WHILE RIDING FORK OIL BEGIN TO LEAK OUT OF THE TOP OF THE LEFT FORK. ONCE REMOVING THE RUBBER COVER I NOTICED THAT THE FORK TUBE HAD SEPARATED FROM THE HEAD ENOUGH TO CAUSE LEAKAGE AND LOSS OF OIL. I REMOVED THE RIGHT COVER AS WELL AND NOTICED THE FORKS WERE STARTING TO SEPARATE ALSO. THIS CAUSED PLAY IN MY STEERING AS WELL AS THE END OF MY TRIP. I RETURNED THE BIKE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE FORKS UNDER WARRANTY. THIS WAS AUGUST OF 2016. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE HEARD OF NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF THIS INCIDENT HAPPENING. A FELLOW MOTORCYCLE IS CREATED CLAMPS THAT WOOD CLAMP AROUND THE FORK TUBE TO SECURE IT BETTER AND FOR SAFETY REASONS. I INVESTED THE$140 AND RECEIVED A PAIR OF STANCHION SUPPORT. ON THIS DAY MAY 5TH 2017 I WAS GOING TO PUT THE SUPPORT ON MY 2014 GS AND ONCE I REMOVED THE RUBBER COVERING I NOTICED THAT ONCE AGAIN MY RIGHT FORK IS STARTING TO SEPARATE. THIS IS LESS THAN A YEAR AND LESS THAN 1500 MILES OF MOSTLY HIGHWAY TRAVEL. THIS IS NOW A KNOWN PROBLEM AMONGST THE GS COMMUNITY AND WRITERS OR PURCHASING THE SUPPORT EVERYWHERE. BMW SHOULD REALIZE THAT THERE IS A CHALLENGE HERE. I WILL RETURN MY BIKE TO THE DEALERSHIP IN HOPES OF THEM REPLACING THE FORKS ONCE AGAIN UNDER WARRANTY. THIS REPORT IS ON THE BEHALF OF MY SAFETY AS WELL AS HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF OTHERS THAT MAY EXPERIENCE THIS SAME DEFECT. I HEARD YOU TO TAKE THIS SERIOUS AS AT THIS TIME THERE HAS BEEN NO FATALITIES THAT I KNOW. IN THE PHOTOS THE PHOTO ON THE LEFT IS THE ORIGINAL AUGUST 2016 AND THE RIGHT IS MAY 5TH 2017

NHTSA ID

10983725

Incident

May 4, 2017

AT THE END OF THIS SUMMER I NOTICED MY FRONT STANCHIONS ON MY MOTORCYCLE COMING LOOSE IN AN AREA THAT IS CRIMPED. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALER THEY INFORMED THAT BOTH WERE LOSE AND THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THEY SAID AS I HAD DROPPED THE MOTORCYCLE IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED. AFTER GETTING THAT RESULT FROM MY DEALER AND BMW I DID MORE RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE. WHILE BMW HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE MINE I FEEL BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE EXPERIENCING THE SAME ISSUE, MANY WITHOUT DROPPING THEIR MOTORCYCLE DROPS. IN ONE CASE THE PERSON JUST HAD THEIR FORKS REPLACED AND WITHIN 200 MILES OF OFF ROAD RIDING IT BROKE AGAIN. THERE MAY BE A BIGGER ISSUE. ALSO BECAUSE OF WHERE THIS FAILURE HAPPENS PEOPLES LIVES ARE IN DANGER. YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT OTHERS EXPERIENCES BY FOLLOWING THESE LINKS. HTTP://ADVRIDER.COM/INDEX.PHP?THREADS/UPPER-STANCHION-CRIMPING-FAILURE.1184877/ HTTP://ADVRIDER.COM/INDEX.PHP?THREADS/BOTH-INNER-FORK-TUBE-BROKEN-AT-FIRST-DAY-OF-RIDE-150-MILLE-OF-USE.1185036/ HERE IS A PERSON TRYING TO DESIGN A FIX FOR THE ISSUE. HTTP://ADVRIDER.COM/INDEX.PHP?THREADS/SOLVING-THE-POST-2012-1200GS-STANCHION-SEPARATION-PROBLEM.1193566/ THESE PEOPLE HAVE CONTACT ME TO ADD THEIR INFORMATION TO THIS COMPLAINT [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10949050

Incident

Aug 2, 2016

Mileage

22,000 mi

ENGINE CUTS OUT, WHILE TRAVELING, STALLS COMPLETELY, AS IF THE KILL SWITCH HAS BEEN DEPRESSED/ENGAGED. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME ON 4 SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN THE LAST 2500MILES. THE TWO MOST RECENT TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED PRESENTED A HAZARD TO MYSELF AND TO OTHER ROAD USERS. I HAVE TAKEN THE BIKE TO MY LOCAL BMW DEALER, THEY OPENED A PUMA CASE AS THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, NOR WERE THEY ABLE TO FIND A SOLUTION. I DID CONTACT BMW DIRECTLY WHO TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AND THAT THEY WERE SORRY BUT HAD NO IDEA WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE. THE 1ST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS IN 5TH GEAR, TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 58 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE LOW 50'S FAHRENHEIT, I WAS TRAVELING UP A SLIGHT UPHILL PAVED HIGHWAY ROAD AT AROUND 9PM, WITH A 7-10% GRADIENT, WHEN THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED, LIGHTS STAYED ON, DISPLAY SHOWED "TURN OFF OR CANCEL." I TURNED THE BIKE OFF, THEN BACK ON AND MADE MY WAY HOME. I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE DEALER THE FOLLOWING DAY. THEY RAN A LOAD TEST ON THE BATTERY AND SAID THAT WAS MOST LIKELY THE CAUSE. I REPLACED THE BATTERY WITH A NEW BMW BATTERY. I THEN WENT ON ANOTHER TRIP. THE BIKE STALLED AGAIN, ENGINE DIED OUT COMPLETELY, I WAS LANE SPLITTING ON A VERY LARGE AND BUSY FREEWAY. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. I WAS IN 2ND GEAR TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MPH WHEN IT DIED. THE TEMPERATURE WAS HIGH 90'S, AROUND 2PM. IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN PHOENIX, I WAS IN 3RD GEAR, LATE AFTERNOON, 105 FAHRENHEIT WHEN THE ENGINE CUT OUT COMPLETELY. THE HIGHWAY CUT OUT AND THE MOST RECENT CUT OUT IN PHOENIX WERE DANGEROUS SCENARIOS AND I FELT THE ENGINE CUTTING OUT WITHOUT WARNING IS A DEFINITE HAZARD TO MYSELF AND TO OTHER ROAD USERS. THERE ARE REPORTS OF OTHER RIDERS HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. BMW DOES NOT CARE, SO I THOUGHT I WOULD REPORT THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION TO THE NHTSA. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10899352

Incident

Jul 28, 2016

Mileage

30,000 mi

UNDER NORMAL USE, THE MOTORCYCLE'S FRAME STARTED RUSTING/CORRODING AT JUST EIGHT (8) MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. SEVERAL OF THE WELDS AND JOINTS, AND THE ENTIRE SURFACE OF THE FRAME, ARE NOW COMPLETELY CORRODED. THE CORROSION STARTED WITH WHAT SEEMED TO BE JUST THE PAINT/COATING, BUT HAS NOW INVADED THE UNDERLYING STEEL. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS NEVER BEEN DROPPED OR DAMAGED, OR USED IN ANY WAY INCONSISTENT WITH BMW'S WARRANTY OR USER'S MANUAL.

NHTSA ID

10862796

Incident

Jan 1, 2015

Mileage

13,000 mi

DURING ACCELERATION UP A STEEP MOUNTAIN GRADE WITH NO SHOULDERS AND TRAFFIC BEHIND, THE CONNECTION OF THE ELECTRICAL CABLE TO THE THROTTLE TWIST GRIP UNSEATED ENOUGH TO BREAK ELECTRICAL CONNECTION. THIS CAUSED THE MOTORCYCLE TO DECELERATE TO ABOUT 5 MPH AND LOSE ALL THROTTLE CONTROL. WITH THE TRAFFIC BEHIND AND NO PLACE TO SAFELY PULL OVER I FELT I WAS AT A GREAT SAFETY RISK AS CARS AND TRUCKS ATTEMPTED TO GO AROUND ME. THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED, THOUGH NOT IN SUCH HARROWING CIRCUMSTANCES. THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPENED, LAST YEAR, I USED ZIP-TIES TO TIGHTEN THE CONNECTOR BODY TO ITS MATE. WHEN INFORMED OF THE INCIDENT, THE LOCAL BMW SHOP (AND I) BELIEVED THIS HAD REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. OBVIOUSLY THIS WAS NOT THE CASE. I WILL BE CONTACTING THE LOCAL BMW SHOP TO SEE IF THEY WILL REPLACE THE CONNECTING PARTS WITH ONES THAT HAVE AN OBVIOUS DETENT OR LATCH TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

10731071

Incident

Mar 3, 2014

Mileage

14,625 mi

THIS IS A NEW BMW MOTORCYCLE PURCHASED IN JANUARY. AROUND 4000 MILES THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A METALLIC NOISE AFTER WARMED UP, AND BECAME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. MOTORCYCLE IS NOW AND HAS BEEN LOCATED AT AUTHORIZED BMW SERVICE REPAIR CENTER FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS; THE NOISE, TO DATE, HAS NOT BEEN CLEARLY DIAGNOSED, BUT HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED BY REPAIR STAFF THAT NOISE IS ABNORMAL. CONCERN IS THAT ENGINE (POSSIBLY CAM TIMING CHAIN(S)?? WILL BREAK AND MOTOR WILL INSTANTLY LOCK UP, WHICH WOULD INSTANTLY CAUSE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK/SKID, WHICH COULD EASILY LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL AND CAUSE PHYSICAL HARM OR DEATH FROM INABILITY TO CONTROL MOTORCYCLE; PARTICULARLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.

NHTSA ID

10726319

Incident

May 13, 2015

Mileage

4,900 mi