2011 BMW R 1200 R

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 BMW R1200. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V617000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). METAL CLAMPS WERE PLACED OVER THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE IN ORDER TO REINFORCE THE PIECE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE CONTACT WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. ..UPDATED 12/20/16 *BF *TR

NHTSA ID

10911266

Incident

Oct 1, 2016

Mileage

24,000 mi

THE FUEL GAUGE QUIT WORKING. THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS DUE TO THE FUEL SENSOR. MY BMW HAS ONLY 1100 MILES ON IT. MULTIPLE POST ONLINE ON MY EXACT MODEL - AS WELL AS MULTIPLE SAFETY COMPLAINTS ON THIS VERY SITE TO NHTSA - SHOW THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM. IT IS AN EXTREME HAZARD ON A MOTORCYCLE TO RUN OUT OF GAS AS A MOTORCYCLE BUCKS AS IT RUNS OUT OF GAS (DIES AND CATCHES, ETC.) AND I ALMOST COME OFF THE BIKE IN TRAFFIC. AND IT MAKES LEAVING THE ROAD DIFFICULT SO A DANGER TO OTHER TRAFFIC (HTTP://WWW.STATE.NJ.US/MVC/PDF/LICENSES/MCM996.PDF). WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS WHY NHTSA IS DOING NOTHING DESPITE MULTIPLE SAFETY COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE OVER WHAT IS NOW A FOUR (4) YEAR PERIOD ON SOMETHING THAT HAS A SIMPLE FIX - A GAS GAUGE. AS THE 2011 POST MAKES CLEAR, THAT OCCUPANT WAS "ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND, AND NEARLY CAUSED A REACTION ACCIDENT ...OF CARS ...THAT HAD TO SUDDENLY STOP AND/OR EVADE CONTACT WITH OTHER VEHICLES SLOWING DUE TO MY INABILITY TO KEEP UP IN TRAFFIC." AS THAT POSTER NOTED, " I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY DISCOVERED MY FAULTY FUEL GAUGE ISSUE IS VERY VERY COMMON.... AFFECTING A VERY SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF BMW R1200R MOTORCYCLES. ... THE "REPAIR" IS NOT NECESSARILY A GUARANTEED FIX, MANDATING THAT MANY R1200R OWNERS HAVE TO MAKE MULTIPLE TRIPS TO A BMW DEALER TO PERHAPS, AND FINALLY, RECEIVE A FUEL SENSOR STRIP THAT ACTUALLY IS FUNCTIONAL." BMW HAS JUST ANNOUNCED ANOTHER RECALL FOR THIS BIKE BUT APPARENTLY IS STALLING NHTSA ON THIS ISSUE. MY DEALER IS BMW OF FT. WORTH AND THEY WERE HAPPY TO TELL ME MY WARRANTY EXPIRED TWO WEEKS BEFORE HAD IT BROUGHT BACK IN TO BE FIXED (IT ONLY HAS 1100 MILES) AND I COULD EITHER PAY HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS -OR- JUST PICK IT UP AS IS WITH A NON-FUNCTIONING AND DANGEROUS FUEL GAUGE. NO CONCERN WHATSOEVER FOR MY SAFETY OR THE RISK CAUSED BY OPERATING A MOTORCYCLE WITH A DEFECTIVE GAUGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10578398

Incident

Mar 9, 2014

Mileage

1,120 mi

THE MOTORCYCLE HAS A "MILES TO EMPTY" DISPLAY TO INSTRUCT THE DRIVER WHEN TO REFUEL. ALSO A GRAPH THAT DISPLAYS HOW MUCH FUEL REMAINS ...AND A LOW FUEL LIGHT. ALL RUN BY A "FUEL STRIP" INSIDE THE GAS TANK. ON THIS DATE I RAN OUT OF FUEL ON A BUSY INTERSTATE WITH 1) NO LOW FUEL LIGHT. 2) ABOUT HALF A TANK SHOWING ON THE GRAPHIC DISPLAY 3) "159 MILES TO EMPTY" ON THE COMPUTER. ALL THESE ITEMS ARE DRIVEN BY THIS FAULTY FUEL STRIP. IT IS QUITE A SAFETY ISSUE TO HAVE YOU ENGINE HALT SUDDENLY AT SPEED ON A BUSY URBAN INTERSTATE. I WAS STRANDED AGAINST THE INNER GUARD RAIL FOR SOMETIME AS 70MPH TRAFFIC RAN BUY ABOUT 4 FEET AWAY. MANY OF THESE FUEL STRIPS HAVE FAILED IN BMW MOTORCYCLES AND THEY NEED TO BE REPLACED BY AN IMPROVED PART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10574225

Incident

Jan 15, 2014

Mileage

16,000 mi

THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWED A RAPID LOSS OF FUEL, INDICATING A NEARLY FULL TANK ONE MOMENT AND THEN CHANGING TO INDICATE AN EMPTY TANK IN MATTER OF SECONDS. THIS WAS VERY DISTRACTING ON THE HIGHWAY AND COULD PROVE DANGEROUS AND LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT.. *TR

NHTSA ID

10500556

Incident

Feb 23, 2013

Mileage

13,200 mi

THE FUEL GAUGE QUIT WORKING. THE DEALER SAID THIS WAS DUE TO A FAULTY FUEL SENSOR AND THIS WAS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM. HE BLAMED THE ETHANOL IN THE GAS AND SAID WE NEEDED TO USE AN ADDITIVE TO PREVENT IT. *TR IF YOU RELY ON YOUR GAS GAUGE (WHO DOESN'T) AND IT READS FULL OR PART FULL AND YOU RUN OUT OF GAS IN TRAFFIC YOUR VEHICLE COULD STOP AND GET HIT.

NHTSA ID

10499834

Incident

Mar 27, 2012

Mileage

1,512 mi

THE BMW R1200R MOTORCYCLES IS EQUIPPED WITH A FUEL GAUGE. THE GAUGE VERY COMMONLY FAILS, ALLOWING THE OPERATOR TO BELIEVE HE/SHE HAS SUFFICIENT FUEL TO CONTINUE. IN MY CASE, I WAS ACCELERATING WHILE ENTERING A CONGESTED FREEWAY WHEN I SUDDENLY RAN WHOLLY OUT OF FUEL. I WAS ALMOST HIT FROM BEHIND, AND NEARLY CAUSED A REACTION ACCIDENT COMPOSED OF CARS BEHIND ME THAT HAD TO SUDDENLY STOP AND/OR EVADE CONTACT WITH OTHER VEHICLES SLOWING DUE TO MY INABILITY TO KEEP UP IN TRAFFIC. I HAVE SUBSEQUENTLY DISCOVERED MY FAULTY FUEL GAUGE ISSUE IS VERY VERY COMMON.... AFFECTING A VERY SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF BMW R1200R MOTORCYCLES. WHILE THE FAULTY GAUGE ISSUE IS ADDRESSED BY BMW (IF THE BIKE IS UNDER WARRANTY), THE REPLACEMENT FUEL SENSOR STRIP (THE FAULTY PART) IS OF THE SAME STYLE AS THE ORIGINAL FUEL SENSOR STRIP. THUS, THE "REPAIR" IS NOT NECESSARILY A GUARANTEED FIX, MANDATING THAT MANY R1200R OWNERS HAVE TO MAKE MULTIPLE TRIPS TO A BMW DEALER TO PERHAPS, AND FINALLY, RECEIVE A FUEL SENSOR STRIP THAT ACTUALLY IS FUNCTIONAL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10498401

Incident

Jul 6, 2011

Mileage

1,322 mi

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle “discharged battery” complaints.

Since October 2023, a new maintenance schedule is valid for all K5x models. For the first time, maintenance positions for the cardan shaft (Driveshaft) are included. NOTICE: 1. The new maintenance schedule is not limited to vehicles affected by the SI 33 02 22 (SERVICE ACTION: Swingarm Drain retrofit and Driveshaft Check), but is valid for all K5x models - including retroactively. In case of retroactive validity (model year 2023 and older), affected customers will be informed about the change. This will be in the form of a direct-to-customer letter with a description of the new maintenance schedule, specific owner’s manual insert, and consumer warranty book insert. 1. For vehicles affected by SI 33 02 22 (SERVICE ACTION: Swingarm Drain retrofit and Driveshaft Check), this service action must be performed first. All conditions described in this bulletin apply after the open Service Action has been completed. No additional communication is required for K5x models model year 2024 and onwards. Those models have the new maintenance schedule in their owner’s manual.

BMW Motorrad USA has become aware of a potential durability issue with the film type fuel level sender “Fuel Strip” equipped on certain model year 2005 to 2013 R and K series motorcycles.

BMW Motorrad is aware of a number of cases in which the screw connections of the Paralever link and/or the rear brake caliper have loosened in customer vehicles while driving.

One of the following situations can occur when connecting to BN2000 motorcycles: 1. The installed control units cannot be found when reading out with ISTA. 2. Control units initially communicate after connecting to the vehicle, but communication later stops.

BMW Motorrad has ascertained that in isolated cases the fuse for the voltage regulator is not correctly secured in the holder by the threaded fasteners.