Fuel system
Filed Apr 12, 2022
The bike is a 2008 BMW R1200RT. The throttle bodies for each cylinder has a plastic cam that is the point of attachment for the throttle cable. That plastic cam broke and completely detached from the bike. I was accelerating to merge into traffic on Interstate 64E at Corydon, IN. Once established in the right lane, the bike suddenly lost power and slowed rapidly while I was approached from the rear by a tractor trailer that had to apply brakes and continuously sounded his horn while abruptly maneuvering to the left lane to avoid me while I was attempting to assess what had just happened. This is a critical safety component and its failure has been documented countless number of times on various owner's group forums for this type of bike. One of which is linked here: https://www.bmwsporttouring.com/topic/91897-throttle-body-more-cracked-cable-camspulleys/ Another: https://forums.bmwmoa.org/showthread.php?76036-Broken-Throttle-Body-Pulleys-2009-R1200RT/page5 It is apparent the plastic that this throttle body cam is made from deteriorates rapidly causing a significant safety risk. There are aftermarket replacements that are made from aluminum, but they are very expensive. I am asking for a safety recall and that BMW be made to replace these parts with a metal or a material that is less prone to failure.
- NHTSA ID
- 11460528
- Incident
- Apr 10, 2022
Fuel system
Filed Aug 24, 2021
My forth vehicle with throttle body cams that are cracked and broken on both sides. No symptoms or warning lights of a problem that could have lead to a catastrophic failure, total engine propulsion failure, breakdown. My safety and others were in danger of injury or death. Dealer has confirmed and repaired all vehicles.
- NHTSA ID
- 11430262
- Incident
- Aug 2, 2021
Fuel system
Filed Jul 4, 2021
This is a two-cylinder engine with an independent throttle body for each cylinder. The throttle is actuated by a cable and pulley which rotate the throttle plate on a shaft. The pulley is attached to the shaft with molded plastic. Upon inspection during service, both plastic moldings (both cylinders) were discovered to be cracked and near failure. Failure of this part will cause that cylinder to go to idle power. If the vehicle is in motion, there will be a sudden loss of power, and high vibration until the throttle is closed. Until repair, the motorcycle will be inoperable. This has become a known defect with this series of motorcycles. I repaired mine using an aftermarket aluminum part created to address this problem. Parts cost was $458.
- NHTSA ID
- 11423380
- Incident
- Apr 23, 2019
Fuel system
Filed Apr 22, 2019
THIS SERIES OF MOTORCYCLES HAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CRACKS IN THE THROTTLE PULLEYS ON THE THROTTLE BODY. FAILURE OF THIS PLASTIC PART WILL RESULT IN INSTANT LOSS OF POWER. I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND DECIDED TO INSPECT THE TWO THROTTLE BODIES ON MY MOTORCYCLE AS A PRECAUTION. BOTH OF MINE WERE CRACKED. ONE OF THE PULLEYS HAS THREE CRACKS IN IT, AND WOULD LIKELY HAVE FAILED WITHIN A SHORT TIME. SEE PHOTOS INCLUDED WITH THIS REPORT.
- NHTSA ID
- 11202929
- Incident
- Apr 22, 2019
- Mileage
- 42,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 9, 2017
FUEL PUMP LEAKING FROM A CRACK IN THE HIGH PRESSURE OUTPUT LINE SPRAYED GASOLINE ON THE INSIDE OF THE FAIRING, MOTOR AND MY LEG. THE PUMP SPRAYS GASOLINE ANYTIME THE KEY IS IN THE ON POSITION.
- NHTSA ID
- 11013884
- Incident
- Aug 8, 2017
- Mileage
- 12,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 12, 2016
VEHICLE HAS 6000 MILES ON IT. PREVIOUS OWNER HAD A RECEIPT FROM THE DEALER SHOWING THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR HAD BEEN REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. FUEL INDICATOR SHOWS 1/4 TANK OF FUEL, AND ENGINE COMPUTER SHOWS 92 MILES RANGE. VEHICLE STALLED AT AN INTERSECTION, OUT OF FUEL. I WAS ABLE TO PUSH THE MOTORCYCLE OUT OF TRAFFIC, BUT IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DANGEROUS SITUATION.
- NHTSA ID
- 10915462
- Incident
- Oct 8, 2016
- Mileage
- 6,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 13, 2013
THE FUEL GAUGE SHOWED 1/4 TANK OF FUEL, BUT THE MOTORCYCLE HAD ACTUALLY RUN OUT OF FUEL ON A VERY BUSY SECTION OF INTERSTATE 95 IN DELAWARE JUST BEFORE THE I 95 / I 295-I 495 SPLIT. I WAS IN THE FAR LEFT HAND TRAVEL LANE AND WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OFF ONTO A WIDENED LEFTHAND SECTION OF BREAKDOWN LANE THAT WAS LED INTO THE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT DELAWARE DOT SALT/SAND BARN. THE SUDDEN DECELERATION WAS COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED, AND I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BY ANOTHER MOTORIST JUST AS I WAS MOVING INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE, IN SPITE OF PULLING IN THE CLUTCH TO COAST SO AS NOT TO CONTINUE WITH THE STRONG ENGINE BREAKING THAT RESULTED. HAD TO CALL AAA SERVICES TO GET FUEL ENOUGH TO GET TO A REFUELING STATION. FUEL TANK SENSOR WAS ULTIMATELY REPLACED BY LOCAL BMW MOTORCYCLE DEALER A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, BUT FAILED AGAIN LAST WEEK!!! THIS SENSOR HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR BMW, AND CONTINUES TO BE, AS SEVERAL OF MY FRIENDS HAVE HAD THEIRS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES EACH. IF I WERE TO RUN OUT OF GAS ON A DANGEROUS HIGHWAY, OR IN A REMOTE LOCATION - IN EITHER EXTREME COLD OR HOT, WITHOUT A WAY TO CONTACT HELP, IT COULD PROVE TO BE DANGEROUS. THE SUDDEN DECELERATION ALONE ALMOST CAUSED ME TO BE REAR-ENDED, WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10543467
- Incident
- Apr 4, 2013
- Mileage
- 10,400 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 15, 2013
THE FUEL STRIP INDICATOR HAS NOW FAILED 3 TIMES, TWICE LEAVING ME STRANDED WITH AN EMPTY FUEL TANK. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10535457
- Incident
- Aug 14, 2010
- Mileage
- 8,602 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 23, 2013
FUEL GAUGE FAILED, AGAIN, CAUSING POTENTIAL STALLING IN TRAFFIC CREATING DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10499756
- Incident
- Aug 15, 2012
- Mileage
- 7,864 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 23, 2013
FUEL GAUGE FAILED, WARNING LIGHT CONSTANTLY ON. BIKE COULD RUN OUT OF FUEL IN TRAFFIC WITH NO WARNING CAUSING DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10499754
- Incident
- May 8, 2012
- Mileage
- 7,864 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 22, 2013
MOTORCYCLE GAS GAUGE SHOWED HALF FULL WHEN IT STOPPED RUNNING, HAD TO CROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC DURING RUSH HOUR TO GET TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. BIKE WAS OUT OF GAS....THIS HAS HAPPEN 5 TIMES NOW ( RUNNING OUT OF GAS ).. ONE DAY SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED BECAUSE BMW WILL NOT STEP UP AND RECALL THE FUEL STRIP CAUSING THE PROBLEM.. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10499731
- Incident
- Jul 20, 2011
- Mileage
- 17,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 22, 2012
A FUEL LEAK DEVELOPED IN THE PLASTIC FUEL PUMP FLANGE AT THE FUEL LINE QUICK DISCONNECT FITTING. I SMELLED A STRONG GASOLINE SMELL IN MY GARAGE WHERE MY NATURAL GAS WATER HEATER IS LOCATED. HAVING HEARD OF THIS COMMON PROBLEM ON BMW SPORT TOURING FORUM, I REPAIRED CRACKS IN THAT FLANGE WITH JB WELD AND A $30 CLAMP MADE JUST TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AVAILABLE ONLINE. I AM REPORTING THIS NOW TO ADD MY INCIDENT TO YOUR DATABASE ON THIS ISSUE. IF MY GARAGE HAD BEEN SMALLER OR THE LEAK A LITTLE WORSE, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER. *TR ## VIN FAILED
- NHTSA ID
- 10485796
- Incident
- Jun 13, 2012
- Mileage
- 27,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 21, 2012
I DISCOVERED THAT MY FUEL PUMP WAS DEVELOPING CRACKS AROUND THE FUEL LINE FITTING. I DISCOVERED THE CRACKS BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE OCCURRED. I DID NOT SUFFER A FAILURE ONLY BECAUSE I HAD LEARNED OF THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD FROM FRIENDS, ONE OF WHOM HAD HIS LEFT LEG SOAKED WITH GASOLINE AS A RESULT OF GASOLINE SPRAY COMING FROM BENEATH THE LEFT SIDE BODY PANELS. MY FRIEND, A MECHANICAL ENGINEER, ADVISED THAT BMW USED PIPE THREADS IN THE FITTING THAT RESULTED IN OUTWARD FORCE UPON TIGHTENING, AND FAILURE WOULD LIKELY OCCUR ON ALL MODELS. I PURCHASED A "FIX" KIT FOR THIS WIDELY KNOWN PROBLEM FROM BEEMER BONEYARD, NAMELY A METAL CLAMP TO PLACE AROUND THE BASE OF THE PLASTIC FUEL PUMP FITTING. I HOPE IT HOLDS THE CRACKS FROM GROWING ANY WORSE. THIS FUEL PUMP SHOULD BE RECALLED. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION ON THIS ISSUE. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10485376
- Incident
- Nov 6, 2012
- Mileage
- 28,500 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 20, 2012
DISCOVERED SEVERAL CRACKS AT FUEL PUMP OUTLET FLANGE. REPAIRED AT MY OWN COST IN ORDER TO PREVENT POSSIBLE FIRE. THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN AND WELL-DOCUMENTED PROBLEM WITH THIS FUEL PUMP. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10485348
- Incident
- Jan 2, 2012
- Mileage
- 14,500 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 25, 2012
BIKE DIED ENTERING INTERSECTION. ONLY SPACING AVERTED ACCIDENT. BOUGHT USED LESS THAN ONE WEEK AGO. FUEL GAUGE SHOWED JUST UNDER 1/2 TANK AND 120 MILES TO EMPTY. GAS TANK WAS EMPTY WITHOUT WARNING. GAS GAUGE STRIPS IN TANK FAIL - BMW HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS SAFETY ISSUE FOR YEARS, ARE YOU? AND, IF "GERMAN ENGINEERING" IS MORE THAN MARKETING, WHY HAVEN'T THEY FIXED IT? *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10472467
- Incident
- Aug 24, 2012
- Mileage
- 8,350 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 30, 2012
CRACKED FUEL PUMP INLET BUSHING. *TT
- NHTSA ID
- 10445954
- Incident
- Jan 12, 2012
- Mileage
- 20,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jan 21, 2012
FUEL CONTROL HOUSING CRACKED AND LEAKED FUEL ALL OVER THE PLACE INCLUDING MY LEG. WHILE UNDER PRESSURE. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10444742
- Incident
- Jan 11, 2012
- Mileage
- 27,750 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 22, 2009
2008 BMW R1200RT AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE MOTORCYCLE ENGINE STOPPED WITH NO WARNING. THE CAUSE WAS FOUND TO BE THE FUEL PUMP DRIVER. IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE R1200RT. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10277690
- Incident
- Jul 14, 2009
- Mileage
- 1,800 mi
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.