RoadVitals

2010 BMW R 1200 RT Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Sep 19, 2020
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Nov 8, 2012

What this page shows

Our database holds 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2010 BMW R 1200 RT. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–8 of 8

Fuel system
Filed Sep 19, 2020

I HAVE A 2010, R1200RT MOTORCYCLE THAT IS SPRAYING LARGE AMOUNTS OF ATOMIZED GAS OUT FROM THE TOP OF THE PLASTIC FUEL PUMP HOUSING FROM A HAIRLINE CRACK NEAR THE HIGH PRESSURE OUTLET. THE HOUSING IS A NON WEAR PART. IN LOOKING AT THE RECALLS I SEE THAT ON DECEMBER 12, 2013 THERE WAS A RECALL CAMPAIGN (NHTSA # 13V617000) ON FUEL LEAKS FOR MY MOTORCYCLE THAT DESCRIBES MY ISSUE EXACTLY. I REQUESTED THAT BMW TAKE ACTION AND FIX THE PROBLEM FREE OF CHARGE. THEY HAVE REFUSED. I BELIEVE THAT THEIR SCOPE ANALYSIS OF THE VINS WITH THIS PROBLEM WAS TOO NARROW. I SEE THAT I WILL NOW BE THE 4TH COMPLAINT FILED THIS YEAR AND IS A PATTERN THAT NEEDS ADDRESSED. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THERE IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION OF A FIRE DEVELOPING WHILE PEOPLE ARE DRIVING OR STOPPED. THIS IS NOT A SITUATION WHERE SOMEONE CAN SEPARATE THEMSELVES FROM THE FLASH FIRE WHILE DRIVING. IT'S EFFECTS (BURNS, LOSING CONTROL) ARE INSTANT TO THE MOTORCYCLE DRIVER.

NHTSA ID
11360019
Incident
Aug 30, 2020
Mileage
65,600 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 20, 2019

REAR BRAKE LINE ADAPTER LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. THIS IS AN ALUMINUM FITTING THAT CONNECTS THE STEEL BRAKE LINE TO THE FLEXIBLE LINE GOING TO THE REAR WHEEL. CRACKS FORMED ON BOTH THREADED ENDS. BMW PART NUMBER 34327679297. I REPLACED THIS PART MYSELF . THE REAR BRAKE RESERVOIR WAS EMPTY .

NHTSA ID
11221451
Incident
Jan 30, 2019
Mileage
15,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 28, 2019

THE FUEL GAUGE MISREAD THE ACTUAL AMOUNT OF FUEL IN MY TANK CAUSING ME TO RUN OUT OF GAS AT A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION. I HAD TO GET OFF THE MOTORCYCLE AND PUSH IT ACROSS ONCOMING TRAFFIC (THE ONLY DOWNHILL OPTION) TO A SAFE PLACE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I HAD TO WALK FOR 2 MILES TO PURCHASE A GAS CAN AND FUEL IN ORDER TO RESTART AND MOVE THE BIKE. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME MY GAS GAUGE FAILED. THE SENSOR FOR THE GAS GAUGE HAS NOW FAILED 3 TIMES. THE SECOND TIME I WAS ABLE TO COAST UP A DRIVEWAY HILL INTO A SAFE CHURCH PARKING LOT. THIS WAS SO LUCKY AS NO SHOULDER WAS AVAILABLE. RECENTLY, THE THIRD TIME IT FAILED I NOTICED THE FUEL GAGE WAS ACTUALLY GOING UP AS I WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE. IT WENT FROM 1/2 TANK TO ALMOST FULL. THE FUEL STRIP (FUEL SENSOR) IN THE GAS TANK IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF FAILURE. I NOW HAVE THE 3RD FUEL STRIP REPLACEMENT SCHEDULED FOR 7/12/2019. IF I RUN OUT OF FUEL IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY DURING A RUSH HOUR TIME PERIOD, I COULD LITERALLY BE KILLED (EXAMPLE: I LIVE IN ATLANTA AND HAVE BEEN IN RUSH HOUR ON I-75 / I-285 WHICH IS ABOUT 8-9 LANES WIDE WITH TIGHT AND FAST MOVING CARS AND TRUCKS). THE FUEL TANK ON THE 2010 BMW R 1200 RT DOES NOT HAVE AN EMERGENCY FUEL RESERVE PETCOCK. IF THE FUEL GAUGE OVERSTATES THE REMAINING FUEL, AND THE BIKE RUNS OUT OF FUEL, THERE IS NO AVAILABLE RESERVE. THERE IS NO SAFETY MARGIN. I JUST PURCHASED A FUEL BOTTLE TO CARRY ON THE MOTORCYCLE FOR AN EMERGENCY. I DO NOT LIKE THE IDEA OF CARRYING FUEL IN THIS MANNER, NOR SHOULD I HAVE TO. I CANNOT LOCK IT SAFELY LEAVING OPEN AN OPPORTUNITY FOR VANDALISM, AND I CANNOT GUARANTEE IT WILL NOT LEAK OR RUPTURE. PHOTOS: PHOTOS WERE TAKEN WHEN BIKE WAS OUT OF FUEL AND DISPLAYING MILES REMAINING AND FUEL LEVEL. TANK HOLDS 6.6 GL AND I SEE 43 MPG. THERE SHOULD BE ABOUT A GALLON LEFT IN THE TANK... THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE.

NHTSA ID
11210483
Incident
May 23, 2019
Mileage
8,160 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Feb 7, 2017

FUEL GAUGE FAILURE COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MOTORCYCLE GAUGE FAILED WHILE TRAVLING.

NHTSA ID
10949999
Incident
Nov 28, 2016
Mileage
29,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Dec 8, 2016

FUEL SENSOR SHOWS YOU HAVE FUEL WHEN IT HAS NONE AND LET'S YOU RUN OUT AND STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE. BMW HAS AN EXTENDED RECALL WHERE THEY WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL STRIP WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE FUEL STRIP. I HAVE HAD THIS DONE FOR THE PAST THREE YEARS AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE NO INTENTIONS OF COMING UP WITH A REPLACEMENT PART THAT ACTUALLY SOLVES THE PROBLEM. THEY SEEM TO THINK THEY ARE UNTOUCHABLE BECAUSE THEY HAVE MADE THIS EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH KEEPS PROCESSES WHICH COULD BE PUT IN PLACE TO MAKE THEM REPAIR THE PROBLEM OTHER THAN IF ENOUGH PEOPLE WOULD CONTCACT THE FEDERAL TRADES COMMISSION AT 1-877-382-4357 AND MAKE A COMPLAINT AND IF ENOUGH PEOPLE DID THEY COULD MAKE THEM STRAIGHTEN OUT THIS PROBLEM WHICH THEY ARE CALLING A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. THANKS FOR ANY HELP OR INPUT.

NHTSA ID
10933861
Incident
Dec 8, 2016
Mileage
1,300 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 2, 2016

I OWN A 2010 BMW R1200RT MOTORCYCLE AND THERE IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE HANDLEBAR MOUNTED SWITCH GEAR. THE SAID COMPONENTS HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE CAUSING INOPERABLE HIGH BEAMS, CRUISE CONTROL, TURN SINGLES, AND HORN, BUT THE REAL ISSUE IS THE START/RUN SWITCH AND THE INTERMITTENT FAILURE CAUSING A NO START CONDITION AT THE VERY LEAST THE REAL DANGER IS WHEN THE SWITCH FAILS WHEN UNDER POWER WHICH HAPPENED TO ME TWICE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS! SOMEONE WILL BE KILLED IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME.

NHTSA ID
10892626
Incident
Aug 2, 2016
Mileage
48,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 9, 2015

AS MANY OTHER BMW OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED, I EXPERIENCED A FAILURE OF THE FINAL DRIVE (REAR END). I ENDED A SHORT TRIP AND BECAME AWARE OF HIGH HEAT COMING FROM THE REAR AXLE. I TRAILERED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS INFORMED IT WAS A FINAL DRIVE FAILURE, WORN BEARINGS AND A WOBBLY REAR WHEEL. THEY INFORMED ME IT WAS A DRY PARK REQUIRING NO MX ON MY PART AND COULD OFFER NO EXPLANATION FOR ITS PREMATURE FAILURE. UPON MY WEB RESEARCH, THE "DREADED FINAL DRIVE FAILURE" IMMEDIATELY POPS UP ON MANY SITES AND ONE SUGGESTED I FILE A COMPLAINT HERE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10704743
Incident
Apr 1, 2015
Mileage
27,100 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 8, 2012

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME MY MOTORCYCLE RAN OUT OF FUEL EVEN THROUGH THE FUEL GAUGE WAS READING 1/4 TANK. IT OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE ENGINE JUST STOPS RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME THAT MY MOTORCYCLE FUEL SENSOR HAS FAILED. WE NEED BMW TO RECALL AND INSTALL A FLOAT SYSTEM SIMILAR TO THE NEW MODELS. BMW HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS AND REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10483688
Incident
Nov 7, 2012
Mileage
37,520 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.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .