RoadVitals

2010 BMW R 1200 RT Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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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.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2010 BMW R 1200 RT, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Fuel system555.6%
  • Electrical222.2%
  • Brakes111.1%
  • Powertrain (other)111.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Sep 19, 2020

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 · filed May 28, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 10949999 · filed Feb 7, 2017

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 · filed Aug 2, 2016

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Jun 20, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Apr 9, 2015

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .