2012 BMW R 1200 RT Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2012 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 system430.8%
- Engine215.4%
- Electrical215.4%
- Steering17.7%
- Brakes17.7%
- Tires & wheels17.7%
- Exterior lighting17.7%
- Powertrain (other)17.7%
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2012 BMW R-1200 RT. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign number: 21V060000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW R 1200 RT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V060000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. MAX BMW MOTORCYCLES LOCATED AT 493 DANBURY RD, NEW MILFORD, CT 06776 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT THE PART WAS AVAILABLE HOWEVER, AFTER CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER, NO INFORMATION ON A DATE FOR PARTS AVAILABILITY WAS PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW R1200 RT. THE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO EURO CYCLE BMW LAS VEGAS (6175 W SAHARA AVE B, LAS VEGAS, NV 89146, (702) 454-6269) FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE FLANGE WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FLANGE WAS ONCE SERVICED BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER; HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO EURO CYCLE BMW LAS VEGAS. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,961.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW R1200RT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER STOPPED AND IN FIRST GEAR, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY. THE FAILURE RECURRED AS OFTEN AS ONCE A MONTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 BMW R1200 RT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER BECAME HARD TO READ WHEN THE SUN WOULD SHINE DIRECTLY ON THE COMPONENT. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO TOOK PICTURES OF THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND SENT THE IMAGES TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER FORWARDED THE PICTURES TO THEIR ENGINEERS AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD BE INVESTIGATED IF MORE OWNERS FILED A COMPLAINT ON THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,500.
2012 BMW R1200 RT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MOTORCYCLES COMMUNICATION SYSTEM CONTROLLER TURN SIGNAL ENGAGEMENT VERY DIFFICULT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED BMW RE-DESIGNED THE TURN SIGNALS, WHICH IS NOW A SINGLE SWITCH. THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WOULD NOT ALWAYS TURN ON. THE CONTROL PANEL HAD A GLARE, WHICH MADE THE PANEL DIFFICULT TO READ, DURING THE DAY. THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR CONSISTENTLY READ BELOW 2-3 LBS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2012 BMW R1200 RT motorcycle. The contact stated that the handlebars loosened and were not secured. The motorcycle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the head bearing had failed and needed to be replaced. The cause of the steering head bearing failure was undetermined. The motorcycle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 20,000.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
Front brakes- Front brake lever will not pull in (hard to pull) front brakes do not work, was unable to stop, rear brakes limited and was unable to stop through intersection.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
2012 BMW R1200 RT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MOTORCYCLES COMMUNICATION SYSTEM CONTROLLER TURN SIGNAL ENGAGEMENT VERY DIFFICULT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED BMW RE-DESIGNED THE TURN SIGNALS, WHICH IS NOW A SINGLE SWITCH. THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WOULD NOT ALWAYS TURN ON. THE CONTROL PANEL HAD A GLARE, WHICH MADE THE PANEL DIFFICULT TO READ, DURING THE DAY. THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR CONSISTENTLY READ BELOW 2-3 LBS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
2012 BMW R1200 RT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MOTORCYCLES COMMUNICATION SYSTEM CONTROLLER TURN SIGNAL ENGAGEMENT VERY DIFFICULT. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED BMW RE-DESIGNED THE TURN SIGNALS, WHICH IS NOW A SINGLE SWITCH. THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL WOULD NOT ALWAYS TURN ON. THE CONTROL PANEL HAD A GLARE, WHICH MADE THE PANEL DIFFICULT TO READ, DURING THE DAY. THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR CONSISTENTLY READ BELOW 2-3 LBS.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
FINAL DRIVE FAILURE ON BMW R1200RT MOTORCYCLE. THE REAR WHEEL CROWN GEAR BEARING FAILED. OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE REAR WHEEL SEAL BECAUSE OF THE BEARING FAILURE . OIL FROM THE FINAL DRIVE SATURATED THE REAR BRAKE RENDERING IT USELESS. INSPECTION OF THE WHEEL WHILE STATIONARY REVEALED THAT THE REAR WHEEL/FINAL DRIVE SEAL WAS LEAKING. AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE FINAL DRIVE WAS REPAIRED/REBUILT BY BMW AUTHORIZED MECHANICS SHOP.
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .