2014 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 2014 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 system228.6%
- Suspension228.6%
- Driver assistance114.3%
- Electrical114.3%
- Engine114.3%
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
I have a 2014 R1200RT that is leaking fuel because of a warped fuel tank. VIN: [XXX] My dealer tells me that this was a problem on my years RT and that this can only be fixed by replacing the fuel tank. I was told that ethanol was probably the culprit in taking this tank down so quickly. I was also told that BMW redesigned the tank to alleviate the problem and that replacing the old tank with the redesigned one would take care of this. BMW Motorrad is not offering to replace this as the warranty is only for 3 years or 36,000 miles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I BOUGHT THIS NEW AND I HAVE ALWAYS SMELLED GAS ESPECILLY AFTER A FILL UP. I RECENTLY HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKES VERY HARD WHILE TRAVELLING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND FUEL CAME OUT THROUGH THE GAS CAP EVEN THOUGH THE GAS CAP WAS PROPERLY SECURED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
6/11 RECEIVE EMAIL FROM BMW ADVISING "STOP RIDE". 6/23 RECEIVE EMAIL FROM BMW ADVISING OF 4 REMEDIES. QUICKLY LEARN THAT DEALERSHIP CANNOT PERFORM LOANER BIKE OPTION AND DEALER REFUSES TO HONOR TRADE-IN OPTION. 6/25 I EMAIL BMW ADVISING I AM SELECTING BUYBACK OPTION. 6/26 RECEIVE EMAIL FROM BMW REQUESTING DOCUMENTATION (BILL OF SALE AND COPY OF TITLE). 6/27 RECEIVED EMAIL FROM BMW CONFIRMING RECEIPT OF DOCUMENTATION. I ALSO TELEPHONED CUSTOMER SERVICE (CS) AND RECEIVED VERBAL CONFIRMATION THEY RECEIVED DOCUMENTATION. I WAS ADVISED I WOULD BE CONTACTED AND RECEIVE REPURCHASE AGREEMENT WITHIN 3-5 DAYS. AS OF 7/9 I STILL HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY ANYONE. I HAVE CALLED CS 5 MORE TIMES AND HAVE EMAILED CS TWICE. IT APPEARS CS FILTERS CALLS IN COLUMBUS, OH, BUT THE " DECISION MAKER" (MARK) IN NEW JERSEY DOES NOT RESPOND TO EMAILS OR TELEPHONE CALLS (VOICEMAILS LEFT). LAST PHONE CALL TO CS RECEIVED INFORMATION THAT PROCESS TAKES 6-8 WEEKS. IT APPEARS THAT EVEN THOUGH BMW HAS PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED REMEDIES PURSUANT TO RECALL, BMW IS NOT FULLY HONORING AFOREMENTIONED REMEDIES, NOR FULFILLING CHOSEN BUYBACKS IN A TIMELY MANNER. BMW ADVISES THAT CUSTOMERS ELECTING BUYBACK WILL RECEIVE COMPENSATION WITHIN 30 DAYS OF AGREEMENT; HOWEVER, THERE APPEARS TO BE NO TIME RESTRAINTS FOR RECEIVING SAID AGREEMENT (POSSIBLY EXTENDING COMPLETION IN HOPES OF HAVING CUSTOMERS ELECT A REPAIR IF/WHEN IT IS ANNOUNCED). *TR
ON JUNE 5TH 2014 BMW ISSUED A STOP RIDE NOTICE FOR ALL 2014 R1200 RTS WITH DYNAMIC ESA. SINCE THEN BMW HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO PRODUCE A LOANER VEHICLE NOR A DATE WHEN THE AFFECTED PART WILL BE REPLACED. SO AT THIS POINT MY PRIMARY VEHICLE IS A $25,000. PIECE OF GARAGE ART. THE ESTIMATED DATE FOR PARTS SHIPMENT IS 3 TO 4 MONTHS! *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 BMW R1200 RT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, A SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS COMPLETED TO IMPROVE THE GEAR SHIFT ASSISTANT PRO FEATURE. AFTER THE SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS PERFORMED, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH BEFORE DEACTIVATING THE CRUISE CONTROL TO DECREASE THE SPEED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD ERRONEOUSLY TURN ON INCREASING THE SPEED OF THE MOTORCYCLE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 120 MILES OF DRIVING, THE MOTORCYCLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,120....UPDATED 02/03/16 *BF INVALID 4/17/18*JB *TR
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 2014 BMW R1200 RT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, A SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS COMPLETED TO IMPROVE THE GEAR SHIFT ASSISTANT PRO FEATURE. AFTER THE SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS PERFORMED, THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH BEFORE DEACTIVATING THE CRUISE CONTROL TO DECREASE THE SPEED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD ERRONEOUSLY TURN ON INCREASING THE SPEED OF THE MOTORCYCLE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 120 MILES OF DRIVING, THE MOTORCYCLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,120....UPDATED 02/03/16 *BF INVALID 4/17/18*JB *TR
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
Motorcycle went into "limp mode" while riding.
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 .