Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 BMW R1200 Cl, most frequently naming the fuel system, body & structure and engine categories. 5 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 2005 | 1 | 1 |
| Sep 2005 | 1 | 2 |
| Jul 2007 | 1 | 3 |
| Jul 2009 | 1 | 4 |
| Mar 2010 | 1 | 5 |
| Jun 2011 | 1 | 6 |
| Jan 2012 | 1 | 7 |
| Jan 2013 | 1 | 8 |
| Apr 2013 | 1 | 9 |
| Feb 2016 | 1 | 10 |
| Aug 2018 | 1 | 11 |
| Apr 2023 | 1 | 12 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
Motorcycle caught fire due to a defective fuel distributor line (part #135 376 58911). This happened on our property and the bike would have burned out completely if it had happened on the road. Only because there was a garden hose not too far from where the bike caught fire, I was able to extinguish it in time.
KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS AND OTHER BMW MOTORCYCLE MODELS WITH THE "QUICK DISCONNECT" FITTINGS ON FUEL LINES BEING MADE OF PLASTIC AND FAILING CAUSING OR POSSIBLY CAUSING FIRE. ON THIS DATE ONE OF MY FITTINGS FAILED CAUSING FUEL TO LEAK ON TO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND BURNED OFF UNDER HIGH HEAT MAYBE CAUSING FIRE. I WAS ABLE TO GET SOMETHING UNDER LEAK TO CATCH FUEL BEFORE IT ALL LEAKED OUT ON TO EXHAUST. ALL MODELS OF BMW WITH THESE POOR DESIGN PLASTIC FITTINGS ON THE FUEL SYSTEM {{MUST}} BE REPLACED! THIS NEEDS TO BE REQUIRED ASAP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW R1200 CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KICKSTAND, USED TO MOUNT THE MOTORCYCLE WAS BENT AND DID NOT SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE KICKSTAND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT SAID THAT A REPLACEMENT ALONE WOULD NOT SOLVE THE FAILURE, STATING THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE QUALITY OF THE MATERIAL FOR THE STAND. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,100.
MY BIKE WAS SPUTTERING & BACKFIRING, I BROUGHT IT INTO THE LOCAL BMW DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS "THROTTLE BODY SYSTEM" HE TOLD ME IT WAS "THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME OF THIS YEAR AND MODEL BIKE, EVEN WITH THE LOW MILEAGE" I HAD JUST PURCHASED THE BIKE, IF I HAD KNOW ABOUT THIS COMMON FAILURE I WOULD HAVE NOT BOUGHT IT. THEY WANT $1800 TO REPAIR IT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW R1200 CL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED AN ABNORMAL SUBSTANCE ON THE GROUND NEAR THE MOTORCYCLE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE BIKE, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL CONNECTOR WAS FRACTURED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,200. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THERE WERE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS BECAUSE OF THE ORIGINAL QUICK DISCONNECTORS MADE OF PLASTIC. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM HE EXPERIENCED. HOWEVER, HIS VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. UPDATED 02/06/13 UPDATED 11/04/13
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW R1200 CL MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING FUEL BEGAN TO LEAK ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THERE WAS SMOKE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V028000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS) RECALL, BUT THE VIN WAS NOT ASSOCIATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ASSISTED THE CONTACT WITH THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,784.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BMW R1200 CL MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE QUICK CONNECT FUEL LINE, CAUSING THE FUEL TO LEAK FROM FROM THE LINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REQUESTED THAT THE CONTACT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
THE QUICK CONNECT FUEL LINE COUPLING ON MY 2004 BMW R1200CLC MOTORCYCLE BROKE SPILLING GASOLINE ON THE EXHUAST, CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND REAR DISC BRAKE WHILE RIDING ON THE EXPRESSWAY IN GOOD WEATHER. THE BIKE STOPPED RUNNING, LEAVING ME TO NEGOTIATE A 825 LB. MOTORCYCLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH NO POWER AND A GASOLINE SOAKED REAR DISC BRAKE. 40 YEARS OF CYCLING EXPERIENCE SAVED ME FROM WHAT WAS A DIRE AND LIFE THREATENING SITUATION. THERE WAS A FACTORY RECALL TO REPLACE THE O-RINGS ON THIS COUPLING, WHICH I DID. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE NEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, THEY INFORMED ME THAT BMW HAD REPLACED THIS PLASTIC PART WITH A METAL PART IN THEIR REPLACEMENT PARTS INVENTORY. THIS PART RETAILS FOR $31.50 AND IS ONLY FOR SALE. IT IS ALSO ONLY HALF OF THE COUPLING, THE OTHER HALF STILL ONLY AVILABLE IN PLASTIC. THERE ARE TWO OF THESE COUPLINGS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. IN MY DISCUSSIONS WITH THE DEALER, I WAS TOLD THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN ALL 2004 BMWS, WITH THIS ESSENTIAL PART FAILING OFTEN. I REPAIRED THE FUEL LINE WITH A BRASS FUEL LINE FITTING. BMW IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM EVIDENCED BY THE CHANGE IN THE MATERIAL THAT THIS PART NOW ONLY AVAILABLE IN. WHY HAS THERE BEEN NO RECALL ON THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL DEFECT ISSUED BY BMW? I STILL HAVE THE FAILED PART. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED ENGINE FAILURE ON THIS SAME VEHICLE WHEN A SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE FUEL PUMP BLOWS THE FUSE AND THE FUEL PUMP STOPS. THIS WAS ALSO DESCRIBED TO ME AS AN INHERENT PROBLEM IN THIS MOTORCYCLE DUE TO THE WIRING INSULATION DETERIORATING AND CRACKING. THIS INFORMATION WAS PASSED ON TO ME BY THE DEALER SERVICE REP WHO SAID HE HAD SEEN THAT DEFECT OFTEN. THIS PROBLEM HAS ALSO LEFT ME RIDING A SUDDENLY DEAD MOTOCCYLE SEVERAL TIMES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. WHEN I CONTACTED BMW ABOUT FIXING THE WIRING HARNESS, THEY WERE UNRESPONSIVE TO MY COMPLAINT AND DISMISSIVE TO ME PERSONALLY. I HAVE THE E-MAILS. THIS MOTORCYCLE HAS 13,859 MILES ON IT AND IS GARAGE KEPT.
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle âÂÂdischarged batteryâ complaints.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
Discharged Battery Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed: The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle "discharged battery" complaints. In order to properly repair the vehicle the first time in the workshop, it is very important that the diagnostic test plans are performed to completion, with all results taken into consideration. Without performing the energy diagnosis test plan, the root cause of the discharged battery cannot be identified. This increases the chances of a repeat repair.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
BMW: PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING AND REPLACING INCANDESCENT AND HALOGEN LIGHT BULBS UNDER WARRANTY. *RM
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
BMW VEHICLES: FUEL LEVEL SENSOR REPAIRS. WHERE IT IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT SIDE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR DUE TO A FAILURE, THE ENTIRE PUMP AND HOUSING OR DELIVERY UNIT (SUCTION JET ASSEMBLY) DO NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. IN SOME CASES, EPC DOES NOT SHOW THAT THE REPAIR KIT IS AVAILABLE SEPARATELY IN THE ILLUSTRATION, BUT IT IS AVAILABLE IN THE PARTS DESCRIPTION. ALL MODELS. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
BMW MOTORCYCLE: ENGINE FUELS CONTAINING ETHANOL. BMW MOTORRAD HAS NO OBJECTION TO THE USE OF SI ENGINE FUELS CONTAINING UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 10% ETHANOL AND IMPOSES NO WARRANTY RESTRICTIONS. ETHANOL MIXTURES IN PROPORTIONS HIGHER THAN 10% CAN HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON PERFORMANCE AND CAN RESULT IN DAMAGE TO COMPONENTS THAT COME INTO CONTRACT WITH FUEL. NO WARRANTY CLAIMS WHATSOEVER FOR DAMAGE CAUSED IN THIS WAY WILL BE ACCEPTED. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004Viewing | 12 | 0 | 0 | 49.6 |
| 2003 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.