RoadVitals

1999 BMW R1200C

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
4
Latest Dec 15, 2014
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Jun 26, 2001
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
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
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 BMW R1200C, most frequently naming the powertrain (other), exterior lighting and steering categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Powertrain (other)250.0%
  • Exterior lighting125.0%
  • Steering125.0%

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

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
01V217000

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

Jun 26, 2001
3,342 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES EQUIPPED WITH CHROME-PLATED FRAMES. COPPER RESIDUE CAN REMAIN IN THE TAPPED HOLE WHERE THE UPPER FORK BRIDGE ATTACHES TO THE FRAME. MOISTURE CAN CAUSE CORROSION TO OCCUR BETWEEN THE COPPER RESIDUE AND THE ALUMINUM FRAME. THE STRESS OF THE CONNECTING BOLT ATTACHING THE UPPER FORK TO THE FRAME COULD THEN DECREASE, LEADING TO LOOSENING, AND ULTIMATELY, BREAKAGE OF THE BOLT.
The risk: IF THIS HAPPENED, THE DYNAMIC STABILITY OF THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD BE AFFECTED AND A LOSS OF CONTROL COULD OCCUR.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REAM THE HOLE IN THE FRAME HEAD AND INSTALL A HELICOIL THREAD INSERT AND A NEW BOLT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 13, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117, OPTION #4.
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKEView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 15, 2014

THE REAR TAIL LIGHT/ TURN LIGHT WAS DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED AND/OR MADE THE DEFECT WAS SO WIDESPREAD AND RECOGNIZED AD SUCH BY BME THAT IT PRECIPITATED BMW MAKING A " NEW AND IMPROVED " VERSION OF THE TAIL- LIGHT TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLY. HOWEVER INSTEAD IF REPLACING THUS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT FOR FREE IN RECOGNITION OF THE DEFECT BME INSTEAD WANTS APPROXIMATELY $500 JUST FOR THE PART! THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS AND EXPLOITIVE. THE FAILURE OF A REAR TAIL-LIGHT / TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLY POSES AN OBVIOUS SAFETY RISK WITH A CLEAR POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE INJURY/ FATALITY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10664201
Incident
Nov 3, 2014
Mileage
16,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 22, 2008
1 injury reported

I'VE GOT A 1999 R1200C. I RECENTLY DID SOME SERVICING ON IT WITH MY FRIEND, AND I THINK I AM EXPERIENCING THE START OF FINAL DRIVE FAILURE... WE DID VALVE ADJUSTMENTS, FUEL FILTER, BRAKE FLUIDS, AIR FILTER, OIL AND OIL FILTER, TRANSMISSION FLUID AND THE FINAL DRIVE FLUID. EACH FLUID LOOKED SURPRISINGLY GOOD TO ME , EXCEPT THE FINAL DRIVE FLUID. I EXPECTED IT TO BE DARK IN COLOR, AS IT WAS OLD, BUT IT CAME OUT A GLITTERING METALLIC OOZE. I'D NEVER SEEN FINAL DRIVE FLUID BEFORE, SO I THOUGHT IT WAS NORMAL UNTIL I OPENED UP THE BOTTLE OF NEW FLUID AND SAW IT WAS YELLOW/CLEAR. SINCE THEN, I'VE NOTICED THAT IF I OPEN THE THROTTLE UP WHILE CLIMBING AN INCLINE, I GET QUITE ALOT OF ENGINE REVS, BUT NO EXTRA TRANSFER OF POWER TO THE WHEEL. :0 IF I BABY THE THROTTLE, I GET MORE FORWARD MOTION.... I'M SCARED OF FINAL DRIVE FAILURE GETTING ME KILLED... PERHAPS I'M LESS LIKELY SINCE I GOT THE METAL CHIPS OUT, BUT NOW THE DRIVE ISN'T TRANSFERRING POWER... I DON'T KNOW, ANY HELP? THANKS! *TR

NHTSA ID
10231964
Incident
May 14, 2008
Mileage
20,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 19, 2006

WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH, A HIGH FREQUENCY "BUZZ" WAS FELT IN THE MOTORCYCLE. AS WE WERE ON A CAUSE WAY COMING NORTH FROM KEY WEST, FL I WAS UNABLE TO PULL OVER TO INVESTIGATE. AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY, I STOPPED AND INSPECTED THE WHEELS/TIRES ETC. NOTHING WAS NOTED. AFTER A FURTHER TWENTY MILES, WITH NO CHANGE IN THE VIBRATION, I WENT TO PULL OVER AGAIN, THIS TIME WHILE STOPPING, THE REAR BRAKE WAS INEFFECTIVE. LOOKING AT THE REAR WHEEL, OIL WAS OBSERVED DRIPPING ONTO THE BRAKE DISC AND THE TIRE WAS SPLATTERED WITH OIL. THE BIKE WAS PUT IN A TRUCK AND TAKEN TO MY DESTINATION, 2500 MILES AWAY. UPON ARRIVAL AT MY HOME, THE REAR WHEEL, AND FINAL DRIVE WERE REMOVED. THE FINAL DRIVE WAS DISASSEMBLED AND THE CROWN GEAR BEARING WAS FOUND FAILED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10173805
Incident
Mar 6, 2006
Mileage
69,103 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 2, 2000

LEATHER HANDGRIPS ARE SLIPPERY, CONSUMER RIDES MOTORCYCLE WITH RUBBER BANDS WRAPPED AROUND THE THROTTLE, SO HIS HANDS DON'T SLIP. *SLC

NHTSA ID
555680
Incident
Aug 26, 2000

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SB-00-021-07

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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW R1200C by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003130137.0
2002501—
2001301—
2000411—
1999Viewing410—
1998142052.6

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.