IllustrationControl Modulator that operates the servo brake system failed. The ABS is no longer operational. The system is now only hydraulicly operated when before it was servo assisted. Once the servo system failed the brake system almost would not stop the motorcyle.
2003 BMW R1200 Cl
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all R1200 Cl years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 3 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Structure. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
3 reportsON OR AROUND OCTOBER 13, 2014 WHILE RIDING THE 2003 BMW R1200CL TO WORK,MY RIGHT SADDLEBAG OPENED AT 45MPH. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT I HAD NOT LATCHED IT PROPERLY. WHEN I PULLED OVER, I FOUND THE LOCKING MECHANISM HAD FAILED AND THERE WAS NO WAY OF LATCHING IT. I "BUNGIE CORDED" IT CLOSED AND RETURNED HOME TO GET MY CAR. I'VE DON…
Read full complaint
ON OR AROUND OCTOBER 13, 2014 WHILE RIDING THE 2003 BMW R1200CL TO WORK,MY RIGHT SADDLEBAG OPENED AT 45MPH. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT I HAD NOT LATCHED IT PROPERLY. WHEN I PULLED OVER, I FOUND THE LOCKING MECHANISM HAD FAILED AND THERE WAS NO WAY OF LATCHING IT. I "BUNGIE CORDED" IT CLOSED AND RETURNED HOME TO GET MY CAR. I'VE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON THIS FAILURE AND HAVE FOUND IT'S VERY COMMON IN THIS MODEL RANGE. IT SEEMS TO ALWAYS BE THE RIGHT SADDLEBAG. HTTP://WWW.CHROMEHEADS.ORG/DISCUS/MESSAGES/9/279354.HTML?1142712328. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW R1200 CL MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE LATCHING MECHANISM OF THE SADDLE BAG FAILED, CAUSING IT TO OPEN AND RELEASE ALL OF HIS BELONGINGS FROM THE BAG. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILAB…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW R1200 CL MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE LATCHING MECHANISM OF THE SADDLE BAG FAILED, CAUSING IT TO OPEN AND RELEASE ALL OF HIS BELONGINGS FROM THE BAG. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.