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2016 BMW R1200 Gs

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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: 11 of 12 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.

  • Suspension. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Engine complaints

3 reports
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490 miles · May 7, 2018
EngineFuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE ENGINE GOES INTO A FAULTED STATE SPONTANEOUSLY WITH NO WARNING PRIOR, THE ECU IS FAULTING AND PUTTING THE ENGINE INTO "LIMP MODE" WHICH IS ALMOST EQUIVALENT OF COMPLETELY KILLING THE ENGINE THE WAY IT IS CURRENTLY DONE, AND YOU ARE LEFT TO NAVIGATE OFF THE HIGHWAY IN A SEVERELY…

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WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE ENGINE GOES INTO A FAULTED STATE SPONTANEOUSLY WITH NO WARNING PRIOR, THE ECU IS FAULTING AND PUTTING THE ENGINE INTO "LIMP MODE" WHICH IS ALMOST EQUIVALENT OF COMPLETELY KILLING THE ENGINE THE WAY IT IS CURRENTLY DONE, AND YOU ARE LEFT TO NAVIGATE OFF THE HIGHWAY IN A SEVERELY DEBILITATED STATE OF OPERATION. THE ENGINE IS PROGRAMMED WITH A "LIMP MODE" FAULT I ASSUME TO SAVE THE ENGINE? BUT MY COMPLAINT IS , THE WAY IT CURRENTLY OPERATES ON THE MOTORCYCLE,IT IS PATENTLY "UNSAFE" AND PUTS THE RIDER OR OPERATOR AND PASSENGER IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION SHOULD THE "LIMP MODE" FAULT BE ENGAGED . I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR THIS, WITHOUT ANY NOTICEABLE CHANGE IN THE WAY THE MOTOR IS RUNNING INITIALLY, WHATEVER THE ENGINE CONTROL COMPUTER IS SEEING, IS AN ANOMALY . IN THE CASE OF MY PERSONAL INCIDENT, I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND IN TRAFFIC ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY . THE MOTORCYCLE WAS RUNNING FLAWLESSLY AND JUST SUDDENLY IT FELT AS IF THE SWITCH WAS TURNED OFF. THE THROTTLE WAS NON RESPONSIVE INITIALLY, AND AFTER, ONLY MINUTELY. I WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE OFF THE HIGHWAY TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROADWAY, AS LUCKILY THE TRAFFIC WAS VERY LIGHT AT THIS PLACE AND TIME. HAD I BEEN IN HEAVY TRAFFIC UNDER DIFFERENT CONDITIONS, THIS COULD HAVE ENDED VERY DIFFERENTLY AND I DON'T MEAN THAT IN A GOOD WAY. IT HAS SUBSEQUENTLY BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP OF BMW DEALERS 2X FOR THIS ISSUE, AND NOW IS IN FOR THE 3RD TIME AS THEY HAVE TO DATE, BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL IN FINDING AND CORRECTING THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE ISSUE. THERE ARE APPARENTLY MALFUNCTIONS WITHIN THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS ON THE MOTORCYCLE, THAT ARE FALSE READINGS, MOMENTARY "BLIPS" , OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT -- WHICH FOOLS THE COMPUTER AND TRIGGERS THE "LIMP MODE" FAULT TO ENGAGE.

NHTSA ODI #11092238

7,275 miles · Dec 29, 2016
Engine

ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER ON 6 INCIDENCES. 2 INCIDENTS - IN MOTION ON I-81 HIGHWAY 1 INCIDENT ' STATIONARY ON I-81 HIGHWAY 1 INCIDENT - IN MOTION TN-68 HIGHWAY 1 INCIDENT ' STATIONARY TN-68 HIGHWAY 1 INCIDENT ' IN MOTION VA-55

NHTSA ODI #10938524

700 miles · Aug 29, 2016
Engine

CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AT 75 MPH U.S. 59N. THE ENGINE BEHAVES AS IF IT SHUTS OFF. I ENGAGE THE CLUTCH AND COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I WAS SURPRISED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, WITH A SURGING IDLE FROM 1000-2000 RPMS. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD TWO WARNINGS ILLUMINATED, YELLOW "WARNING" TRIANGLE AND AN ENGIN…

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CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AT 75 MPH U.S. 59N. THE ENGINE BEHAVES AS IF IT SHUTS OFF. I ENGAGE THE CLUTCH AND COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. I WAS SURPRISED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, WITH A SURGING IDLE FROM 1000-2000 RPMS. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAD TWO WARNINGS ILLUMINATED, YELLOW "WARNING" TRIANGLE AND AN ENGINE SYMBOL WHICH BMW DESCRIBES AS "ENGINE IN EMERGENCY-OPERATING MODE". I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE USING THE KEYLESS IGNITION BUTTON. I RESTARTED THE ENGINE AND OPERATION WAS NORMAL. NO WARNINGS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE BIKE IS RELATIVELY NEW. I OWNED IT ABOUT 6 WEEKS AND HAD ACCUMULATED APPROXIMATELY 700 MILES. SINCE THE BIKE WAS RUNNING NORMAL AND THERE WAS NO NEARBY BMW SERVICE I CONTINUED ON. I COMPLETED MY 10 DAY TRIP ACCUMULATING ANOTHER 4000 MILES WITHOUT ANOTHER OCCURRENCE. ON MY RETURN I TOOK THE BIKE TO MY BMW DEALERSHIP WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER WAS CONNECTED. THE READ OUT CONFIRMED THE FAULT AS: 21F982 THROTTLE VALVE 1 MAINTENANCE NOTES: CHECKED THROTTLE VALVE, OK PLUG CONNECTION, OK CLEARED FAULT CODE, DID NOT COME BACK BIKE=OK NO RECOMMENDATIONS I KNOW THERE ARE NUMEROUS INSTANCES SIMILAR TO MY EXPERIENCE. THE BMW OWNERS MANUAL PAGES 30,31 DESCRIBE THIS CONDITION AS AN "ACCIDENT HAZARD". I WAS FORTUNATE THAT TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND I HAD A PAVED ROAD SHOULDER ON WHICH TO STOP.

NHTSA ODI #10899372

Official recalls

2

17V481000 · Equipment

Jul 28, 2017

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2017 F800R and F800GT motorcycles, 2014-2018 R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure motorcycles, 2016-2017 S1000XR motorcycles and 2015-2017 R1200R and R1200RS, 2008-2012 F650GS, 2008-2018 F800GS, and 2014-2017 F800GS Adventure motorcycles. When equipped with the optional aluminum luggage cases, the rear reflex reflectors may be partially blocked. The aluminum case mounts for the R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure may also partially block the reflectors. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the rear reflex reflectors are obscured from view, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install reflectors on the cases or for the case mounts, an additional bracket with rear reflex reflectors, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

17V438000 · Suspension:front

Jul 10, 2017

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2014-2017 BMW R1200GS and BMW R1200GS Adventure motorcycles. The motorcycle fixed fork tube may separate from the pressed in seal plug that secures the tube to the upper triple clamp.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the fork tube detaches from the sealing plug, the handling and stability of the motorcycle will be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will add an additional fixed fork tube bush. A fork that is sufficiently damaged will be replaced with a modified new part. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began August 31, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.