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2015 BMW R1200 R

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

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: 1 of 1 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. 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

Electrical System complaints

1 reports
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828 miles · Oct 12, 2015
Electrical SystemEngine

THE 2015 R1200R WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW WITH 0 MILES. AT APPROXIMATELY 750 MILES THE OEM BATTERY WOULD NOT HOLD A CHARGE. THE BIKE WAS BROUGHT IN AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. UPON ARRIVAL TO PICK UP MY BIKE IT DID NOT TURN OVER ON THE FIRST TRY. THE SECOND START WAS UNEVENTFUL AND NO OTHER ISSUES WERE OBSERVED. AFTER THIS, APPR…

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THE 2015 R1200R WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW WITH 0 MILES. AT APPROXIMATELY 750 MILES THE OEM BATTERY WOULD NOT HOLD A CHARGE. THE BIKE WAS BROUGHT IN AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. UPON ARRIVAL TO PICK UP MY BIKE IT DID NOT TURN OVER ON THE FIRST TRY. THE SECOND START WAS UNEVENTFUL AND NO OTHER ISSUES WERE OBSERVED. AFTER THIS, APPROXIMATELY 50% OF THE COLD STARTS RESULTED IN THE SAME ISSUE. WHETHER THE STARTER WAS ENGAGED FOR ONLY A COUPLE OF SECONDS OR LONGER IT WOULD NOT START. SUBSEQUENT STARTS WORK AS DESIGNED. THE BIKE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES WITH NO FIX BY THE BMW CORPORATION. A SECONDARY PROBLEM WAS ALSO DISCOVERED. THE BIKE'S ELECTRONICS ARE SUPPOSE TO DETECT WHEN THE ENGINE DOES NOT START AND DISENGAGE THE STARTER AUTOMATICALLY. THIS FUNCTION IS NOT WORKING. MY DEALER'S TECH ADVISED ME THEY THINK THIS IS SUPPOSE TO OCCUR. THIS PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTICED JUNE 19TH OF 2015. THE DEALER WAS ADVISED A COUPLE OF WEEKS LATER TO OBSERVE THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED AS OF THIS TIME. ALSO, THE LIQUID COOLED BOXER ENGINE THAT HAS BEEN IN THE GS FLEET AND NOW THE RT AND RS FLEETS ARE ALSO EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI #10781430

Official recalls

1

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.

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.