2019 BMW R 1250 GS Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Jan 18, 2025 · 15 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other R 1250 GS years
Far more complaints than other years 1st of 5 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 15 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 BMW R 1250 GS. That is the most of any R 1250 GS model year in the database (5 years). The most reported problem area is service brakes (12 complaints, 80%), typically at around 1,253 miles. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.

BMW R 1250 GS
Motorrad, Hersteller: BMW, Typ: R1250GS, Variante: HP, Manufacturer code: K50. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: San Andreas, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

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Most common 2019 BMW R 1250 GS problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Service Brakes12 · ~1,253 mi
Engine3 · ~5,000 mi
Electrical System2 · ~5,000 mi
Forward Collision Avoidance1
Power Train1 · ~5,000 mi
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1 · ~8,000 mi
Unknown or Other1
Vehicle Speed Control1
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Service Brakes1280%1,253——
Engine320%5,000——
Electrical System213%5,000——
Forward Collision Avoidance17%———
Power Train17%5,000——
Service Brakes, Hydraulic17%8,000——
Unknown or Other17%———
Vehicle Speed Control17%———

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2020, with 5 complaints
2020: 5202052021: 3202132022: 1202212023: 3202332025: 320253

n = 15 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2019 BMW R 1250 GS recalls (3)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Power train:manual transmission:internal:shaft:inputJan 18, 2023 · NHTSA campaign 23V011000 · 18,534 vehicles

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2023 R1250GS, R1250GS Adventure, and R1250RTP motorcycles. In certain engine operating and riding conditions, the gearbox input shaft may become damaged or break, possibly resulting in a blocked rear wheel.

Risk: A damaged gearbox input shaft or a blocked rear wheel can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will update the engine control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 22, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Service brakes; service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:caliperAug 13, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V476000 · 9,392 vehicles

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2020 R 1250 GS, GS Adventure and R 1250 RT, 2020 S 1000 RR and S 1000 XR motorcycles. The front brake calipers may leak brake fluid when parked. As such, these motorcycles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 122, "Motorcycle Brake Systems."

Risk: Overtime, a leaking front brake caliper can reduce the amount of brake fluid in the reservoir. Low volume could affect brake performance, increasing the risk of crash.

Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary, replace the front brake calipers with an improved version, free of charge. BMW issued owners an interim notification on October 12, 2020. As of January 19, 2021, a remedy was still not available. The recall began March 8, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Service brakes, hydraulic:fluidMar 19, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V166000 · 365 vehicles

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2020 RnineT Scrambler and RnineT, 2020 R1250R and R1250RS, 2019-2020 Rnine T Pure, R1250GS,R1250GS Adventure and R1250RT and 2018 RnineT Racer motorcycles. The brake fluid reservoir cap may not clearly state the required type of brake fluid and the process for filling the reservoir, possibly leading to an improper maintenance procedure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 122, "Motorcycle Brake Systems."

Risk: Improper brake system maintenance could affect braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake fluid reservoir cap, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

Rear brake system malfunctions. Malfunctioning rear brake increases braking distance which can lead to a collision. The BMW dealer and customer service have confirmed problem. The motorcycle has be serviced for this four times at the BMW repair shop. The problem appears about every 3000 miles.

Service Brakes · received Jan 18, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11636728

Engine fails to start after shutoff and after engine temperature is hot. Inability to start engine on the road after cutting ignition can increase risk of being hit on the road. The dealer has not been able to reproduce. The vehicle has been inspected by BMW repair shop and had me replace the…

Engine · received Jan 18, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11636732

Ever since purchased new in 2019 the rear brake goes away after riding. Dealer bleeds to fix and it goes away again after riding. By going away I mean rear brake pedal travel becomes very long with no positive stop when the brake finally works. Very soft feel thru the brake activation. Takes a…

Service Brakes · received Jan 14, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11635837

During the recent Safety Recall of this vehicle and subsequent repair, it was noted by the certified mechanic that oil was being wicked up along electrical lines in the stator. The mechanic issued an immediate "Do not ride, Do not operate" warning. 2019 BMW R1250GSA has 17,000 accident free miles…

Electrical System · received Jun 25, 2023 · NHTSA complaint 11528717

After three BMW dealer visits and rear brakes having been bled, the rear brake pedal becomes soft and does not stop the motorcycle. The same problem occurred each time within 2-3 months of the repair. The only way to stop the motorcycle is to use the front brake. The BMW service department cannot…

Service Brakes · received May 31, 2023 · NHTSA complaint 11524567

Other BMW R 1250 GS years

2020 R 1250 GS →

See all BMW R 1250 GS problems by year, every BMW model, or the BMW VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2019 BMW R 1250 GS?

Owners most often report service brakes, engine, electrical system problems. The top one, service brakes, accounts for 12 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2019 BMW R 1250 GS?

Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2019 BMW R 1250 GS a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other R 1250 GS model years, the 2019 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.