2020 BMW R 1250 GS Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other R 1250 GS years
- Not enough data 2nd of 5 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 5 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 BMW R 1250 GS. That ranks 2nd out of 5 R 1250 GS model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is service brakes (7 complaints, 88%), typically at around 3,350 miles. There are 5 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 8owner complaints
- 5safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2020 BMW R 1250 GS problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 7 | 88% | 3,350 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 13% | 3,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2020 BMW R 1250 GS recalls (5)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Power train:manual transmission:internal:shaft:input
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:caliper
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.
Power train:driveline
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 R1250GS and R1250RT motorcycles. The pivot pin that connects the final drive to the swing arm may be damaged, causing the connection between the final drive and swing arm to loosen.
Risk: A loose connection between the final drive and swing arm will reduce stability and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the pivot pin, free of charge. The motorcycles are not with owners at this time. The recall began April 28, 2020. Please contact BMW customer service number 1-800-525-7417.
Service brakes, hydraulic:fluid
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.
Exterior lighting:brake lights
Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 F900R, F900XR, S1000RR, F750GS, F850GS, F850GS Adventure, R1250GS, R1250GS Adventure, R1250RS, R1250R, RnineT, RnineT Pure and RnineT Scrambler and 2019-2020 S1000R motorcycles. The brake light may flash instead of remain steady during emergency braking. 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."
Risk: A flashing brake light can cause confusion to other drivers on the road, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owner, and dealers will reprogram the emergency stop signal function, free of charge. The recall began May 11, 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 pedal goes soft over time decreasing the effectiveness and usability of the rear brake. Multiple attempts at bleeding per BMW SIB 34 01 21 have not corrected the issue. This is a severe safety issue as the rear brake is all but useless.
Rear brake on motorcycle does not stop the motorcycle. 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…
Rear brake becomes soft and non operational after a period of 9 months. Once the brake has become "soft" the rear brake fails to apply caliper pressure and will not slow or stop the rear wheel. Additionally, at this point the automatic or manual hill hold also become non operational. Note... wide…
The contact owns a 2020 BMW R 1250 GS. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 20V476000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall…
Excessive wear on rear braking components (pads). After 3000 miles, pads only had 3mm of material. The is a high degree of discoloration on the brake components. Issue is not attributed to user error (i.e., riding the brakes). Bmw service has refused to address, stating brake components are not…
Other BMW R 1250 GS years
← 2019 R 1250 GS · 2021 R 1250 GS →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 R 1250 GS | 2 | 1 |
| 2022 R 1250 GS | 3 | 1 |
| 2021 R 1250 GS | 1 | 2 |
| 2020 | 8 | 5 |
| 2019 R 1250 GS | 15 | 3 |
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 2020 BMW R 1250 GS?
Owners most often report service brakes, service brakes, hydraulic problems. The top one, service brakes, accounts for 7 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2020 BMW R 1250 GS?
Yes, 5 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2020 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 2020 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.