BMW R1200 GS Problems by Year
NHTSA has 247 owner complaints and 22 safety recalls on file for the BMW R1200 GS, across 15 model years (2004–2018). The 2005 model year has the most complaints (51). The most reported problem area overall is fuel/propulsion system.
BMW R1200 GS years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical R1200 GS year: 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2005 R1200 GS: 51 complaints, 9 recalls
- 2007 R1200 GS: 42 complaints, 6 recalls
- 2008 R1200 GS: 32 complaints, 8 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2017 R1200 GS: 3 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2004 R1200 GS: 4 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2018 R1200 GS: 4 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common BMW R1200 GS problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion System | 86 | 10 | 1 |
| Power Train | 46 | 11 | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 27 | 9 | 0 |
| Suspension | 22 | 12 | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 21 | 7 | 1 |
| Engine | 19 | 10 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 17 | 8 | 1 |
| Structure | 12 | 6 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 9 | 5 | 2 |
| Wheels | 9 | 4 | 0 |
| Steering | 7 | 6 | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All BMW R1200 GS model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 R1200 GS | 4 | 1 | — | Engine | |
| 2017 R1200 GS | 3 | 2 | — | Engine | |
| 2016 R1200 GS | 12 | 2 | — | Suspension | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2015 R1200 GS | 10 | 2 | — | Service Brakes | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2014 R1200 GS | 14 | 3 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2013 R1200 GS | 11 | 4 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2012 R1200 GS | 10 | 1 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2011 R1200 GS | 7 | 3 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | |
| 2010 R1200 GS | 8 | 3 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | |
| 2009 R1200 GS | 30 | 4 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2008 R1200 GS | 32 | 8 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 R1200 GS | 42 | 6 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2006 R1200 GS | 9 | 9 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | |
| 2005 R1200 GS | 51 | 9 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2004 R1200 GS | 4 | 3 | — | Power Train |
More from BMW: all BMW models · BMW VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which BMW R1200 GS years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2005 (51), 2007 (42), 2008 (32), 2009 (30) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical R1200 GS year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the BMW R1200 GS?
Fuel/propulsion System, with 86 complaints across 10 model years.
How many recalls does the BMW R1200 GS have?
22 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.