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2013 BMW R 1200 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: 9 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.

  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 12 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.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

12 reports
750 miles · Aug 8, 2013
Electrical SystemFuel/propulsion System

THE FUEL GAUGE CEASED WORKING AND REGISTERS EMPTY ALL THE TIME. THE "LOW FUEL" LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED DESPITE HAVING GONE ONLY 50 MILES SINCE FILLING THE TANK. VISUAL EXAMINATION CONFIRMS THE TANK IS APPROX. 3/4 FULL. FROM A VERY BRIEF INVESTIGATION, I DISCOVERED THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE R1200R FOR SEVERAL YEARS. …

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THE FUEL GAUGE CEASED WORKING AND REGISTERS EMPTY ALL THE TIME. THE "LOW FUEL" LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED DESPITE HAVING GONE ONLY 50 MILES SINCE FILLING THE TANK. VISUAL EXAMINATION CONFIRMS THE TANK IS APPROX. 3/4 FULL. FROM A VERY BRIEF INVESTIGATION, I DISCOVERED THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE R1200R FOR SEVERAL YEARS. I AM REPORTING IN HOPES THAT PRESSURE CAN BE BROUGHT FOR REAL FIX BY BMW INSTEAD OF SIMPLY REPLACING FAULTY FUEL STRIPS WITH MORE FAULTY FUEL STRIPS. SOME OWNERS REPORT HAVING THE STRIPS REPLACED 4-5 TIMES WITHIN A 3 YEAR PERIOD. THE MODE OF FAILURE CAN BE INTERMITTENT OPERATION, CONSTANT "FULL" READING, OR A CONSTANT "EMPTY" READING. SINCE I LIVE IN THE ARIZONA DESERT, I FREQUENTLY CAN BE MANY MILES FROM ANY ASSISTANCE, AND NOT HAVING ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE OF MY FUEL SITUATION COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10534398

25 miles · Feb 16, 2013
Fuel/propulsion System

PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2013 BMW R1200R MOTORCYCLE AND WITHIN 10 MILES OF RIDING AWAY FROM DEALER LOW FUEL WARNING COMES ON AND FUEL GAUGES NO LONGER WORKING. STOPPED AT NEAREST GAS STATION AND CHECKED GAS TANK TO FIND FULL TANK OF GAS AS DEALER STATED. CALLED DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO CONTINUE TO RIDE MOTORCYCLE FOR 50 MILES AND COM…

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PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2013 BMW R1200R MOTORCYCLE AND WITHIN 10 MILES OF RIDING AWAY FROM DEALER LOW FUEL WARNING COMES ON AND FUEL GAUGES NO LONGER WORKING. STOPPED AT NEAREST GAS STATION AND CHECKED GAS TANK TO FIND FULL TANK OF GAS AS DEALER STATED. CALLED DEALER AND WAS TOLD TO CONTINUE TO RIDE MOTORCYCLE FOR 50 MILES AND COMPUTER SHOULD RE-SET. CONTINUED TO RIDE FOR 50 MILES AND NO RESOLUTION. CONTACTED DEALER AGAIN AND I WAS TOLD I NEED TO COME IN FOR SERVICE TO REPLACE FUEL SENSOR STRIP. ON A BRAND NEW MOTORCYCLE I FEEL THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE. UPON RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I LEARNED AND THE DEALER CONFIRMED THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING ISSUE WITH BMW MOTORCYCLES FOR YEARS. VERY DISAPPOINTING TO LEARN AFTER SPENDING $17,000 ON A BRAND NEW MOTORCYCLE. BMW HAS NOT RESOLVED THE ISSUE OTHER THAN INCONVENIENCING PEOPLE TO RETURN FOR SERVICE. IF THE BIKE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY ITS A COSTLY FIX. MORE THAN JUST INCONVENIENCE, THIS IS ALSO A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE RIDER CAN UNKNOWINGLY RUN OUT OF GAS IF THE GAUGES AREN'T WORKING PROPERLY WHICH CAN PUT A RIDER IN HARMS WAY. I'VE ALSO LEARNED THAT BMW HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE 2010-2011 5-SERIES CARS AND HAD A SAFETY RECALL PUT INTO EFFECT TO RESOLVE ISSUE. WHY ARE THE MOTORCYCLES NOT BEING HANDLED IN THE SAME FASHION? IT'S JUST AS MUCH OF A SAFETY ISSUE IF NOT MORE CONSIDERING THE PHYSICAL EXPOSURE ON A MOTORCYCLE. IT'S UNACCEPTABLE TO PURCHASE A BRAND NEW BMW MOTORCYCLE AND BE FACED WITH A MALFUNCTION ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. BMW SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO SELL EQUIPMENT THAT THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF IS FAULTY. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE, THERE ARE LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF MOTORCYCLE OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10498348

Official recalls

2

21V060000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Feb 8, 2021

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2011-2014 S 1000 RR/R/ HP4, R 1200 GS/GS Adventure/R/RT, K 1300 S, K 1600 GT/GTL/GTL Exclusive and 2014 R nine T motorcycles. The fuel pump, and auxiliary fuel pump in certain models, may crack and leak fuel during vehicle operation.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A fuel leak, in the presence of an ignition source, may result in a fire.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

14V065000 · Electrical System; Structure:motorcycle:kickstand/center Stand

Feb 19, 2014

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013 C 600 Sport, C 650 GT, F 700 GS, F 800 GS, F 800 GS Adventure, F 800 GT, R 1200 R and R1200 GS motorcycles. Water may enter the side-stand switch preventing the motorcycle from starting or potentially shutting off the motorcycle while it is being ridden.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An unexpected shutdown increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side-stand switch, free of charge. The recall began on April 8, 2014. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013 C 600 Sport, C 650 GT, F 700 GS, F 800 GS, F 800 GS Adventure, F 800 GT, R 1200 R and R1200 GS motorcycles. Water may enter the side-stand switch preventing the motorcycle from starting or potentially shutting off the motorcycle while it is being ridden.

Consequence: An unexpected shutdown increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side-stand switch, free of charge. The recall began on April 8, 2014. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.

Structure:motorcycle:kickstand/center Stand

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013 C 600 Sport, C 650 GT, F 700 GS, F 800 GS, F 800 GS Adventure, F 800 GT, R 1200 R and R1200 GS motorcycles. Water may enter the side-stand switch preventing the motorcycle from starting or potentially shutting off the motorcycle while it is being ridden.

Consequence: An unexpected shutdown increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side-stand switch, free of charge. The recall began on April 8, 2014. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.

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.