SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

2003 BMW R1200C

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
13Owner complaints

Model-year median: 4.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
4
20003
20015
200213
2003
Compare all R1200C years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Suspension
4Power Train
3Steering
2Structure
2Wheels
2
All reported categories
Engine And Engine Cooling
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Tires
1Visibility
1

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: 10 of 13 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.

  • Suspension. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. 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.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Structure complaints

2 reports
Clear category filter
100 miles · Oct 5, 2004
SteeringStructureSuspension

THE BMW "CRUISER" FAMILY OF MOTORCYCLES EXHIBITS A LARGE PROPORTION OF UNITS THAT HAVE A "PULL TO THE RIGHT" ISSUE, IN VARYING DEGREES. THIS IS EXTREMLY DANGEROUS ON A TWO WHEELED VEHICLE. A REVIEW OF WEB SITES THAT SUPPORT THESE VEHICLES ALL REPORT THE SAME ISSUE OCCURING. TO DATE, BMW HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE. …

Read full complaint

THE BMW "CRUISER" FAMILY OF MOTORCYCLES EXHIBITS A LARGE PROPORTION OF UNITS THAT HAVE A "PULL TO THE RIGHT" ISSUE, IN VARYING DEGREES. THIS IS EXTREMLY DANGEROUS ON A TWO WHEELED VEHICLE. A REVIEW OF WEB SITES THAT SUPPORT THESE VEHICLES ALL REPORT THE SAME ISSUE OCCURING. TO DATE, BMW HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THE ISSUE. I AM CONTACTING YOU AS BMW HAS DISCONTINUED THE MODEL THIS YEAR AND I FEEL THAT NO FIX WILL BE FORTHCOMING. OWNERS HAVE DONE VARIOUS QUICK FIXES, BUT NONE HAVE BEEN CERTIFIED BY BMW. CURRENTLY MY BIKE WITH 6,000 MILES IS SHOWING PREMATURE TIRE WEAR INDICATIVE OF A "PTTR" (PULL TO THE RIGHT) ISSUE. THIS PTTR ALSO HAS BEEN REPORTED TO CAUSE FATIGUE AMONG SOME RIDERS, ALL WHICH COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENT/INJURIES. REFER TO WWW.CHROMEHEADS.ORG FOR BOARD DISCUSSION OF THE PTTR ISSUE AMONG OWNERS. THANK YOU, R KARLSTAD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10093620

10 miles · Sep 6, 2003
Structure

BMW R1200CLC MOTORCYCLE SUFFICIENTLY MISBALANCED (I.E. CENTER OF GRAVITY).HE RIGHT OF CENTER LINE, SUCH THAT A RIGHT COUNTER STEER IS CONTINUOUSLY REQUIRED TO ENABLE THE BIKE TO TRACK STRAIGHT; IMPLYING THAT THE BIKE. *AK COULD NOT BE RELIABLY BE RIDDEN STRAIGHT WITHOUT FALLING OVER, ON LOW TRACTION SURFACES SUCH AS GREASY, …

Read full complaint

BMW R1200CLC MOTORCYCLE SUFFICIENTLY MISBALANCED (I.E. CENTER OF GRAVITY).HE RIGHT OF CENTER LINE, SUCH THAT A RIGHT COUNTER STEER IS CONTINUOUSLY REQUIRED TO ENABLE THE BIKE TO TRACK STRAIGHT; IMPLYING THAT THE BIKE. *AK COULD NOT BE RELIABLY BE RIDDEN STRAIGHT WITHOUT FALLING OVER, ON LOW TRACTION SURFACES SUCH AS GREASY, OR ICY ROADS; AS WELL AS CREATING LEFT ARM RIDER FATIGUE OVER LONG DISTANCES, AND INDUCING EXCESSIVE LEFT SIDE FRONT TIRE WEAR.

NHTSA ODI #10037338

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

1

PE03054 · Fuel Line Leakage

Opened Dec 1, 2003 · Closed Jan 23, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

BMW IS CONDUCTING A RECALL (04V-028).AN INFORMATION REQUEST(IR)RESPONSE WAS NOT RECEIVED. UPON BMW'S RECEIPT OF THE IR, AND AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH ODI, BMWDETERMINED THAT A RECALL WAS NECESSARY. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE O-RING CONTAINED WITHIN THE FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLING COULD BECOME DAMAGED.FURTHER, THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM INVOLVING CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS, WHICH CAN ALSO RESULT IN A SMALL FUEL LEAK.DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY, ADJUST ALL CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS.ALSO ALL FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLINGS WILL BE INSPECTED.IF A LEAK IS DETECTED, THE QUICK-DISCONNECT O-RING WILL BE REPLACED.IF DAMAGED, THE COUPLING WILL BE REPLACED.OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2004.