BMW R1200 GS (2018) Recall: Obscured Reflectors Increase Crash Risk
BMW recalls 2014-2018 R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure motorcycles with optional aluminum luggage cases that may block rear reflectors, increasing crash risk. Owners must contact BMW for free reflector installation.
Use caution until it’s fixed
If the rear reflex reflectors are obscured from view, it can increase the risk of a crash.
What happened, in plain English
BMW is recalling certain 2014-2018 R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure motorcycles that may have rear reflectors partially blocked by aluminum luggage cases. This could increase crash risk if the reflectors are not visible to other drivers. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/1224614-bmw-r1200-gs-2018-recall-obscured-reflectors-increase-crash-risk.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/1224614-bmw-r1200-gs-2018-recall-obscured-reflectors-increase-crash-risk · Updated October 7, 2026 · Official notice: NHTSA #17V481000
Cite this page
“BMW R1200 GS (2018) Recall: Obscured Reflectors Increase Crash Risk.” GovInfoNow, updated October 7, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/1224614-bmw-r1200-gs-2018-recall-obscured-reflectors-increase-crash-risk. Based on NHTSA recall #17V481000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=17V481000).
Why it’s dangerous
The rear reflex reflectors may be partially blocked by the aluminum luggage cases or their mounts. This can make them less visible to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash if the reflectors are obscured.
Who’s affected
Owners of 2014-2018 R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure motorcycles with optional aluminum luggage cases are affected. Riders using these motorcycles without reflectors visible to other drivers are at higher risk.
How to tell if you have this one
Check if your motorcycle has optional aluminum luggage cases or mounts for the R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure models from 2014-2018. The recall covers these specific models and years.
- Brand
BMW- Category
Vehicle
What to do — step by step
Contact BMW Customer Service
Call 1-800-525-7417 to schedule free installation of reflectors on your motorcycle's cases or mounts.
What NHTSA says to do
BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install reflectors on the cases or for the case mounts, an additional bracket with rear reflex reflectors, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
How this recall unfolded
Recall timeline
2 dated steps over 3 months.
- NHTSA received the defect report
- Recall began
Dates from the agency record only; steps without a date are left out.
Questions people ask
Do I need to stop using my motorcycle immediately?
No, the recall does not require immediate stop use. BMW will install reflectors for free without affecting your ability to ride.
Keep exploring
Where this comes from
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
- Official source: NHTSA Recall #17V481000 (July 28, 2017)
- Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on October 7, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
- GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.