What BMW R 1250 GS owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See BMW R 1250 GS safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 43 |
| 2020 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 |
| 2019 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 34 |
The vehicle systems named most often in BMW R 1250 GS complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
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.
Driving on the Parkway, (65-70mph) my rear wheel without warning locked up and I skidded across 2 a joining lanes, including the fast lane. multiple cars almost rear ended me and other cars nearly rear ending them, which could of caused a major accident. I had just a full service done on the motorcycle by BMW dealership over a month ago, after I received the motorcycle back from the service, I notice the motorcycle was vibrating more than usual, especially at highway speeds. I reported it to the BMW dealership where I got the service done. I was told the nearest date they could book me in for an appointment date to check the motorcycle would be in a few weeks. When my motorcycle was bought i…
Engine fails to start after shutoff and after engine temperature is hot. Inability to start engine on the road after cutting ignition can increase risk of being hit on the road. The dealer has not been able to reproduce. The vehicle has been inspected by BMW repair shop and had me replace the battery but the problem still persists. Subsequent service appointments have resulted in BMW technicians not being able to reproduce problem. The occurs randomly about 7 times per year. No warning signs.
Rear brake system malfunctions. Malfunctioning rear brake increases braking distance which can lead to a collision. The BMW dealer and customer service have confirmed problem. The motorcycle has be serviced for this four times at the BMW repair shop. The problem appears about every 3000 miles.
Ever since purchased new in 2019 the rear brake goes away after riding. Dealer bleeds to fix and it goes away again after riding. By going away I mean rear brake pedal travel becomes very long with no positive stop when the brake finally works. Very soft feel thru the brake activation. Takes a stomp with my heel to lock the rear. Dealer has bled and even done a tsb procedure given by bmw to correct. Technical Service Bulletin SIB 34 01 21. Same result. No rear after riding a bit. Putting safety at risk is self explanatory. From hours of reading I've found this to be an ongoing problem with liquid cooled gs's up to the 20 or 21 model year when the abs pump was replaced with a unit no…
The contact owns a 2023 BMW R 1250 GS designed with a Center Stand. The contact stated that while the motorcycle was parked and resting on the center stand, he stood on the left side of the motorcycle and started moving the motorcycle from its parked position and the center stand foot pedal struck his right kneecap while the center stand was folding into the stored position. The contact stated that he sustained a swollen kneecap and had made an appointment to receive medical assistance. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The motorcycle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 5,079.
During the recent Safety Recall of this vehicle and subsequent repair, it was noted by the certified mechanic that oil was being wicked up along electrical lines in the stator. The mechanic issued an immediate "Do not ride, Do not operate" warning. 2019 BMW R1250GSA has 17,000 accident free miles. Many "false" engine management warnings.
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 use the front brake. The BMW service department cannot explain the reason this keeps happening.
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
Return Combination Switch
Driveshaft Maintenance Schedule Change
The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle âÃÂÃÂdischarged batteryâÃÂàcomplaints.
BMW AG has requested the inspection of all dealer stock of the following part number(s) listed below to ensure the spacer is conformed to drawing.
Vehicle goes into emergency operation mode and a warning light illuminates on the instrument cluster.
During workshop repairs with software updates, certain customer vehicles may be changed to BMW Operating System 8.5 and returned to customers without making them aware of the change.
Gap between the windshield lateral seal and A-pillar(s)
LED headlights were temporarily unavailable from the Factory and some R 1250 GS and R 1250 GSAdventure units were built with the halogen headlight in order to ensure safe use.
Multiple factors may cause the driveshaft to become damaged; among them are corrosion in certain parts ofthe driveshaft, and wear and tear exacerbated by certain climatic conditions.
Frame and mounting parts
SERVICE ACTION: PANORAMIC DISPLAY TURNS BLACK.
BMW Motorrad is aware of a number of cases in which the screw connections of the Paralever link and/or the rear brake caliper have loosened in customer vehicles while driving.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2019–2024, owners most often name: service brakes, electrical system, engine. 30 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.