2008 BMW R 1200 GS Problems

Complaints Reported

Complaints by Component

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

7 complaints

Fuel strip sensor failure. The fuel strip sensor that sends fuel level information to the motorcycle dash has failed. This is a known issue by BMW. When the strip fails, it no longer sends accurate fuel level information and the fuel indicator on the dash is no longer reliable. In my case, the fuel level reads full permanently even though fuel has been completely depleted. BMW's remedy is/was to replace the faulty fuel strip with another of the same faulty design rendering a situation where the rider can never rely on the fuel gauge. There are no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the issue which results in unsafe riding conditions when the engine suddenly dies unexpectedly from lack of fuel.

Jun 22, 2023

FUEL IS LEAKING FROM GAS TANK FLANGE ONTO HOT ENGINE.

Oct 07, 2020

IN 2014 THERE WAS A BMW RECALL ON THE FUEL PUMP AND AUX PUMP FLANGE AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER THAT OWNED THE BIKE REPLACED THE PUMP AND FLANGE AT THAT TIME. IT IS NOW ONLY 6 YEARS LATER; LAST YEAR I PAID MY LOCAL DEALER $382 TO REPLACE THE AUXILIARY FUEL PUMP AND GASKET IN MAY OF 2019, AND CURRENTLY (AUGUST 15, 2020) I AM PAYING $743 TO REPLACE THE MAIN FUEL PUMP AND FLANGE. MY QUESTIONS ARE: WHY DIDN'T THE 2014 RECALL SOLVE THE INITIAL PROBLEM WITH THE CRACKED AND LEAKING FLANGE AND IS THIS GOING TO BE A RE-OCCURRING PROBLEM EVERY 5 TO 6 YEARS? THE AUXILARY FUEL PUMP FLANGE AND THE MAIN FUEL PUMP FLANGE LEAK WAS NOTICIBLE WHEN I FIRST STARTED UP MY MOTORCYCLE. FUEL WAS STANDING / PRESENT ON TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP AND AUX. FUEL PUMP WHEN I STARTED THE BIKE. I BELIEVE THAT THE FLANGE AND THE QUICK CONNECT LINES ARE DEFECTIVE ON MY BIKE AND THAT THIS EVENT IS GOING TO KEEP RE-OCCURING EVERY 5 TO 6 YEARS. THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL ON CERTAIN BMW R1200GS MOTORCYCLES BY BMWUSA, BUT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE HAS INFORMED ME THAT MY VIN # IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL, BUT HE FAILED TO EXPLAIN WHY ITY WASN'T.

Aug 25, 2020

THIS IS A SEVERE FUEL LEAK THAT WAS FIRST NOTICED WHEN RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE WHEN I BEGAN TO SMELL GAS. AS SOON AS I COULD GET IT PARKED, FUEL STARTED POURING OUT OF THE FUEL PUMP AREA. I STARTED MY MOTORCYCLE AGAIN AND FUEL CONTINUED TO GUSH OUT. IT APPEARS TO BE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL PUMP. THIS EXACT ISSUE WAS ADDRESSED WITH A PREVIOUS RECALL 13V-617 WHICH WAS PERFORMED ON MY MOTORCYCLE ON 7/2014. HOWEVER, THE EXACT ISSUE HAS SURFACED 8/2019 AGAIN AND THE DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO FIX THE PROBLEM A SECOND TIME. IF I HADN'T REACHED MY DESTINATION WHEN I DID, I FEAR THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD HAVE BURST INTO FLAMES! I HAVE CONTACTED BMW CORPORATION AND THEY WILL NOT GET INVOLVED AND THE DEALERSHIP STILL REFUSES TO FIX THE ISSUE THAT OBVIOUSLY WASN'T REPAIRED THE FIRST TIME PROPERLY! THIS OCCURRED ON A CITY STREET DURING NORMAL USAGE. THE "FIX" IS OBVIOUSLY NOT A "FIX" AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS ON THE INTERNET FORUMS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME THING. I AM VERY LUCKY IT DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE WHILE I WAS RIDING.

Jan 20, 2020

ENGINE STOPPED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. FUEL GAUGE NOT WORKING. DROPPED BIKE. *TR

May 10, 2014

Crash: 1

+ 2 more complaints for this component

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

5 complaints

The contact owns a 2008 BMW R 1200. The contact stated that while the motorcycle was parked, the contact smelled fuel on several occasions. No warning light was illuminated. The motorcycle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign number: 20V471000 (Fuel system, Gasoline). The failure mileage was approximately 69,000.

Nov 17, 2023

The contact owns a 2008 BMW R 1200 GS Motorcycle. The contact stated the vehicle was leaking fuel without warning. The contact called the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified however, no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 35,000.

Nov 04, 2021

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW R 1200 GS MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE FUEL SENSOR STRIPS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES, UNDER THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD TAKEN THE MOTORCYCLE TO IRON HORSE MOTORCYCLES (344 E. GRANT RD, TUCSON, AZ, 85716, (520) 327-0773 AND THE THIRD FUEL SENSOR STRIP WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE REPAIR FAILED TO FIX THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL TANK READ EMPTY WHETHER THE FUEL TANKS WAS FULL OR EMPTY. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 50,956. *BF

Dec 14, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW R 1200 GS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH, WITHOUT WARNING AN ABNORMAL ODOR APPEARED AS FUEL POURED ONTO THE CONTACT. THE CONTACT COASTED THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROADWAY AND CONTACTED HIS FRIEND WHO HAULED THE MOTORCYCLE BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. BIG #1 MOTORSPORTS (505 COBB STREET, 1-65 & OXMOOR RD BIRMINGHAM, AL 35209) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE MOTORCYCLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V471000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000.

Oct 14, 2020

A PLASTIC FLANGE ON THE FUEL PUMP CRACKED ALLOWING FUEL TO LEAK. THE FLANGE CONTAINS AN INTERNAL THREAD THAT SECURES ONE OF THE FUEL LINES. SEVERAL CRACKS ARE VISIBLE AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE FLANGE. CRACKS, IN MY OPINION, APPEAR TO BE RELATED TO OVER-TORQUE AT ASSEMBLY AND/OR MATERIAL DEGRADATION DUE TO THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO FUEL, TIME AND AMBIENT TEMPERATURE. THE FUEL PUMP IS LOCATED IN THE FUEL TANK THAT IS POSITIONED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST PIPE. FORTUNATELY THE VOLUME OF LEAKED FUEL WAS SMALL (<1 FL OZ) AND WAS CONTAINED WITHIN A DEPRESSED CAVITY ON THE TOP OF THE PUMP, OTHERWISE IT COULD HAVE DRIPPED ONTO THE HOT ENGINE AND EXHAUST HEADER POSSIBLY CAUSING A FIRE.

Jul 29, 2011

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

There is a small plastic cam on the throttle body that gets pulled by the throttle cable to control the butterfly valve. They break easily and cause a loss of power and engine control. I have seen many others posting on line with same issue

May 25, 2022

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,POWER TRAIN

1 complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW R1200 GS MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT AND DRIVE SHAFT WERE LEAKING A SMALL AMOUNT OF OIL. THE REAR WHEEL BEGAN TO WOBBLE EXCESSIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO REPLACED ONE WHEEL BEARING AND THE SEAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY REPLACED THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT AND THE DRIVE SHAFT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,700. UPDATED 09/11/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS AN ODOR OF FUEL. THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL PUMP AND RELAY WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 09/11/12

Aug 20, 2012

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4.8/5.0

83 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 2008 BMW R 1200 GS have?

The 2008 BMW R 1200 GS currently has 14 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 2008 BMW R 1200 GS?

The most common problems reported for the 2008 BMW R 1200 GS are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 2008 BMW R 1200 GS problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 2008 BMW R 1200 GS comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.