AI Damage2012 BMW F800 GS: common problems
Owners of the 2012 BMW F800 GS filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel/propulsion system and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel/propulsion system 75% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 50% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 25% of all complaints
- 4 Exterior lighting 25% of all complaints
- Fuel/propulsion system: 3 complaints (75% of all).
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (50% of all).
- Engine: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 1 complaints (25% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 4 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
It's a great bike. I have about 520 miles on it. But today I pumped gas and when I parked it at home I noticed that it was leaking gas. Come to find out that the fuel tank cracked along the seam of the fuel tank, all around . I've cleaned it in the past and never saw this.
Then my headlight, running, and brake lights turned off, at night, on a 4 lane inner city road. Not even my hazard lights worked. Then the bikes fuel injection system failed and stalled. I coasted to a right turn lane safely and proceeded to push the motorcycle the remaining two miles.
The bike would not start. The dealership tells me that while looking at it to repair there was evidence of a fire. The best I can tell is someone at the dealer caused the bike to catch on fire.
This is for a bmw f800gs 2012 trophy edition motorcycle gas tank. I just discovered cracks in the fuel tank just underneath the seat. I've also smelled also gas coming out of those cracks and confirmed it is venting gas/air combination.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 15,521 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the F800 GS has 3 complaints (13 years in the data). This year has 4, above average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2012 BMW F800 GS?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel/propulsion system, electrical system, engine. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: headlights and tail lights (25%), won't start (25%), smoke, burning smell, fire (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2012 BMW F800 GS?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2012 BMW F800 GS from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2012 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.