AI Damage2004 BMW R1200 GS: common problems
Owners of the 2004 BMW R1200 GS filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 25% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 25% of all complaints
- 3 Suspension 25% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Suspension: 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 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.
Riding the bike slowly (about 40 kph) and braked heavily. Disintegration of rear wheel carrier (flange) on bmw gs1200 (2004) . This billet aluminum flange is the single component connecting the rear wheel with the motorcycle. And also the brake disk.
Stress fracture on bmw gs1200 (2004) rear wheel attachment flange. This billet aluminum flange is the single component connecting the rear wheel with the motorcycle. Critical failure will certainly result in serious injury. Bmwna indicate that this is a normal wear item and offer no recourse to correct.
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 15,524 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the R1200 GS has 16 complaints (16 years in the data). This year has 4, below average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other years of this model
- R1200 GS 200551 sources
- R1200 GS 20069 sources
- R1200 GS 200742 sources
- R1200 GS 200832 sources
- R1200 GS 200930 sources
- R1200 GS 20108 sources
- R1200 GS 20117 sources
- R1200 GS 201210 sources
- R1200 GS 201312 sources
- R1200 GS 201414 sources
- R1200 GS 201510 sources
- R1200 GS 201630 sources
- R1200 GS 201716 sources
- R1200 GS 201817 sources
- R1200 GS 201914 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2004 BMW R1200 GS?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, service brakes, suspension. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: overheating, coolant loss (25%), tires: bulges, blowouts (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 BMW R1200 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 2004 BMW R1200 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 2004 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 2026-11-06.