2009 BMW R1200 GS: common problems

Owners of the 2009 BMW R1200 GS filed 30 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel/propulsion system and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 30

What fails most often

1 Fuel/propulsion system 53% of all complaints
2 Electrical system 20% of all complaints
3 Powertrain 20% of all complaints
4 Fuel system 13% of all complaints
5 Engine 7% of all complaints
6 Suspension 7% of all complaints
7 Equipment 3% of all complaints
8 Vehicle speed control 3% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Fuel/propulsion system: 16 complaints (53% of all).
Electrical system: 6 complaints (20% of all).
Powertrain: 6 complaints (20% of all).
Fuel system: 4 complaints (13% of all).
Engine: 2 complaints (7% of all).

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 30 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

fuel system, fuel smell12 · 40%
smoke, burning smell, fire6 · 20%
loss of power / limp mode4 · 13%
warning lights, check engine4 · 13%
stalls while driving3 · 10%
headlights and tail lights1 · 3%
oil leak or consumption1 · 3%
infotainment or screen glitches1 · 3%
vibration1 · 3%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash	Technical service bulletins (TSB)
Fuel/propulsion system	16	0	0
Electrical system	6	0	0
Powertrain	6	0	0
Fuel system	4	0	0
Engine	2	0	0
Suspension	2	0	0
Equipment	1	0	0
Vehicle speed control	1	0	0
Wheels	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.

While attempting to pass a car on the highway, the engine suddenly lost power, forcing me into a perilous maneuver to reach the breakdown lane at highway speed. Following vehicle recovery and upon further inspection, I discovered that both plastic throttle body cam pulleys had broken in half, completely disabling…
Fuel/propulsion system · 2024-11-29 · NHTSA complaint #11628004
Catastrophic failure will eventually occur with zero warning, causing total loss of power. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Vehicle speed control · 2024-09-02 · NHTSA complaint #11612152
When the contact returned after a few minutes he saw that the vehicle had caught fire, the engine was still running. The location of the fire was from the gasoline tank and fuel pump assembly. The contact extinguished the fire using a large extinguisher available in the shop. The fire department was not called.
Fuel system · 2023-09-22 · NHTSA complaint #11546013
The Fuel line connector at fuel pump started leaking and spraying fuel onto the hot engine and exhaust pipes causing the Motorcycle to catch on fire! the 2nd fuel pump the recall was not done yet. The best I can tell the owner did not get the 2nd recall or didn't forward it to the next owner.
Fuel/propulsion system · 2023-07-26 · NHTSA complaint #11534609
Hello I would like to open a case on a fire recall :VIN wb10313089zu47089 2009 BMW 1200gs Motorcycle , The motorcycle did start on fire casing much burn damage at the fuel line , needed the update fuel line and pump update. Rider was able to escape the flames and get a fire extinguisher and put out the fire !
Fuel/propulsion system · 2023-07-18 · NHTSA complaint #11533136
Multiple fuel strp failures, resulting in loss of fuel related warnings.
Electrical system · 2018-07-31 · NHTSA complaint #11114771
There had been many motorcycle complaint on suspension leaking problems, with very low miles on. And bmw is not responding for this failure.
Suspension · 2014-05-29 · NHTSA complaint #10594953
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 bmw 1200 gs motorcycle. The contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the rear final drive bearing became separated. The contact was able to stop the motorcycle with the front brake. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The rear final bearing was replaced.
Suspension · 2013-10-31 · NHTSA complaint #10550394

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

20113
20124
201310
20143
20161
20171
20182
20191
20233
20242

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 6,848 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 19% most complained about).

On average one model year of the R1200 GS has 16 complaints (16 years in the data). This year has 30, 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.
Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.

Other years of this model

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 2009 BMW R1200 GS?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel/propulsion system, electrical system, powertrain. Total complaints: 30. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (40%), smoke, burning smell, fire (20%), loss of power / limp mode (13%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2009 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 2009 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 2009 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.