AI Damage2016 BMW R1200 GS: common problems
Owners of the 2016 BMW R1200 GS filed 12 complaints with NHTSA, most often about suspension and engine. The maker issued 18 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 12
- involving a crash
- 1
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 18
What fails most often
- 1 Suspension 42% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 25% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 17% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 17% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel/propulsion system 8% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 8% of all complaints
- Suspension: 5 complaints (42% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine: 3 complaints (25% of all).
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (17% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 5.
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (17% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (8% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 3.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 12 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 2 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
I was traveling approximately 40 mph when the handlebar on my motorcycle violently jerked to the left for a split second and corrected itself. This was not normal and very dangerous. I looked at the handlebar and noticed that it wasn't straight or square to the direction I was traveling.
Rear brake on motorcycle does not stop the motorcycle. 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 rear brake becomes ineffective. Dealer says that air invades the rear brake system. Bleeding the old brake fluid and replacing it with new brake fluid solves the problem for a few months. Then it happens again and the bleeding must be done again. Front brake continues to be effective at all times.
While riding the motorcycle at highway speeds, the engine goes into a faulted state spontaneously with no warning prior, the ecu is faulting and putting the engine into "limp mode" which is almost equivalent of completely killing the engine the way it is currently done, and you are left to navigate off the highway in…
I was never notified about an important safety recall. No notification via mail, email, phone call, etc. I was only alerted to this recall when I brought my bmw motorcycle back to the bmw dealer for non-related warranty work.
On may 13, 2017, while riding my 2016 bmw r1200gs with 11500 miles, one of my riding partners noticed oil leaking from the suspension fork tubes. After peeling the rubber boots that cover the stanchions, we noticed that both stanchions on the bike had separated.
Engine warning light and loss of engine power on 6 incidences. 2 incidents - in motion on I-81 highway 1 incident ' stationary on I-81 highway 1 incident - in motion tn-68 highway 1 incident ' stationary tn-68 highway 1 incident ' in motion va-55
I was surprised that the engine was still running, with a surging idle from 1000-2000 rpms. The instrument panel had two warnings illuminated, yellow "warning" triangle and an engine symbol which bmw describes as "engine in emergency-operating mode". I turned off the engine using the keyless ignition button.
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 10,160 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 28% most complained about).
On average one model year of the R1200 GS has 16 complaints (16 years in the data). This year has 12, below average.
What to check before buying
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Driveshaft Maintenance Schedule Change
- The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few…
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…
- Since October 2023, a new maintenance schedule is valid for all K5x models
For the first time, maintenance positions for the cardan shaft (Driveshaft) are included. NOTICE: 1. The new maintenance schedule is not limited to vehicles affected by the SI 33 02 22 (SERVICE ACTION: Swingarm Drain…
- Multiple factors may cause the driveshaft to become damaged; among them are corrosion in certain parts…
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.
- BMW Motorrad is aware of a number of cases in which the screw connections of the Paralever link and/or the…
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.
- TEC26 Turbo Charger Return
- Tec25 Wishbone Return
- Tech24 Snap-in Adapter Return
- MINI engine oil part number transition and model year 2016 engine oils
- MINI "Enhanced" dealer self authorized (DSA)K goodwill program
- Stress corrosion cracks may occur on the studs of certain milled footrests from the BMW Motorrad special…
Stress corrosion cracks may occur on the studs of certain milled footrests from the BMW Motorrad special accessories catalog for the GS models.
- Vehicle battery not charged despite the battery charger being connected to the on-board socket…
Vehicle battery not charged despite the battery charger being connected to the on-board socket (manufactured before 2009)Headlights and rear lights light up intermittently despite the ignition being switched off and…
NHTSA lists 18 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
- R1200 GS 20044 sources
- 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 201716 sources
- R1200 GS 201817 sources
- R1200 GS 201914 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 BMW R1200 GS?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: suspension, engine, electrical system. Total complaints: 12. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: jerking, harsh shifts (8%), oil leak or consumption (8%), loss of power / limp mode (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 BMW R1200 GS?
NHTSA lists 18 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 2016 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 2016 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.