AI Damage2009 BMW R1200 R: common problems
Owners of the 2009 BMW R1200 R filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel/propulsion system and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel/propulsion system 80% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 20% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel system 20% of all complaints
- Fuel/propulsion system: 4 complaints (80% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 5 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 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 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.
Fuel gauge stopped responding, leading to running out of fuel while moving. This is a common failure on many bike models from BMW from 2005-2013. I have had this happen 4 times so far, and each time the fuel level measuring strip in the fuel tank was replaced.
The fuel strip located inside the tank which sends an electronic signal to the dash gauge indicating the amount of fuel available until the low fuel warning light comes on malfunctions and eventually fails. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.
Fuel pump output flange cracked, resulting in fuel leaking down the side of the bike and onto hot components while riding. This issue has already been the subject of a bmw recall - but apparently the "inspect and reinforce" solution isn't really adequate long-term.
Fuel strip (fuel level sensor) fails rendering a false "empty" reading on my fuel gauge. This is due to a defective fuel sensor strip that has been used in various bmw "r" models.
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 14,283 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the R1200 R has 4 complaints (13 years in the data). This year has 5, about 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.
- 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 R?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel/propulsion system, electrical system, fuel system. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (80%), warning lights, check engine (20%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2009 BMW R1200 R?
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 R 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 2026-11-06.