AI Damage2011 BMW R1200 R: common problems
Owners of the 2011 BMW R1200 R filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel/propulsion system and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 6
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel/propulsion system 67% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 17% of all complaints
- 3 Equipment 17% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel system 17% of all complaints
- Fuel/propulsion system: 4 complaints (67% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Equipment: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (17% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 6 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 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 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.
Metal clamps were placed over the fuel pump flange in order to reinforce the piece. The contact stated that the repair failed and the vehicle was leaking fuel from the fuel pump. The vehicle was unable to be driven. The contact was not taken to the dealer for repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure.
The fuel gauge quit working. The dealer said this was due to the fuel sensor. My bmw has only 1100 miles on it. Multiple post online on my exact model - as well as multiple safety complaints on this very site to nhtsa - show this is a fairly common problem.
The fuel gauge showed a rapid loss of fuel, indicating a nearly full tank one moment and then changing to indicate an empty tank in matter of seconds. This was very distracting on the highway and could prove dangerous and lead to an accident..
The fuel gauge quit working. The dealer said this was due to a faulty fuel sensor and this was a fairly common problem. He blamed the ethanol in the gas and said we needed to use an additive to prevent it.
The bmw r1200r motorcycles is equipped with a fuel gauge. The gauge very commonly fails, allowing the operator to believe he/she has sufficient fuel to continue. In my case, I was accelerating while entering a congested freeway when I suddenly ran wholly out of fuel.
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 13,281 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 36% most complained about).
On average one model year of the R1200 R has 4 complaints (13 years in the data). This year has 6, 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.
- 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 2011 BMW R1200 R?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel/propulsion system, electrical system, equipment. Total complaints: 6. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (83%), stalls while driving (17%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2011 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 2011 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 2011 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.