AI Damage2012 BMW R1200 R: common problems
Owners of the 2012 BMW R1200 R filed 10 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel/propulsion system and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 10
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel/propulsion system 80% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 20% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 10% of all complaints
- 4 Visibility 10% of all complaints
- Fuel/propulsion system: 8 complaints (80% of all).
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (20% of all).
- Engine: 1 complaints (10% of all).
- Visibility: 1 complaints (10% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 10 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 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 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.
There is a recall on fuel pumps recall # 20v-471. My fuel pump needs to be replaced as it is failing. The recall includes bikes up to model year 2011. While my bike is a 2012, it was manufactured in 2011 and should be included in the recall.
The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking fuel from the fuel pump. There were no warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted and advised the contact to have the vehicle diagnosed.
Stalling engine. I bought the motorcycle new and it has had a stalling problem since it was new and continues until today. The engine will stall at idle or on deceleration. At its worst it will hesitate and surge when accelerating from a stop as well.
Left side mirror glass fell out. While on the highway, the lef side mirror glass fell out. It was held in by a few small dabs of silicone from the factory. Another disappointment courtesy of bmw, not covered by the warranty.
My fuel gauge failed due to the failure of the fuel level sending "strip" - this is common on many bmw motorcycle models from 2004-2014. As a result of the failure I ran out of fuel on a busy highway. This created a dangerous situation.
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 10,921 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 30% most complained about).
On average one model year of the R1200 R has 4 complaints (13 years in the data). This year has 10, above average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2012 BMW R1200 R?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel/propulsion system, powertrain, engine. Total complaints: 10. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (80%), warning lights, check engine (20%), hesitation when accelerating (10%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2012 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 2012 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 2012 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.