2008 BMW R1200 RT — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
23
Owner Complaints
2
Recalls
1
Service Bulletin
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2008 BMW R1200 RT
The 2008 BMW R1200 RT has received a total of 23 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 2 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC. 1 technical service bulletin have been issued by BMW of North America, LLC for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Fuelpropulsion System (11 complaints), Service Brakes (5 complaints), and Power Train (3 complaints).
Recalls for the 2008 BMW R1200 RT
NHTSA has recorded 2 recalls for the 2008 BMW R1200 RT, potentially affecting up to 18,461 vehicles.
Recall 20V471000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
| 16,926 vehicles affected
Defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2009-2011 K1300 (S, GT), 2010-2011 S1000 RR, 2005-2011 R1200 (GS, GS Adventure, R, RT, S, ST), 2006-2010 HP2 (Enduro, Megamoto, Sport), 2005-2008 K1200 (R, R Sport, S, GT), and 2012 K1600 (GT, GTL) motorcycles that were repaired under recall 13V-617 with the support ring remedy and where the fuel pump was...
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump(s) with an improved version, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
View full details →Recall 09V256000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
| 1,535 vehicles affected
Defect: BMW IS RECALLING 1,535 MY 2007-2009 R1200RT MOTORCYCLES. DUE TO ROUTING AND ASSEMBLY TOLERANCES OF THE FRONT BRAKE LINES, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE LINES TO BE UNDER STRAIN. IN COMBINATION WITH VIBRATION DURING RIDING, THE BRAKE LINES COULD DEVELOP A LEAK. THE LEVEL OF FLUID IN THE FRONT BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR COULD DROP RENDERING THE FRONT BRAKES INOPERATIVE.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT THAT ONLY THE REAR BRAKES WERE OPERATIONAL, SEVERE LOSS OF CONTROL DURING HARD BRAKING COULD RESULT. THIS COULD RESULT IN A SERIOUS CRASH.
Remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE MOTORCYCLES WITH NEW FRONT BRAKE LINES, WITH MODIFIED ROUTING FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 5, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2008 BMW R1200 RT
23 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 BMW R1200 RT. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuelpropulsion System | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System Gasoline | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulic | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
THIS SERIES OF MOTORCYCLES HAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH CRACKS IN THE THROTTLE PULLEYS ON THE THROTTLE BODY. FAILURE OF THIS PLASTIC PART WILL RESULT IN INSTANT LOSS OF POWER. I HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, AND DECIDED TO INSPECT THE TWO THROTTLE BODIES ON MY MOTORCYCLE AS A PRECAUTION. BOTH OF MINE WERE CRACKED. ONE OF THE PULLEYS HAS THREE CRACKS IN IT, AND WOULD LIKELY HAVE FAILED WITHIN A SHORT TIME. SEE PHOTOS INCLUDED WITH THIS REPORT.
ABS PUMP MOTOR IS FAILING ON MANY OF THE SAME MODEL BIKES AND SOME OTHER 2006-2008 MODEL BMW BIKES WITH LOW MILEAGE, BECAUSE THE BRUSH HOLDERS IN THE ABS ELECTRICAL MOTOR ARE TOO TIGHT AND BRUSHES GET STUCK IN THEM - BAD DESIGN OF THE ABS PUMP MOTOR. BMW WILL ASK YOU LOADS OF MONIES FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PUMP, EVEN THO THEY ARE FULLY AWARE IT'S A PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THE BIKES.
FUEL PUMP LEAKING FROM A CRACK IN THE HIGH PRESSURE OUTPUT LINE SPRAYED GASOLINE ON THE INSIDE OF THE FAIRING, MOTOR AND MY LEG. THE PUMP SPRAYS GASOLINE ANYTIME THE KEY IS IN THE ON POSITION.
VEHICLE BEGAN EXHIBITING ENGINE STALLING SYMPTOMS FOR ABOUT A MONTH (ENGINE DIES WITHOUT WARNING AS IF IGNITION HAD BEEN CUT) DURING CITY DRIVING, WHILE TURNING AND PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT ABOUT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ENGINE QUIT ALONG WITH INSTRUMENT PANEL GOING BLANK. ELECTRICAL SMOKE BEGAN TO BILLOW BETWEEN THE FRONT FORKS. THIS LASTED FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE HOME, I DISCOVERED THAT THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE ORIGINATED IN THE IGNITION WIRING HARNESS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN THE FRONT FORKS. THE HARNESS WRAP APPEARS TO HAVE FRICTION WEAR INDICATIONS EXPOSING BARE WIRING. THE FAULTY WIRE MELTED THE INSULATION ALL THE WAY FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH DOWN INTO THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS THAT IS ROUTED UNDER THE FUEL TANK.
THE BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON, BMW SHOP SAID ABS UNIT IS BAD $2000 FIX. ON MANY BMW MOTORCYCLE FORUMS THERE ARE MANY ABS UNIT FAILURES. BMW KNOWS ABOUT THESE FAILURES BUT DOES NOTHING.
Safety Rating for the 2008 BMW R1200 RT
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2008 BMW R1200 RT in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2008 BMW R1200 RT
BMW of North America, LLC has issued 1 technical service bulletin (TSBs) for the 2008 BMW R1200 RT. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
TB-34-008-08 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
BMW MC: THERE MAY HAVE BEEN A SMALL QUANTITY OF MOTORCYCLES THAT DID NOT RECEIVE THE SET SCREW THAT IS NORMALLY INSTALLED IN THE FRONT BRAKE LINE FILL JUNCTIONS. MODEL YEARS UNKNOWN. *PE
NHTSA Investigations for the 2008 BMW R1200 RT
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the BMW R1200 RT
- 2003 BMW R1200 RT — 0 complaints
- 2004 BMW R1200 RT — 0 complaints
- 2005 BMW R1200 RT — 24 complaints
- 2006 BMW R1200 RT — 42 complaints
- 2007 BMW R1200 RT — 35 complaints
- 2008 BMW R1200 RT (current)
- 2009 BMW R1200 RT — 14 complaints
- 2010 BMW R1200 RT — 4 complaints
- 2011 BMW R1200 RT — 13 complaints