2011 BMW R1200 RT problems
Owners have filed 27 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 BMW R1200 RT. Fuel system is the most reported problem area, at 59% of complaints. After that come cruise control (7%) and electrical system (7%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 27 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Fuel system 59% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 23,000 miles 21 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 9 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 10 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 2 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 0 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 0 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 0 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 21 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 23,000 miles. For fuel system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 31,000 miles (10 complaints with mileage).
None of these complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 100% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2011 ranks 6th most-complained-about out of 6 model years of the BMW R1200 RT with enough data (6 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
The left combination switch on the vehicle has failed 4 times. The left combination switch controls the high beam lights, turn signals, horn, cruise control, and numerous other items. The four failures have included failure of the high beam switch twice, the turn signal switch twice, the horn once, and cruise control once.
The combination engine run / start switch does no engage in the run position during hot days, thus not allowing the engine to start. After cooling the switch down with an instant cooling compound (in this case superfreeze 2000 from leonard industrial supply) the switch would engage, but then disconnect again. The danger is that if it disconnects while driving the engine will cut-off without being able to restart it.
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. This pump had been inspected and reinforced - and the flange still cracked and caused a dangerous fuel leak with the potential for bodily injury or worse.