2008 BMW R1200 GS Recalls, Complaints & Specs
5 safety recalls list the 2008 BMW R1200 GS, and owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
5 safety recalls for the 2008 BMW R1200 GS
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
-
Fuel pump (fuel system)
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…
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.
-
Fuel pump (fuel system)
BMW is recalling certain model year 2006 through 2008 r1200 gs motorcycles manufactured between august 2006 and january 2008. The sealing of the fuel pump control unit housing might be insufficient and water could intrude into the control unit housing creating a humid atmosphere. Under such conditions, the fuel pump could corrode and…
Remedy: BMW will notify owners and replace the fuel pump control unit free of charge. The safety recall began on november 9, 2009. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
-
Electrical system
BMW is recalling model year 2008 r1200 gs and r1200 gs adventure motorcycles. In certain situations, such as high generator speeds combined with large demands for electrical current, spurious signals could emerge within the motorcycle's electrical system. If this were to occur, it could affect the pressure sensor signals of the…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair or replace the necessary components free of charge. The recall began on october 26, 2009. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
-
Manual transmission (power train)
BMW is recalling 46 my 2008 r1200 r, r1200 gs, and r1200 gs adventure motorcycles. Due to a material defect in the intermediate shaft of the transmission, the shaft could break. If this occurred, it is possible for the transmission to seize.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the gearbox. The recall began during august 2008. Owners should contact BMW at 1-800-331-1117.
-
Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)
BMW is recalling 4,922 my 2007-2008 r1200r, my 2006-2007 r1200 gs, my 2007 r1200 st, and my 2008 r1200 gs adventure motorcycles. Due to the current routing of the front brake lines, it is possible that during riding, the brake lines could be under strain. If the vibration/strain is significant, the brake lines could split and start to…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and install new brake lines with a modified routing free of charge. The recall began during august 2008. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117.
18 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2008 BMW R1200 GS have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a fire. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 27,260 miles. Complaints peaked in 2014 with 7 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“While traveling down the freeway the forward drive shaft universal joint failed, locking the rear wheel. The spinning forward end of the unconstrained drive shaft damaged the swing arm.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 1, 2016 · Power train
“While travelling at the speed limit on the left lane in busy traffic, the motorcycle quit as if i had shut off the key. I had to maneuver through 4 lanes of traffic to get to the shoulder. I believe t”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 2, 2015 · Electrical system
Compare BMW R1200 GS model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW R1200 GS model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 BMW R1200 GS | 2 | 4 |
| 2005 BMW R1200 GS | 7 | 37 |
| 2006 BMW R1200 GS | 7 | 4 |
| 2007 BMW R1200 GS | 3 | 26 |
| 2008 BMW R1200 GS | 5 | 18 |
| 2009 BMW R1200 GS | 1 | 18 |
| 2010 BMW R1200 GS | 1 | 6 |
| 2011 BMW R1200 GS | 1 | 1 |
| 2013 BMW R1200 GS | 2 | 5 |
| 2014 BMW R1200 GS | 2 | 5 |
| 2015 BMW R1200 GS | 2 | 10 |
| 2016 BMW R1200 GS | 2 | 12 |
| 2017 BMW R1200 GS | 2 | 3 |
| 2018 BMW R1200 GS | 1 | 4 |
Checking a specific 2008 BMW R1200 GS
How do I know if my 2008 BMW R1200 GS has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 5 campaigns currently list the 2008 BMW R1200 GS; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 08V254000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other BMW models
- X53,154 complaints
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 3 Series843 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.