1998 BMW R1200C Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 1998 BMW R1200C, and owners have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 1998 BMW R1200C
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Frame and members (structure)
Vehicle description: motorcycles equipped with chrome-plated frames. Copper residue can remain in the tapped hole where the upper fork bridge attaches to the frame. Moisture can cause corrosion to occur between the copper residue and the aluminum frame. The stress of the connecting bolt attaching the upper fork to the frame could then…
Remedy: Dealers will ream the hole in the frame head and install a helicoil thread insert and a new bolt. Owner notification began december 13, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon…
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Service brakes, hydraulic
Vehicle description: motorcycles. The adjusting screw for the pressure point of either the brake or clutch levers may not be sufficiently tight, due to grease contamination of the threads.
Remedy: Dealers will check the adjustment screws of the front brake and clutch levers for movement. If the screws are tight, no further action will be taken. If a screw is found to be loose, it will be removed, cleaned and…
14 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1998 BMW R1200C have filed 14 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 5 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 20,987 miles. Complaints peaked in 2003 with 4 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Tl* the contact owns a 1998 BMW r1200c motorcycle. The contact was traveling 35 MPH when the tail lights failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the dealer confirmed that the tail light asse”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 14, 2012 · Exterior lighting
“The final drive started leaking gear oil all over my rear disc brake and rear tire and rim. It is unsafe to ride like this. *tr”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 29, 2012 · Power train
Compare BMW R1200C model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW R1200C model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 BMW R1200C | 2 | 14 |
| 1999 BMW R1200C | 1 | 4 |
| 2000 BMW R1200C | 1 | 4 |
| 2001 BMW R1200C | 0 | 3 |
| 2002 BMW R1200C | 0 | 5 |
| 2003 BMW R1200C | 0 | 13 |
Checking a specific 1998 BMW R1200C
How do I know if my 1998 BMW R1200C 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. 2 campaigns currently list the 1998 BMW R1200C; 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 01V217000).
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.