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2017 BMW R1200 GS AdventureProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 7 owner complaints about the 2017 BMW R1200 GS Adventure, most often about the service brakes. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 17V-481 the manufacturer reports only 18% of affected cars repaired.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls2Lowest repair rate 18%Owner complaints70 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage6kService brakes, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 24, 2025. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2017 BMW R1200 GS Adventure has problems

7 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Service brakes30
Fuel/propulsion system10
Power train10
Service brakes, hydraulic10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

2017 BMW R1200 GS Adventure recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

18%repaired · 2019 Q1

Equipment

Recall 17V-481 · Jul 28, 2017 · 47,775 vehicles · 8,453 repaired

Risk. If the rear reflex reflectors are obscured from view, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

77%repaired · 2018 Q4

Suspension: front

Recall 17V-438 · Jul 10, 2017 · 14,626 vehicles · 11,192 repaired

Risk. If the fork tube detaches from the sealing plug, the handling and stability of the motorcycle will be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with BMW.

Best & worst years

2017 vs. every other R1200 GS Adventure year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the R1200 GS Adventure median. How we score

'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
In owners' words

What R1200 GS Adventure owners report

Recent service brakes complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

It is not clear which rear brake component is failing. It seems to be either the master cylinder or the ABS control module, but nothing seems to be conclusive. The failure alters the power of, and force required to apply, the rear brakes, changing the riding characteristics of the motorcycle that…
Complaint 11662904 · May 24, 2025
I bought a 2017 BMW R 1200 GS used from a dealer with 554 miles on it. Basically new. I put 1100 miles on the bike before I had a work related accident. The Bike has 1687 miles on it now. Bike has been sitting for 3+ years in a garage. The rear brake goes all the way to the bump stop with no…
Complaint 11550245 · Oct 16, 2023
I HAD LESS THAN 6000 MILES ON MY BMW R1200GS ADVENTURE AND NOTICED THAT I HAD NO REAR BAKE AT ALL WHEN I WAS RIDING OFF ROAD WITH MY "ENDURO PRO" MODE ENGAGED. THIS ALLOWS ME TO USE THE REAR BRAKE IN AN OFF ROAD MODE AND SHUTS DOWN ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL.. I NOTICED THAT A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE ARE…
Complaint 11097641 · May 23, 2018 · 5,800 miles

Own a 2017 R1200 GS Adventure?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.