Menu

2016 BMW R1200 GSProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 12 owner complaints about the 2016 BMW R1200 GS, most often about the suspension. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 17V-481 the manufacturer reports only 18% of affected cars repaired.

–
CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls2Lowest repair rate 18%Owner complaints121 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage6kSuspension, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 31, 2023. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2016 BMW R1200 GS has problems

12 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
Suspension51
Engine30
Service brakes20
Electrical system20
Power train10
Fuel/propulsion system10
Steering11

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

2 recalls

2016 BMW R1200 GS 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

2016 vs. every other R1200 GS 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 median. How we score

'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
In owners' words

What R1200 GS owners report

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

I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED ABOUT AN IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL. NO NOTIFICATION VIA MAIL, EMAIL, PHONE CALL, ETC. I WAS ONLY ALERTED TO THIS RECALL WHEN I BROUGHT MY BMW MOTORCYCLE BACK TO THE BMW DEALER FOR NON-RELATED WARRANTY WORK. THE DEALER WAS VERY SURPRISED I HAD NOT HAD THE FRONT FORK RECALL DONE,…
Complaint 11066189 · Feb 1, 2018 · 600 miles
ON MAY 13, 2017, WHILE RIDING MY 2016 BMW R1200GS WITH 11500 MILES, ONE OF MY RIDING PARTNERS NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM THE SUSPENSION FORK TUBES. AFTER PEELING THE RUBBER BOOTS THAT COVER THE STANCHIONS, WE NOTICED THAT BOTH STANCHIONS ON THE BIKE HAD SEPARATED. I WOULDN'T HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT,…
Complaint 11000804 · Jun 23, 2017 · 11,500 miles
I WAS TRAVELING IN ON A STRAIGHT PORTION OF PACIFIC COAST HIGHWAY IN HUNTINGTON BEACH. THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC AROUND AND NO DEBRIS IN THE ROAD. I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE HANDLEBAR ON MY MOTORCYCLE VIOLENTLY JERKED TO THE LEFT FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND CORRECTED ITSELF. THIS WAS NOT…
Complaint 10990628 · May 19, 2017 · 5,500 miles

Own a 2016 R1200 GS?

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