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2018 BMW R1200 GSProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 4 owner complaints about the 2018 BMW R1200 GS, most often about the engine. It is covered by 1 safety recall, 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 recalls1Lowest repair rate 18%Owner complaints42 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage12kEngine, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 15, 2025. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2018 BMW R1200 GS has problems

4 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
Engine20
Electrical system10
Steering11

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

1 recall

2018 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 →

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

2018 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 engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

Vehicle reported engine fault and cut engine power while on freeway (commonly known as "limp mode"). It was extremely dangerous trying to find somewhere to pull over with very little engine power. It has happened several times now. Vehicle is now longer safe for freeway use. It also happened once…
Complaint 11429961 · Aug 21, 2021
THIS IS IN REFERENCE TO TICKET # 11363230. RELATED TO THIS SAME VEHICLE. I WENT FOR A RIDE TODAY AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED, WITH THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUTTING ALMOST COMPLETELY DOWN. LUCKILY, IT WAS ON A DESERTED COUNTRY ROAD AND NOT IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I AM ATTACHING A PDF OF THE OBD SCAN I…
Complaint 11363484 · Oct 8, 2020 · 12,100 miles

Own a 2018 R1200 GS?

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