What 10 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 BMW R1200 RS

FUEL LEAK FROM BROKEN PLASTIC "QUICK DISCONNECT" FITTING ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE MOTORCYCLE. I NOTICED THE ISSUE WHEN I WAS RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE ON THE HIGHWAY AND RAW FUEL WAS SPRAYING ONTO MY LEG AND ONTO THE CYLINDER & CYLINDER HEAD OF THE ENGINE. I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY INTO A GAS STATION TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE LEAK. AFTER REMOVING SOME PLASTIC TRIM/COVERS I FOUND THE SOURCE WAS THE PLASTIC 90 DEGREE FITTING HAD CRACKED. THE FUEL FITTING DID NOT FAIL DUE TO ANY IMPACT, TAMPERING OR ABUSE; IT IS IN A PROTECTED AREA AT THE LOWER EDGE OF THE FUEL TANK AND COVERED BY A PIECE OF PLASTIC TRIM. AFTER INSPECTING THE FAILED PART, I NOTICED HOW THIN THE PLASTIC IS AND HOW IT BROKE ON THE GROOVE (A STRESS RISER). I BELIEVE THE PART IS POORLY DESIGNED AND POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY AND FIRE HAZARD TO THE VEHICLE OPERATOR. IN MY OPINION, SUCH COMPONENTS SHOULD BE MADE OF HIGHER QUALITY MATERIAL SUCH AS STAINLESS STEEL FOR STRENGTH AND CORROSION RESISTANCE. AFTER CHECKING WITH THE BMW DEALER FOR A REPLACEMENT FITTING, I DECIDED TO REPLACE THE FUEL CONNECTOR WITH A BARBED 90 DEGREE STAINLESS STEEL FITTING TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF A RE-OCCURRENCE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THE BMW SUPPLIED PART TO BE FLAWED AND INHERENTLY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI 11119403

STALLING ENGINE. I BOUGHT THE MOTORCYCLE NEW AND IT HAS HAD A STALLING PROBLEM SINCE IT WAS NEW AND CONTINUES UNTIL TODAY. THE ENGINE WILL STALL AT IDLE OR ON DECELERATION. AT ITS WORST IT WILL HESITATE AND SURGE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AS WELL. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER ABOUT THE ISSUE AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. I MADE A COMPLAINT TO BMW CORPORATE REGARDING THE UNRESOLVED ISSUE AND PRESSURE WAS PLACED ON THE DEALER TO FIX THE PROBLEM BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND THE DEALER EXPRESSED THEIR DISMAY WITH MY COMPLAINT TO CORPORATE. I PAYED FOR REPAIRS (WHILE UNDER WARRANTY) THAT DID NOT SOLVE THE STALLING PROBLEM. NOW THE MOTORCYCLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I DO NOT HAVE THE FINANCIAL MEANS TO KEEP FORKING MONEY OVER TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR NO RESULTS. I TRIED GOING THROUGH THE NORMAL CHANNELS TO REMEDY THIS PERSISTENT PROBLEM WITHOUT SUCCESS. I AM NOT SURE IF IT IS RELATED, BUT I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE IN FOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE WHEN IT WAS ONLY A MONTH OR TWO OLD. WHILE IT WAS GETTING THE OIL CHANGE AND OTHER ADJUSTMENTS, IT WOULD NOT RESTART. THE DEALER HELD IT FOR ABOUT A MONTH TRYING TO GET IT STARTED AGAIN. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THEY SWAPPED ALMOST ALL OF THE MAJOR PARTS TRYING TO DIAGNOSE IT. WHEN I FINALLY GOT THE CALL TO PICK IT UP, THE DEALER DIDN'T TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I WAS CURIOUS WHAT WENT WRONG ON A NEW BIKE WITH SUCH LITTLE USE. THE DEALER NEVER TOLD ME WHAT THE PROBLEM OR SOLUTION WAS AND ONLY SAID THAT ITS BACK ALIVE AND RUNNING AGAIN. AS MENTIONED EARLIER, I'M NOT SURE IF THE PROBLEMS ARE RELATED BUT I BELIEVE THEY MAY BE STEMMING FROM THE SAME GLITCH.

NHTSA ODI 11119404