2001 Bmw R1200C problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
38,925 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data updated: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 3 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights: 1; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal: 1; Power Train: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
3 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 17.1%ODI 10449767 · 63,000 miTHE 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 | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10375760 · 55,945 miI WAS PROCEEDING SOUTHBOUND ON US HWY 17 SOUTH OF ORANGE PARK, FL, WHEN I OBSERVED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS WERE BLINKING, INDICATING A BRAKE FAILURE. AS I SLOWED DOWN FOR AN UPCOMING TRAFFIC LIGHT AT CLAY COUNTY ROAD 209, I COULD HEAR A CRUNCH-CRUNCH-CRUNCH GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FINAL DRIVE AT THE REAR, AND I NOTICED THAT I HAD NO BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AT THE REAR WHEEL. I PULLED INTO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT AND EXAMINED THE REAR WHEEL, BRAKES, AND FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY. THERE HAD BEEN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT,… | 133.3%ODI 10469710 · 77,349 miHAVING SUFFERED MY FIRST FINAL DRIVE FAILURE 30,000 MILES AGO, KNEW I WAS FEELING THE SAME GRINDING VIBRATION THROUGH MY SEAT AS THE PREVIOUS FAILURE. NO CHOICE BUT TO RIDE THE 55 MILES HOME. AFTER THE CYCLE COOLED, I PULLED THE FINAL DRIVE DRAIN PLUG AND OUT OOZED A SILVERY, SLURRY MIXTURE....REMNANTS OF THE FINAL DRIVE BEARINGS. WHILE I AM THRILLED MY CYCLE BROUGHT ME HOME, IT WAS A BIT HARROWING AS IT FEELS AS IF THE REAR WHEEL WAS GOING TO FALL OFF! PRONOUNCED WOBBLE OF THE TIRE/WHEEL, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SECURELY BOLTED TO THE HUB. BMW HAS … | 120.0%ODI 10446551 · 29,963 miMY FINAL DRIVE HAD A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE AT 29,963 MILES ON 12/18/08. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE CROWN GEAR OR BEARINGS DETERIORATED, CHEWED UP THE SEALS, AND CAUSED GEAR OIL TO LEAK ONTO MY REAR WHEEL. A BMW DEALER REBUILT THE DRIVE USING OEM PARTS, AND IT FAILED AGAIN AT 32,164 MILES ON 6/25/09. IT WAS REBUILT A 2ND TIME AND RECENTLY FAILED A 3RD TIME ON 9/29/11 AT 47,647. THIS TIME I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW FINAL DRIVE FROM BMW IN GERMANY FOR ALMOST $1400 RATHER THAN REBUILDING AGAIN, HOWEVER, I'M AFRAID ITS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. LAST TIME I… | 323.1%ODI 10446560 · 24,000 miAN ALL TOO COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FINAL DRIVES IN OUR R1200C'S AND R1200CL'S IS THE DREADED FINAL DRIVE FAILURE. MOST OF US WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS, FIRST NOTICED EITHER A LATERAL WOBBLE OF THE REAR WHEEL, DROPS OF FLUID ON OUR REAR WHEELS, AND/OR FLUID STAINS SPRAYED RADIALLY ON THE REAR TIRE. WELL, I TOOK A 600 MILE JAUNT LAST WEEKEND TO MAKE SURE THE BIKE COULD HANDLE THE NEW TOURING BAGS AND THE T-BAG I BOUGHT. THE TRIP WAS GREAT - NEAR QUINCY, CA. WHEN I GOT HOME, I NOTICED SOME OIL SPOTS ON THE RIGHT REAR BAG, THE HORROR OF HORRORS,… |
| Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights | 321.4%ODI 10014423 · 600 miMY BMW 1998 R1200 C, HAD OIL LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE SEALS SINCE AT LEAST 300 MILES. THE BIKE WAS BOUGHT NEW IN 1998. I COMPLAINED OF A BLUE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE, BUT THE OWNER OF THE STORE TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL FOR BMW'S. THE TAILLIGHT BROKE ON THE BIKE AND WERE REPLACED BY BMW, BUT I WAS TOLD BY THE OWNER THAT I COULD NOT CLAIM ANY OTHER PROBLEMS ON THE MOTORCYCLE. BMW HAS OFFERED TO PAY FOR HALF OF THE LABOR COST TO REPAIR THE BIKE, BUT NOT THE FULL COST. THE CURRENT NEW OWNER OF THE SHOP SAID THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10023659 · 500 miCRACKING TAIL LIGHT BEZEL AND TURN SIGNAL STALKS REPEATEDLY. *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 321.4%ODI 10014423 · 600 miMY BMW 1998 R1200 C, HAD OIL LEAKING FROM THE ENGINE SEALS SINCE AT LEAST 300 MILES. THE BIKE WAS BOUGHT NEW IN 1998. I COMPLAINED OF A BLUE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE, BUT THE OWNER OF THE STORE TOLD ME IT WAS NORMAL FOR BMW'S. THE TAILLIGHT BROKE ON THE BIKE AND WERE REPLACED BY BMW, BUT I WAS TOLD BY THE OWNER THAT I COULD NOT CLAIM ANY OTHER PROBLEMS ON THE MOTORCYCLE. BMW HAS OFFERED TO PAY FOR HALF OF THE LABOR COST TO REPAIR THE BIKE, BUT NOT THE FULL COST. THE CURRENT NEW OWNER OF THE SHOP SAID THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 17.1%ODI 898192FRONT AND REAR SIGNAL LIGHTS KEEP BREAKING OFF ON BOTH SIDES UNDER NORMAL WEAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES.*AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10086460 · 4,850 miTHE RIGHT REAR TURN SIGNAL HOUSING BROKE AND THE SIGNAL FAILED WITHOUT WARNING OR ANY CLEAR CAUSE. HAD TO REPLACE IT AND DO NOT HAVE THE OLD PART.*AK | 133.3%ODI 10023659 · 500 miCRACKING TAIL LIGHT BEZEL AND TURN SIGNAL STALKS REPEATEDLY. *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 360.0% | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 17.1%ODI 10384009 · 25,000 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 BMW R1200C. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH AND TRYING TO DECELERATE, HE NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE FAILING. HE PLACED THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL AND COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE CLUTCH MASTER CYLINDER HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 25,000. UPDATED 03/29/11 *BF UPDATED 08/15/11 | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 125.0%ODI 10375760 · 55,945 miI WAS PROCEEDING SOUTHBOUND ON US HWY 17 SOUTH OF ORANGE PARK, FL, WHEN I OBSERVED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS WERE BLINKING, INDICATING A BRAKE FAILURE. AS I SLOWED DOWN FOR AN UPCOMING TRAFFIC LIGHT AT CLAY COUNTY ROAD 209, I COULD HEAR A CRUNCH-CRUNCH-CRUNCH GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FINAL DRIVE AT THE REAR, AND I NOTICED THAT I HAD NO BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS AT THE REAR WHEEL. I PULLED INTO AN EMPTY PARKING LOT AND EXAMINED THE REAR WHEEL, BRAKES, AND FINAL DRIVE ASSEMBLY. THERE HAD BEEN A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT,… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 17.7%ODI 10446616 · 29,500 miI HAD THE SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN ODI NO. 10439549. THE LEAK OF OIL CAUSED THE SIDE OF THE TIRE TO BECOME FOULED,AND THE BRAKE WAS HEAVILY COATED AS WELL. I STOPPED AND HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE A NEW SET OF BRAKE PADS WERE REQUIRED, AS WELL AS THE REAR BEARING AND SEALS. *KB |
| Suspension | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 323.1%ODI 10030164WHILE DRIVING MOTORCYCLE'S STABILITY IS HARD TO MAINTAIN, IT ALWAYS PULLS TO THE RIGHT, DEALER HAS INSPECTED MOTORCYCLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. BMW, MODEL R1200CLC , 2003.*AK |
| Exterior Lighting | 17.1%ODI 10023744TAIL LIGHT ASSY KEEPS CRACKING ON THE UPPER LEFT BOLT, I AM ON MY 4TH TAIL LIGHT AND IT IS ALSO BROKEN. ON THE SAME ASSY THE TURN LIGHT STALKS CAN BRAKE OFF AND JUST HANG BY THE WIRES, THIS HAS HAPPEN TWICE TO ME. ON THE FRONT TURN SIGNAL THE LEFT TURN LIGHT BROKE OFF AND WAS HANGING BY THE WIRES, THIS HAS HAPPEN TWICE TO ME AND IS STILL BROKEN AT THIS TIME, TEMP FIX WITH A HOSE CLAMP. *NLM | 125.0%ODI 10664201 · 16,000 miTHE REAR TAIL LIGHT/ TURN LIGHT WAS DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED AND/OR MADE THE DEFECT WAS SO WIDESPREAD AND RECOGNIZED AD SUCH BY BME THAT IT PRECIPITATED BMW MAKING A " NEW AND IMPROVED " VERSION OF THE TAIL- LIGHT TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLY. HOWEVER INSTEAD IF REPLACING THUS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT FOR FREE IN RECOGNITION OF THE DEFECT BME INSTEAD WANTS APPROXIMATELY $500 JUST FOR THE PART! THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS AND EXPLOITIVE. THE FAILURE OF A REAR TAIL-LIGHT / TURN SIGNAL ASSEMBLY POSES AN OBVIOUS SAFETY RISK WITH A CLEAR POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE INJURY/ FATA… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights | Too few reports for a range | 500 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10023659 · 500 miCRACKING TAIL LIGHT BEZEL AND TURN SIGNAL STALKS REPEATEDLY. *JB |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | Too few reports for a range | 500 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10023659 · 500 miCRACKING TAIL LIGHT BEZEL AND TURN SIGNAL STALKS REPEATEDLY. *JB |
| Power Train | Too few reports for a range | 77,349 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10469710 · 77,349 miHAVING SUFFERED MY FIRST FINAL DRIVE FAILURE 30,000 MILES AGO, KNEW I WAS FEELING THE SAME GRINDING VIBRATION THROUGH MY SEAT AS THE PREVIOUS FAILURE. NO CHOICE BUT TO RIDE THE 55 MILES HOME. AFTER THE CYCLE COOLED, I PULLED THE FINAL DRIVE DRAIN PLUG AND OUT OOZED A SILVERY, SLURRY MIXTURE....REMNANTS OF THE FINAL DRIVE BEARINGS. WHILE I AM THRILLED MY CYCLE BROUGHT ME HOME, IT WAS A BIT HARROWING AS IT FEELS AS IF THE REAR WHEEL WAS GOING TO FALL OFF! PRONOUNCED WOBBLE OF THE TIRE/WHEEL, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS SECURELY BOLTED TO THE HUB. BMW HAS … |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2002: 4 complaints · 2003: 9 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| 2003 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2003 | 12 | 1 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights | Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | Power Train | Power Train:Automatic Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights | — | 1ODI 10023659 · 500 miCRACKING TAIL LIGHT BEZEL AND TURN SIGNAL STALKS REPEATEDLY. *JB | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 1ODI 10023659 · 500 miCRACKING TAIL LIGHT BEZEL AND TURN SIGNAL STALKS REPEATEDLY. *JB | — | 0 | 0 |
| Power Train | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.