Model year record

2020 BMW R 1250 RT recalls & problems

The 2020 BMW R 1250 RT has 5 safety recalls and 6 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes (5 complaints).

Recalls5safety recalls

Complaints6filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Power trainJan 18, 2023

Manual transmission › Internal › Shaft › Input

Recall 23V01100018,534 vehicles

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2023 R1250GS, R1250GS Adventure, and R1250RTP motorcycles. In certain engine operating and riding conditions, the gearbox input shaft may become damaged or break, possibly resulting in a blocked rear wheel.
Risk: A damaged gearbox input shaft or a blocked rear wheel can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the engine control unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 22, 2023. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Service brakesAug 13, 2020

Service brakes

Recall 20V4760009,392 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2020 R 1250 GS, GS Adventure and R 1250 RT, 2020 S 1000 RR and S 1000 XR motorcycles. The front brake calipers may leak brake fluid when parked. As such, these motorcycles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 122, "Motorcycle Brake Systems."
Risk: Overtime, a leaking front brake caliper can reduce the amount of brake fluid in the reservoir. Low volume could affect brake performance, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary, replace the front brake calipers with an improved version, free of charge. BMW issued owners an interim notification on October 12, 2020. As of January 19, 2021, a remedy was still not available. The recall began March 8, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Components: Service brakes; Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Caliper

Power trainMar 19, 2020

Driveline

Recall 20V1650004 vehicles

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2020 R1250GS and R1250RT motorcycles. The pivot pin that connects the final drive to the swing arm may be damaged, causing the connection between the final drive and swing arm to loosen.
Risk: A loose connection between the final drive and swing arm will reduce stability and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the pivot pin, free of charge. The motorcycles are not with owners at this time. The recall began April 28, 2020. Please contact BMW customer service number 1-800-525-7417.

Service brakes, hydraulicMar 19, 2020

Fluid

Recall 20E01300049 vehicles

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain Motorcycle Accessory Brake Fluid Reservoir Covers, part numbers 8405-752, 8405-753, 8405-754 and 9829547 designed to fit certain 2019-2020 BMW R 1250 motorcycles, and part numbers 8404-098, 8405-100, 8405-102, and 1542056 designed to fit certain 2018-2020 BMW Rnine T motorcycles. The brake fluid reservoir cap may not clearly state the required type of brake fluid and the process for filling the reservoir, possibly leading to an improper maintenance procedure. As such, these caps fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 122, "Motorcycle Brake Systems."
Risk: Improper brake system maintenance could affect braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake fluid reservoir cap, free of charge. The recall began December 14, 2020. Parts will be available in mid-September 2020 for the recall repairs. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Service brakes, hydraulicMar 19, 2020

Fluid

Recall 20V166000365 vehicles

Problem: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2018-2020 RnineT Scrambler and RnineT, 2020 R1250R and R1250RS, 2019-2020 Rnine T Pure, R1250GS,R1250GS Adventure and R1250RT and 2018 RnineT Racer motorcycles. The brake fluid reservoir cap may not clearly state the required type of brake fluid and the process for filling the reservoir, possibly leading to an improper maintenance procedure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 122, "Motorcycle Brake Systems."
Risk: Improper brake system maintenance could affect braking performance and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the brake fluid reservoir cap, free of charge. The recall began December 23, 2020. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Service brakes	5	0	0	0	6,300 mi
Power train	1	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Power train
BMW Motorrad had a safety check on the driveshafts/ u joints for R1200 and R 1250 GS and RT motos. I had mine checked at D2 Powersports in Q3 or Q4, 2023 and it passed. No paperwork was given. On 3/28/24 the driveshaft / U joint failed on NC 178 south of Rosman, NC. Had this locked up in a corner it could have cause a wreck. The R1250RT was towed to D2 Powersports 10 hours later. D2 submitted a request for warranty repair or some financial help to BMW Motorrad. Request denied. I paid the entire $2677.96. BMW has SIB 33 04 23 out for K5X driveshaft maintenance schedule change published 12/12/23 and includes K52 R1250RT. My question, which BMW will not answer: Why was my 2020 R1250 RT (K52)…
Mar 28, 2024
Service brakes
AFTER NUMEROUS TIMES TO THE DEALER TO FIX THE LEAKING HAYES CALIPERS ON MY 2020 BMW R1250RT MOTORCYCLE THERE WAS A RECALL AND I DID RECEIVE A SECOND SET OF HAYES CALIPERS BECAUSE OF THE RECALL. IN A MATTER OF DAYS THE REPLACEMENT RECALLED HAYES CALIPERS WERE ALSO LEAKING BMW SENT OUT TWO ENGINEERS TO REMOVE AND INSPECT MY SECOND SET THAT WERE THEN SENT BACK TO GERMANY AND A THIRD SET OF HAYES CALIPERS WERE INSTALLED ON MY BIKE. AFTER A FEW DAYS AGAIN THEY WERE LEAKING ALSO, NOW I'LL NEED MY FOURTH SET OF CALIPERS ON MY BIKE THAT I'VE OWNED FOR 7 MONTHS AND TWO OF THOSE MONTHS IT HAS BEEN PARKED BECAUSE OF THIS ONGOING SAFETY ISSUE AS IT IS NOW. SEE MY LAST THREE VIDEOS FROM THE THIRD SET OF…
Oct 21, 2020 · 6,600 miles
Service brakes
TWO VIDEOS OF MY LEAKING BRAKES AFTER GETTING THEM REPLACED FROM THE RECALL. STILL A PROBLEM AS THEIR FIX IS LEAKING LIKE THE ORIGINAL. TWO VIDEOS: HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=2H3HTJT6NM4 HTTPS://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/WATCH?V=INYT6SPUYYA
Sep 21, 2020 · 6,300 miles
Service brakes
SINCE DAY ONE THIS BIKE HAS HAD LEAKING FRONT BRAKES. TODAY, I GO OUT IN MY GARAGE AND SEE MY BRAKES ARE LEAKING AGAIN FOR THE UMPTEENTH TIME. THIS IS BEYOND A DEALERSHIP FIX. BOTH DEALERS I'VE TAKEN THE BIKE TO (IRON HORSE BMW IN TUCSON, GOAZ IN PEORIA) HAVE BEEN GREAT IN TRYING TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE, BUT UNFORTUNATELY HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL. THE PROBLEM REMAINS. I HAVE SPENT WAY TOO MANY HOURS SCHEDULING MY TIME AND THEN HANGING OUT AT THE DEALERSHIP WHILE THEY'RE TRYING TO FIGURE THIS OUT. THIS IS FROM THE ARIZONA LEMON LAW: "THE SAME NONCONFORMITY HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO REPAIR FOUR OR MORE TIMES BY THE MANUFACTURER, ITS AGENTS OR AUTHORIZED DEALERS BUT THE NONCONFORMITY CONTINUES TO…
Sep 21, 2020 · 6,300 miles
Service brakes
TOOK DELIVERY OF A NEW MOTORCYCLE ON SATURDAY. UPON RETURNING HOME WITH THE NEW BIKE, 160 MILE TRIP HOME, I NOTICED BRAKE FLUID LEAKING OUT OF BOTH FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS. FLUID WAS SPLATTERED ALL OVER THE RIM AND TIRE. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH THE 2019'S OF THE BMW R1250RT. I WAS LED TO BELIEVE THE PROBLEM WAS SOLVED FOR THE 2020 BIKES, BUT CLEARLY THIS IS NOT THE CASE GIVEN MY EXPERIENCE RELAYED IN THIS REPORT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN FINE WITH TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE, BUT AS OF YET, WE DON'T KNOW IF THIS WILL BE RESOLVED AND/OR IF THERE WILL BE ANY SORT OF COMPENSATION FOR THE TROUBLE OF RIDING BACK AND FORTH TO THE DEALERSHIP (330 MILES ROUND TRIP). THERE SHOULD BE A…
Mar 28, 2020 · 165 miles
Service brakes
I WENT TO TEST DRIVE A NEW 2020 BMW R1250 RT MOTORCYCLE AND THE DEALERSHIP INSPECTED IT BEFORE THE TEST DRIVE. DURING THE TEST DRIVE, THE BRAKES STARTED LEAKING AND I NOTICED A PERFORMANCE DROP IN THE ABILITY TO BRAKE. UPON DIGGING INTO THE SITUATION THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS A SERVICE BULLETIN FROM BMW. THAT STATED THE BRAKES ARE KNOWN TO HAVE ISSUES AND THEY SHOULD BE INSPECTED FOR LEAKS BEFORE BEING SOLD TO A CUSTOMER OR TEST-DRIVEN. BMW HAS RELEASED A NEW PART NUMBER THAT WILL FIX THE CRITICAL DESIGN FLAW THAT IS IN THE BRAKES. THIS PART HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET. BMW NEEDS TO PUT A STOP-SALE ON ALL BIKES BECAUSE JUST BECAUSE THE BIKE DOES NOT HAVE THE ISSUE INITIALLY…
Feb 8, 2020 · 7 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.