Recall Report: August 2020

BMW Motorcycles and the NHTSA announced recalls affecting braking and fuel systems on several thousand BMWs in the United States.

Braking system recall and stop sale order

If you have one of the motorcycles on the list here, your front brake caliper may leak, degrading braking capabilities and possibly leading to a crash. Luckily, it seems as if the problem only occurs when the bikes are parked. Production dates for the affected motorcycles are from 27 August 2018 to 28 February 2020.

According to a dealer bulletin issued by BMW, "The front brake calipers may show slight sweat marks or isolated drops of brake fluid. Although this low-pressure leakage has been shown to have no effect on brake performance, BMW Motorrad is conducting a non-compliance recall to inspect each vehicle as the front brake calipers do not meet a Federal Regulation." This recall affects about 9,000 motorcycles.

This recall and stop sale order affects just over 9,000 motorcycles:

• R 1250 GS, 2019-20
• R 1250 GS Adventure, 2019-20
• R 1250 RT, 2019-20
• S 1000 RR, 2020
• S 1000 XR, 2020

These motorcycles are currently under a stop sale order from BMW, and will likely remain so until dealers can inspect and repair the bikes; the recall officially starts on 6 October 2020.

Fuel pump flange recall...again

Fuel pump flange problems are back with a vengeance in recall 20V-471. You may recall having your motorcycle repaired under recall 13V-617, when a BMW tech put a metal ring around the quick-disconnect housing on the fuel pump flange, which may have been cracked and possibly even leaking fuel.

This is a new recall and affects bikes repaired under the previous recall notice.

According to the NHTSA recall order issued on 10 August 2020, the recall affects "motorcycles that were repaired under recall 13V-617 with the support ring remedy and where the fuel pump was not replaced at a later date. This recall involves the fuel pump, and also the auxiliary fuel pump as applicable. The affected motorcycles have a fuel pump flange that may crack, possibly resulting in a fuel leak while the engine is running."

This recall affects nearly 17,000 motorcycles:

• HP2 Enduro, 2006
• HP2 Megamoto (incl. US), 2007-09
• HP2 Sport, 2007-10
• K 1300 GT, 2009-11
• K 1300 S, 2009-11
• K 1600 GT, 2012
• K 1600 GTL, 2012
• K 1200 GT, 2005-08
• K 1200 R, 2005-08
• K 1200 R Sport, 2005-08
• K 1200 S, 2005-08
• R 1200 GS, 2005-11
• R 1200 GS Adventure, 2005-11
• R 1200 HP2, 2006-08
• R 1200 R, 2006-11
• R 1200 RT, 2005-11
• R 1200 S, 2006-08
• R 1200 ST, 2005-08
• S 1000 RR, 2010-11

BMW will start notifying owners of affected motorcycles of both recalls in early October 2020, and replace the affected parts with updated components.  

Owners may contact BMW Customer Service at 800.525.7417 and check to see if their motorcycle is affected by this recall at nhtsa.gov/recalls.