NHTSA recalls & complaints · 1998–2003

BMW R 1200 C recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 43 owner complaints for the BMW R 1200 C, covering model years 1998 to 2003. The 1998 model year drew the most complaints (14), and Power Train is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your BMW R 1200 C VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

3 recall campaigns on file
43 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
6 model years with data (1998–2003)

most complaints: 1998 (14 for that model year)
top component: Power Train (11 complaints)
latest recall 01V217000 (reported Jun 26, 2001)

2 complaints reporting a crash (4.7%)
1 complaint reporting a fire (2.3%)
4 complaints reporting an injury (9.3%)
0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

BMW R 1200 C complaints by model year

6 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 1998 model year has the most complaints: 14 of 43, or 32.6%. Next come 2003 (13) and 2002 (5). The fewest are for 2001, with 3 complaints.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years

BMW R 1200 C complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death

BMW R 1200 C complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model year	Complaints	Reporting a crash	Reporting a fire	Reporting an injury
1998	14	1	1	2
1999	4	0	0	1
2000	4	0	0	0
2001	3	0	0	0
2002	5	0	0	0
2003	13	1	0	1
All model years	43	2	1	4

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported BMW R 1200 C components

top 14 · NHTSA categories

Power Train is the component named most often, in 11 complaints (25.6% of all 43), followed by Exterior Lighting (8) and Engine and Engine Cooling (7).

Components named most often in BMW R 1200 C complaints (top 14)

Components named most often in BMW R 1200 C complaints (top 14)
Component	Complaints	Share of complaints
Power Train	11	25.6%
Exterior Lighting	8	18.6%
Engine and Engine Cooling	7	16.3%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	5	11.6%
Suspension	5	11.6%
Seats	3	7.0%
Steering	3	7.0%
Fuel System, Gasoline	2	4.7%
Structure	2	4.7%
Wheels	2	4.7%
Electrical System	1	2.3%
Tires	1	2.3%
Unknown or Other	1	2.3%
Visibility	1	2.3%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

BMW R 1200 C recalls

3 campaigns · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name R 1200 C, newest first. The 3 campaigns cover model years 1998 to 2000. The 1998 model year appears in the most campaigns (2).

3 recall campaigns

BMW R 1200 C recall campaigns covering each model year
1998: 2 campaigns	1999: 1 campaign	2000: 1 campaign

Highlighted: the model year with the most campaigns.

NHTSA campaign 01V217000
Reported Jun 26, 2001
Structure › Frame and Members
Model years 1998–1999
Vehicle description: motorcycles equipped with chrome-plated frames. Copper residue can remain in the tapped hole where the upper fork bridge attaches to the frame. Moisture can cause corrosion to occur between the copper residue and the aluminum frame. The stress of the connecting bolt attaching the upper fork to the frame could then decrease, leading to loosening, and ultimately, breakage of the bolt.
Consequence:
If this happened, the dynamic stability of the motorcycle would be affected and a loss of control could occur.
Remedy:
Dealers will ream the hole in the frame head and install a helicoil thread insert and a new bolt. Owner notification began December 13, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117, option #4.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC
NHTSA campaign 00V289000
Reported Oct 2, 2000
Seats › Motorcycle
Model year 2000
Vehicle description: motorcycles. The seat backrest can be adjusted to two positions, horizontal or vertical. In the horizontal position, the backrest acts as a seat cushion for a rear passenger. In the vertical position, it is used as a backrest for the driver. It is possible for the leaf spring mounting bracket, if overloaded with the backrest in the vertical position, to crack or break.
Consequence:
If the bracket were to break, the backrest would detach from its mount, causing the driver to lose his balance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy:
Dealers will replace the backrest with one containing the original-design mounting bracket.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC
NHTSA campaign 97V134000
Reported Aug 8, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Model year 1998
Vehicle description: motorcycles. The adjusting screw for the pressure point of either the brake or clutch levers may not be sufficiently tight, due to grease contamination of the threads.
Consequence:
The screw(s) can back out over time while the vehicle is being operated causing a change in the pressure point of the master cylinder for the clutch and/or front brake increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy:
Dealers will check the adjustment screws of the front brake and clutch levers for movement. If the screws are tight, no further action will be taken. If a screw is found to be loose, it will be removed, cleaned and reinstalled with new loctite.
Filed by BMW of North America, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it; older campaigns, which NHTSA stores in capital letters, are shown in sentence case. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means

What each recall field means
Field	What it tells you
Campaign number	NHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
Component	The system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
Summary	What the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
Consequence	The safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
Remedy	What the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.

Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

BMW R 1200 C questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the BMW R 1200 C have?

NHTSA lists 3 vehicle recall campaigns for the BMW R 1200 C, covering model years 1998 to 2003. The most recent, 01V217000, was reported on June 26, 2001 and is filed under “Structure”. The 1998 model year is covered by the most campaigns (2).

Which BMW R 1200 C model year has the most complaints?

The 1998 model year, with 14 of the 43 complaints in NHTSA’s file (32.6%). The next are 2003 (13) and 2002 (5). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common BMW R 1200 C complaint?

Power Train is the component named most often: 11 complaints, or 25.6% of all 43. Exterior Lighting (8) and Engine and Engine Cooling (7) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my BMW R 1200 C?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a BMW dealer.

How many BMW R 1200 C complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 43 complaints, 2 report a crash, 1 a fire, 4 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

8 models · most complaints first

The BMW models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the BMW VIN decoder with every BMW model page, WMI code and VIN note.

BMW X5 1999–2026 · 103 recalls · 3,138 complaints
BMW 328i 1996–2016 · 27 recalls · 2,576 complaints
BMW X3 2004–2026 · 60 recalls · 1,989 complaints
BMW 325i 1995–2012 · 20 recalls · 1,281 complaints
BMW Z4 2002–2023 · 28 recalls · 1,280 complaints
BMW 3 Series 1995–2023 · 8 recalls · 841 complaints
BMW 528i 1997–2016 · 14 recalls · 831 complaints
BMW 330i 1999–2026 · 38 recalls · 813 complaints

All BMW models and WMI codes Look up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.