After starting the motorcyle and allowing for a brief period of warming up, I headed to the gas station to fuel up in preparation for a long ride the next day. As a force of habit I checked my range and odometer readings and found the range was noticeably lower than it should be displaying for the miles used on the tank. As I rode the couple of miles to the gas station the range continued to drop precipitously, 5-20 miles at a time every few seconds until it reached zero and displayed "---" for a range to empty after riding just over one mile. After filling the tank fully, the gauge did not reset or change in any way. I took the motorcycle to the dealer and they diagnosed the problem as a fuel strip, aka fuel level sensor, gone bad. I am now awaiting the part to arrive so my 3rd fuel strip replacement can go ahead. (my second occurred in february 2012, the third in august 2013.) my motorcycle has just 24,000 miles and is less than 5 years old (by 3 months). I find it almost unfathomable that such an essential part as the fuel gauge can cease to function for no apparent reason, with no warning on a modern vehicle. Add in the denials from the manufacturer that a problem even exists and it gets totally maddening.
2009 BMW R1200 RT: wrong fuel gauge reading
5 of the 36 complaints about the 2009 BMW R1200 RT describe wrong fuel gauge reading.
- owner complaints
- 5
- of this car's complaints
- 14%
- typical mileage
- 8,700
- recalls
- 2
Wrong fuel gauge reading by model year
What owners say
Riding on the interstate with traffic, the fuel gauge began acting erratically, showing more fuel, then less fuel for a few miles before the motorcycle ran out of fuel, almost causing a crash as the engine quit. Was able to change lanes and get to the shoulder without a crash. I feel this is a significant safety issue. If the fuel gauge (which is fed data from a faulty fuel strip) reads more fuel than the vehicle actually has, if the engine runs out of fuel and stops, this could be very dangerous in places with high traffic counts and speed.
The fuel level sensor has failed (twice) and has been replaced by the bmw motorcycle dealership. The latest fuel level sensor is not working properly either and will eventually be replaced again before the warranty expires in feb 2013.
The digital strip fuel gauge simply froze in the full position, it no longer registers nor does the miles remaining digital readout.
The gas gauge sensor strip stops working and will read that you have more gas than you actually do. This is extremely dangerous and can cause the rider to run out of gas and be stranded in moving traffic. There are too many complaints from bmw motorcycle owners to ignore this problem any longer! Please make the manufacturer address this problem instead of continuing to profit off of a safety issue. A google search on "bmw motorcycle fuel strip" will give you all the leverage you need.
Related recalls
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2009-2011 K1300 (S, GT), 2010-2011 S1000 RR, 2005-2011 R1200 (GS, GS Adventure, R, RT, S, ST), 2006-2010 HP2 (Enduro, Megamoto, Sport), 2005-2008 K1200 (R, R Sport, S, GT), and 2012 K1600 (GT, GTL) 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.
- Risk
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump(s) with an improved version, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1‑800‑525‑7417.
Recall number 20V471000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
- What is wrong
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 model year R-model motorcycles, model year 2005-2012 K-model motorcycles, model year 2010-2011 S 1000 model motorcycles, and model year 2006-2010 HP2 motorcycles. In the affected motorcycles, the fuel pump flange (and the auxiliary fuel pump flange if equipped) could develop cracks and leak fuel.
- Risk
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will either reinforce the fuel pump flange or replace the pump, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 16, 2014. Owners may contact BMW customer relations at 1‑800‑525‑7417 or email BMW at [email protected].
Recall number 13V617000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2009 BMW R1200 RT fuel gauge
Is wrong fuel gauge reading a common problem on the 2009 BMW R1200 RT?
5 of 36 owner complaints about the 2009 BMW R1200 RT (14%) mention wrong fuel gauge reading. The model year with the most reports is 2007.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2009 BMW R1200 RT?
There are 2 recalls and 0 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2009 BMW R1200 RT
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