Head-to-head reliability
BMW R 1200 S vs Toyota Camry
How the BMW R 1200 S and Toyota Camry compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
BMW R 1200 S vs Toyota Camry: The BMW has 1 complaint over 9 years (0.1/year) and 2 recalls, while the Camry has 2,056 complaints over 10 years (205.6/year) and 31 recalls. The BMW's complaint is a fuel leak; the Camry's include power train, engine, and brake issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the BMW R 1200 S or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
BMW R 1200 S
The BMW R 1200 S is a sporty motorcycle with very few reported issues over its nine-year span, averaging just 0.1 complaints per year. The only owner complaint describes gasoline leaking from under the fuel tank onto the cylinder head while riding, with no warning lights. Two recalls address wheel lug nuts/bolts/studs and the fuel pump. For a buyer, this suggests a machine with minimal reported problems, but the fuel leak and recalls are serious safety concerns that should be checked.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a popular sedan with a much higher complaint volume: 2,056 complaints over ten years, averaging about 206 per year. Owners report issues across the power train, engine, brakes, electrical system, and other areas, with 171 crash-related complaints, 158 injuries, and one death. Recalls cover seats, air bag occupant sensors, and wheel studs. For a buyer, this means many reported problems, though not every car will experience them.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | BMW R 1200 S | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 1 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 2 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 0 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 0.1 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 158 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 0 Better | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
BMW R 1200 S
- 01FUEL SYSTEM1
- 02GASOLINE1
One owner reported gasoline leaking from under the fuel tank onto the cylinder head while riding at about 35 mph, with no warning lights. This is a fire hazard and should be inspected immediately.
The same complaint describes gasoline leaking onto the cylinder head, which can ignite. Buyers should check for fuel odors or stains around the tank and engine.
“The contact owns a 2007 BMW R 1200S Motorcycle. The contact stated while riding at approximately 35 MPH, there was gasoline leaking from under the fuel tank onto the cylinder head. The contact stated that there were no warning lights illuminated. The contact…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners report the ignition key getting stuck and not coming out even when the car is in Park, sometimes requiring a battery disconnect. Others describe hesitation and shuddering while driving with the check engine light on.
Complaints include delayed throttle response when pressing the accelerator, with the car taking several seconds to move. This can be dangerous when merging or crossing traffic.
The electronic parking brake may not disengage, requiring a tow, and some owners hear a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area linked to the ABS system.
Multiple systems can malfunction at once, including stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping assistance. This can make the car hard to control.
“My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…”
“The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was hesitating and shuddering, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
BMW R 1200 S — 2 recalls
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 R1200GS and R1200RT, 2006-2010 R1200GS Adventure, 2007-2010 R1200R, 2007 R1200S and K1200R Sport, 2005-2007 R1200ST, 2008-2009 HP2 Megamoto, 2006 HP2 Enduro, 2008-2010 HP2 Sport, 2005-2008 K1200S, 2006-2008 K1200R, K1200GT, 2…
The risk: If the rear wheel mounting flange cracks, the mounting bolts may loosen and the rear wheel may not remain secured to the motorcycle, causing a loss of stability and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the existing aluminum rear wheel flange with a steel one, free of charge. The recall began on May 7, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The defect: 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 aux…
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
The fix: 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…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
BMW R 1200 S or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The BMW R 1200 S has far fewer issues per year (0.1 vs. 205.6), but both vehicles have serious reported problems. In practice, the BMW's low complaint count may mean fewer trips to the shop, while the Camry's high count suggests a higher chance of experiencing a defect.
Key differences
- The BMW R 1200 S has only 1 complaint over 9 years, while the Toyota Camry has 2,056 complaints over 10 years.
- The BMW's complaint is a fuel leak onto the cylinder head, a fire risk; the Camry's complaints include key stuck, hesitation, brake noise, and multiple electrical failures.
- The BMW has 2 recalls (wheel studs, fuel pump); the Camry has 31 recalls (seats, air bag sensors, wheel studs).
- The Camry has 171 crash-related complaints, 158 injuries, and 1 death; the BMW has 0 in each category.
- Check for any gasoline smell or wet spots under the fuel tank, especially near the cylinder head, as one owner reported a leak while riding.
- Verify that the fuel pump recall has been performed and inspect wheel lug nuts/bolts/studs for proper torque or damage.
- Test the ignition key removal in Park and listen for any hesitation or shuddering during a test drive, as owners report these power train issues.
- Check the electronic parking brake operation and listen for clicking or vibrating noises from the brake pedal area, which may indicate ABS problems.
Before you buy
- Ask for the vehicle's complete recall history and confirm all open recalls have been fixed.
- For the BMW, inspect the fuel tank area for leaks and check the fuel pump for proper operation.
- For the Camry, test the key removal, throttle response, and electronic parking brake during a test drive.
- Have a independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, focusing on the specific complaint areas for each model.
- Review the NHTSA complaint database for your specific model year to see if patterns apply.
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific BMW R 1200 S or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- BMW R 1200 S vs Toyota Camry
- BMW R 1200 S total complaints
- 1
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- BMW R 1200 S total recalls
- 2
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- BMW R 1200 S avg complaints/year
- 0.1
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- BMW R 1200 S
- BMW R 1200 S top complaint area
- FUEL SYSTEM
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN