RoadVitals

1999 BMW BMW Motorcycle

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Nov 12, 2009
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 13 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 BMW BMW Motorcycle, most frequently naming the powertrain (other), transmission and brakes categories. 2 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 13
Other / unspecified
Filed Nov 12, 2009
Crash reported2 injuries reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW K1200LTI. THE REAR WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE MOTORCYCLE WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20-25 MPH. CONSEQUENTLY HE AND THE PASSENGER WERE EJECTED FROM THE MOTORCYCLE . BOTH OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 18,600.

NHTSA ID
10291986
Incident
Sep 7, 2009
Mileage
18,600 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 31, 2009

THE FINAL DRIVE FAILED DUE TO THE LARGE CROWN GEAR BALL BEARING BREAKING APART LEAVING ME ON THE ROADSIDE,THIS HAPPENS TO ALOT OF BMW K 1200 LT MOTORCYCLES OWNERS AS BMW USED INFERIOR COMPONENTS AND POOR DESIGNING METHODS FOR THIS HEAVY 860 POUND MOTORCYCLE,IT USES THE SAME TYPE OF FINAL THAT IS USED FOR THE LIGHTER MOTORCYCLES ON THIS HEAVIER ONE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10278887
Incident
Jul 28, 2009
Mileage
63,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 4, 2007

FINAL DRIVE ON A 1999 BMW (NOT LISTED FOR MOTORCYCLES) K1200LT FAILED WITH UNDER 45,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10210816
Incident
Oct 18, 2007
Mileage
43,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 7, 2007

FAILURE OF FINAL DRIVE ON BMW MOTORCYCLE. BIKE HAD 50,000 MILES. COST $2,000 TO REPAIR, NOT COVERED! *TR

NHTSA ID
10208116
Incident
Aug 12, 2005
Mileage
50,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 20, 2007

I HAD TWO BEARING FAILURES IN THE FINAL DRIVE OF MY BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE. BOTH OF THESE BEARING FAILURES COULD HAVE LED TO A RUPTURE OF THE SEAL WHICH WOULD HAVE LET THE FINAL DRIVE LUBE FLOW OUT OF THE FINAL DRIVE ONTO THE REAR BRAKE AND REAR TIRE WHICH WOULD HAVE MADE THE REAR TIRE LOOSE TRACTION AND THE REAR BRAKE INOPERATIVE. THESE FAILURES CAUSED A COMPLETE FINAL DRIVE REBUILD AND REPLACEMENT OF ALL BEARINGS AND SEALS IN THE FINAL DRIVE AT A COST EXCEEDING $800.00 EACH.*JB

NHTSA ID
10197092
Incident
Oct 15, 2006
Mileage
68,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 4, 2004

BEARINGS IN THE FINAL DRIVE FAILED, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF LUBRICATION AND AN UNSTABLE REAR TIRE PREVENTING FURTHER SAFE TRAVEL.*AK

NHTSA ID
10093543
Incident
Sep 27, 2004
Mileage
40,810 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 3, 2004

REAR DRIVE FAILURE ON BMW K1200 LT. MOTORCYCLE STARTED VIBRATING AND REAR END STARTED WOBBLING. *JB

NHTSA ID
10074714
Incident
Jun 1, 2004
Mileage
51,865 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Apr 27, 2004

REAR DRIVE BEARING FAILURE, SECOND ONE IN 13,000 MILES. REAR DRIVE WAS NOTICABLY LOUD. HARMONIC GROWLING NOISE. I DISSASEMBLED IT AND THE LARGE BALL BEARING IS PITTED. THIS TIME I CAUGHT IT BEFORE CATASTOPHIC FAILURE. I PURCHASED A USED REAR DRIVE AND WILL REBUILD MY OLD ONE SO I CAN CARRY A SPARE. (PRETTY SAD WHEN A BMW PILOT HAS TO CARRY A SPARE REAR DRIVE).*AK

NHTSA ID
10067913
Incident
Apr 25, 2004
Mileage
30,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SB-00-021-07

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

BMW MOTORCYCLE: ENGINE FUELS CONTAINING ETHANOL. BMW MOTORRAD HAS NO OBJECTION TO THE USE OF SI ENGINE FUELS CONTAINING UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 10% ETHANOL AND IMPOSES NO WARRANTY RESTRICTIONS. ETHANOL MIXTURES IN PROPORTIONS HIGHER THAN 10% CAN HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON PERFORMANCE AND CAN RESULT IN DAMAGE TO COMPONENTS THAT COME INTO CONTRACT WITH FUEL. NO WARRANTY CLAIMS WHATSOEVER FOR DAMAGE CAUSED IN THIS WAY WILL BE ACCEPTED. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE

#2862

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

PROBLEMS CONCERNING POOR DISENGAGEMENT WHEN SUBJECT TO HIGH HEAT LOAD AS WELL AS PREMATURE CLUTCH WEAR. *YC

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW BMW Motorcycle by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001101—
2000130247.9
1999Viewing130036.2
1998400—
1997200—
1996300—
1995300—
1994200—
1992100—
1989100—
1988100—
1984000—
1983000—
1982000—
1981000—
1980000—
1979000—
1978000—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.