Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Our database holds 33 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2012 BMW K 1600 Gtl. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Showing 1–25 of 33 · page 1 of 2
Strong scent of fuel odor. Plastic elbow connectors is the culprit . This is the 2nd time this bike went in for Fuel leak problem. 1st time it went in the Bmw service bike was at 19,500 miles went in for fuel leak recall. They said they fixed it but 300+ miles later at 19,800 miles it started a fuel leak again. This time bmw charge me to fix the fuel leak issue. Should have been part of the fuel leak recall issue.
Motorcycle has 45000miles and the transmission started to stutter in 4th gear, the symptoms match the recalled transmission for 2017 bmw k1600. This is very dangerous and in 4th gear the vehicle is traveling at around 50mph, when applying throttle the whole bike bucks and becomes unstable
Greetings. I was notified earlier this year of a recall on my bike. The recall was issued in February, 2021 for a safety issue with the fuel pump. While my dealer has been very understanding and responsive, I am told the part is not available and they have no idea when they will be able to repair this important safety defect. It has now been over 8 months since the recall and there is no information about the required repair. I am growing concerned about the safety issue with this situation and would like to know when I can expect the part to be available so that my personal safety is not at risk. Please advise. Thanks. NHTSA Recall Number21V060
Dealer has not received ANY parts to repair this and cannot provide a date when they expect to receive them.
The contact owns a 2012 BMW K-1600. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21V060000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW K 1600 GTL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V060000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE CONTACT CALLED BMW MOTORCYCLES OF GREATER CINCINNATI (140 N VERITY PKWY, MIDDLETOWN, OH 45042) WHERE AN APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE SERVICED HOWEVER, HE WAS CALLED THREE DAYS PRIOR TO THE APPOINTMENT AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER AND NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT ALSO CALLED TOM WOOD POWERSPORTS INDY (3400 E 96TH ST, INDIANAPOLIS, IN 46240) WHO ALSO INFORMED HIM THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOR MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.*DT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW K 1600 GTL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V060000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED BMW MOTORCYCLES SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN (14855 SHELDON RD, PLYMOUTH, MI 48170, (734) 453-0500) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
THIS BIKE LEAKS THE PRESSUREIZED GASOLINE FROM THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE SPRAYING THE GASOLINE ON TOP OF THE ENGIEN AND LEAKING DOWN TO AREA OF EXHAUST PIPES CAUSING VERY HUGE CHANGE OF FIRE. WE FOUND THE RECALL NUMBER 13V-617 FOR THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM FROM NHTSA:S WEBSITE BUT NOBODY FROM BMW OR HHTSA CONFORMS THAT THIS RECALL IS IMPLEMENTED. NOBODY KNOWS ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THE BIKE IS IMOPAREBLE NOW AND CAUSES HUGE RISK IF OPERATED IN THE CONDITION IT IS NOW. COULD YOU PLEASE TELL IF AND WHEN ABOVE RECALL HAPPENS? CAN WE BE COMPENSATED IF WE FIX THE BIKE BY OURSELVES. WE ARE MOTORCYCLE DELAER AND THIS BIKE IS IN OUR BIKES FOR SALE INVENTORY.
WHEN MOTORCYCLE IS TURNED ON, GAS STARTS GUSHING OUT. I RESEARCHED THE ISSUE WITH MY YEAR/MAKE/MODEL AND THERE HAS BEEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS ABOUT THE EXACT SAME THING OCCURRING. MOTORCYCLE WAS STATIONARY ON IT'S SIDE-STAND.
FUEL PUMP FAILURE; GAS WAS GUSHING ( APPROX. ONE-HALF LITER IN 2 MINUTES OUT OF BOTTOM OF MOTORCYCLE ON TO VERY HOT EXHAUST PIPE. VERY LUCKY BIKE DID NOT IGNITE GAS THAT WAS LEAKING DUE TO FAULTY FUEL PUMP.BIKE WAS IN MOTION ON CITY STREET (GREENFIELD AND BASELINE; GILBERT, AZ 85234 AT 1;00PM). TURNED OFF BIKE PUSHED TO PARKING LOT AND THEN MOVED BIKE TO STORAGE AREA.
AFTER RETURNING FROM A RIDE, I NOTICED A FUEL SMELL. I LOCATED DROPS OF FUEL BENEATH THE BIKE AND BEGAN TO TRACE THE LIQUID TO IT'S SOURCE. THE SOURCE WAS A CRACKED FUEL PUMP FLANGE WHERE A THREADED FITTING WAS INSTALLED. BMW ISSUED A RECALL ON 2012 K1600 GTLS, BUT DID NOT INCLUDE MY VIN. BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE CLAIMED MY BIKE WAS PRODUCED TWO MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL CUT OFF DATE. MY BIKE EXPERIENCED THE SAME LEAK AS DESCRIBED IN THEIR RECALL. THIS WAS VERIFIED BY THE LOCAL BMW DEALER, RIDENOW IN CHANDLER ARIZONA PER THE REQUEST OF BMW. AFTER "REVIEWING MY CASE", THEY HAVE DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL SYSTEM FAILURE I EXPERIENCED, THOUGH THE SAME AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL DOES NOT FALL UNDER THE RECALL. I SUGGEST THAT BMW HAS NOT INCLUDED ALL OF THE FAULTY FUEL SYSTEM BIKES IN THEIR ORIGINAL RECALL AND SHOULD EXPAND THE RECALL DATE OF MANUFACTURE TO INCLUDE VINS PRODUCED WITH THE SAME FAULTY FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS AS THOSE PRODUCED IN EARLY 2012. FROM THE ATTACHED PICTURE, YOU CAN PLAINLY SEE RAW FUEL SPRAYING OUT OF THE PUMP FLANGE AND TOWARD THE OPERATOR OF THE BIKE. THIS FUEL SPRAY OCCURS WHENEVER THE IGNITION IS "ON", EVEN WHEN THE ENGINE IS NOT RUNNING.
IN MOTION AT ANY SPEED AND ON ANY SURFACE IN ANY LANE THE MOTORCYCLE DRIFTS TO THE LEFT. THIS REQUIRES CONSTANT STEERING INPUT TO THE RIGHT TO COUNTERACT THE PULL TO THE LEFT. THIS CONSTANT STEERING INPUT LEADS TO EARLY FATIGUE OF THE RIDER'S ARMS AND CAUSES A DISTRACTION THAT IS COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE DAY 1 AND WHENEVER I MENTION IT TO A MECHANIC THEY EITHER TELL ME I AM WRONG OR THAT IT IS NORMAL. I HAVE OWNED MANY MOTORCYCLES OVER THE LAST 30 YEARS AND THIS IS THE ONLY ONE THAT HAS EVER HAD THIS PROBLEM.
THE BIKE WAS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD AND 18,000 MILES AND BROKE 3 OF THE 6 PISTONS SO INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE MOTOR THEN, THEY DECIDED TO REBUILD WITH NEW PISTONS NOW ONLY 2 YEARS LATER MORE PISTON TROUBLE ONLY 12,000 MILES THIS TIME NOW BMW SAYS ITS OUT OF WARENTY !!!!
THIS MOTORCYCLE HAS A HARD LEFT PULL, AND HAS HAD IT FROM DAY OF DELIVERY. BMW HAS NOT MADE ANY EFFORT TO FIX. THE REQUIREMENT TO CONSTANTLY COUNTERSTEER CAN BE DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY FATAL. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW K 1600 GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO PULL TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200. ## VIN PASSED ## BMW K 1600 GT 2012 ##
THE MOTORCYCLE "PULLS" SEVERELY TO THE LEFT AT ALL TIMES WHEN IN MOTION RESULTING IN DRIVER FATIGUE AND PAIN IN ARMS AND SHOULDERS FROM CONSTANT COUNTER-STEERING. THE BIKE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY REPORT THAT BMW DOESN'T CONSIDER IT A PROBLEM AND WILL NOT FIX IT. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE OF 2011. *TR
I WAS TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON A BUSY INTERSTATE, WHEN I WENT TO PASS A CAR. I TWISTED THE THROTTLE AND THE BIKE BEGAN TO GAIN SPEED NORMALLY, AND THEN SUDDENLY IT LOST ALL POWER. I WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF OTHER TRAFFIC AND COAST ONTO THE SHOULDER, WHERE I DISCOVERED THE ENGINE WAS ACTUALLY STILL RUNNING, BUT THE THROTTLE CONTROL WAS COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE. AN INDICATOR LIGHT ON THE DASH WAS ILLUMINATED, WHICH, ACCORDING TO THE MANUAL, MEANT THE ENGINE HAD GONE INTO "EMERGENCY OPERATION MODE." AFTER SHUTTING THE BIKE OFF AND RESTARTING A FEW TIMES, IT RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED OUT, THEY SAID THE HISTORY CONFIRMED THAT THE BIKE HAD LOST ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL FOR THE FLY-BY-WIRE SYSTEM, BUT WAS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY NOW. THEY WERE UNABLE TO SUGGEST ANY POSSIBLE CAUSES OR FIXES FOR THE PROBLEM, OR PREDICT WHEN, OR IF, IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THE SERVICE TECH LITERALLY SHRUGGED HIS SHOULDERS AT ME AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. I KNOW MOTORCYCLES ARE INHERENTLY DANGEROUS, BUT THIS IS A POTENTIALLY LIFE-THREATENING FLAW. *JB
UNABLE TO LOWER WIND SCREEN. LEFT HAND SWITCH FAILED, SCREEN STUCK IN LOWER POSITION SUBJECTING RIDER AND PASSENGER TO HEAVY RAIN AND WIND DURING CROSS COUNTRY TRIP. THE SWITCHES ON THE BMW K1600 MOTORCYCLES OFTEN FAIL, E.G. BIKE TURNS OFF, CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK, TURN SIGNAL INOPERABLE. DEALER, MORTON'S BMW TELLS ME THESE SWITCHES CONTINUE TO FAIL ON NUMEROUS K1600S. SWITCHES ARE NOT AVAILABLE AFTER 6 WEEKS OF BEING "ON ORDER" *JB
TURN SIGNALS WILL NOT TURN OFF BY SWITCH ONCE ACTIVATED. THIS CAUSES AN UNSAFE CONDITION, AS TRAFFIC COULD ENTER FROM THE RIGHT OR LEFT ASSUMING THE MOTORCYCLE OPERATOR INTENDS TO TURN, CAUSING THE POTENTIAL FOR A BROADSIDE COLLISION WHICH WOULD LIKELY CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO THE MOTORCYCLE OPERATOR. THE TURN SIGNAL FIRST PRESENTED THIS DEFECT DURING A RELATIVELY HOT DAY (90 DEGREE) AND DURING COOLER WEATHER WORKED NORMALLY. NOW THE CONDITION IS MORE RECURRING EVEN AT LOWER TEMPERATURES. THE TURN SIGNAL SWITCH IS PART OF THE LEFT MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH HOUSING. *JS
I WAS RIDING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT. THIS HAPPENED EIGHT TIMES WITHIN 400 MILES. *TR
THE SWITCH FOR THE SIGNALS ( LEFT TURN ) STOP FUNCTIONING. I WAS 30 MILES FROM HOME AND HAD TO USE HAND SIGNALS. *TR
MY BMW K1600GTL HAS EXPERIENCED 3 FAILURES OF THE MULTI-PURPOSE ELECTRICAL CONTROL SWITCH ON THE LEFT HANDLEBAR AND 1 FAILURE OF THE MULTI-PURPOSE SWITCH ON THE RIGHT HANDLEBAR. THE LEFT HANDLEBAR FAILURES WERE THE HIGH/LOW BEAM SWITCH 2 TIMES AND THE MENU BUTTON 1 TIME. THE RIGHT HANDLEBAR FAILURE WAS THE MODE SWITCH THAT CONTROLS ENGINE MAPPING FOR ROAD, DYNAMIC AND RAIN. I WAS TOLD BY TWO BMW MOTORCYCLE DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEES THAT THESE FAILURES ARE VERY COMMON AND BMW DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM. THE ISSUE WITH THESE SWITCHES ARE SAFETY RELATED BECAUSE FAILURE OF THE FUNCTIONS THEY PROVIDE CAN LEAD TO AN UNSAFE CONDITION, E.G., TURN SIGNAL, HIGH/LOW BEAM, HORN, WIND SCREEN HEIGHT, ENGINE MAPPING, ENGINE KILL SWITCH, ETC.
MY BMW K1600GTL HAS EXPERIENCED FOUR (4) FAILURES OF THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL SWITCHES ON THE HANDLEBARS. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS ON THE LEFT SIDE CAUSING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL TO NOT FUNCTION. THE SECOND FAILURE WAS OF THE REPLACED LEFT HANDLEBAR CLUSTER CAUSING THE HIGH BEAM (HEADLIGHTS) TO NOT FUNCTION. THE THIRD SWITCH FAILURE WAS AGAIN ON THE LEFT SWITCH CLUSTER ON THE TURN SIGNAL CANCEL SWITCH CAUSING THE TURN SIGNALS TO FUNCTION FOR 0.2 MILES UNTIL THEY SELF CANCELED. THIS WAS THE MOST HAZARDOUS SITUATION AS OTHER VEHICLES WOULD ATTEMPT TO PULL IN FRONT OF ME THINKING I WAS SIGNALING FOR A TURN. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE HAS BEEN THE RIGHT HANDLEBAR SWITCH CLUSTER AND FAILURE OF THE CENTRAL LOCKING SYSTEM. THIS FAILURE IS NOT SIGNIFICANT, BUT THIS SWITCH CLUSTER ALSO CONTROLS THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT MODES AS WELL AS THE START/ENGINE KILL SWITCHES. FAILURE OF EITHER ONE OF THOSE SWITCHES COULD BE DETRIMENTAL. 5 SWITCHES (SOME SAFETY RELATED) IN 2 YEARS IS EXCESSIVE. *TR
THREE (3) K1600 GTL SUDDEN ENGINE CUTOFF EVENTS THAT I EXPERIENCED ON JUNE 14, AND JUNE 16, 2013. THIS DOCUMENTS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY CONCERN ON MY 2012 BMW K1600GTL. IN THREE SEPARATE EVENTS, MY K1600GTL ENGINE SHUTDOWN AT FULL SPEED (75 MPH, 55 MPH) WHILE ON THE THROTTLE WITH NO ADVANCE NOTICE. ALL THREE EVENTS WERE 'ON THE THROTTLE' EVENTS - NOT COASTING. THE BIKE ENGINE SHUTDOWN ABRUPTLY AND THE BIKE JOLTED FORWARD. I HAD TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION DURING ALL THREE EVENTS TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I CONSIDER THEM TO BE SIGNIFICANT NEAR MISSES THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH. IMMEDIATELY UPON GETTING THE BIKE OFF THE ROAD, THE BIKE WOULD NOT START IMMEDIATELY. HOWEVER, AS SOON AS I SWITCHED THE IGNITION KEY TO OFF, THEN ON, THE BIKE STARTED RIGHT UP AND I WAS ABLE TO RIDE. THE DEALER INDICATED THE FIX WAS A SOFTWARE UPGRADE, TO ELIMINATE A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE VALVE CONTROL SOFTWARE OR PROGRAM. I HAD ASKED IF THIS WAS A KNOWN UPGRADE, HE WAS SURE. I POSED THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS TO THE DEALER AND AM AWAITING A REPLY: 1. FIVE (5) SERVICE BULLETINS ON THE BIKE ARE NOTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. ARE THERE ACTUALLY FIVE SERVICE BULLETINS ON THE BIKE? HAVE ALL FIVE OF THESE SERVICE BULLETINS BEEN APPLIED TO MY BIKE? 2.DID THE THROTTLE VALVE SOFTWARE HAVE A KNOWN PROBLEM? WAS THERE ACTUALLY A SOFTWARE OR FIRMWARE UPGRADE YOU APPLIED TO THE MOTORCYCLE COMPUTER OR WAS THE ORIGINAL REVISION NUMBER OF THE SOFTWARE SIMPLY RELOADED INTO THE BIKE COMPUTER AS THERE WAS A BUG SHOWN ON THE DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER? 3.REPORTS OF THIS TYPE OF EVENT FOR BMW K1600 GTL/GT OWNERS. I ACKNOWLEDGE OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM AS NOTED ON THE FORUM, AND HERE IS A VIDEO OF ONE OTHER RIDER - MY SITUATION WAS IDENTICAL TO THIS. HTTP://WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/ALL_COMMENTS?V=WRYFI9EBU8W. *TR
EXCESSIVE DRIVELINE BACKLASH THROUGH GEAR BOX OR DRIVESHAFT. RESULT, I NEARLY CRASHED ON THE MOTORWAY AT A LOWER SPEED WHEN MANAGING THE BIKE ON AN OFF THE THROTTLE. THE SUSPENSION GETS UNBALANCED WITH THE KANGAROOING OF THE BIKE BACK AND FORWARD WHEN IN GEAR AND GOING FROM A POWER TO ENGINE BREAKING VICE VERSA SITUATION. I HAVE BEEN RIDING FOR 20 YEARS AND THIS IS THE MOST DANGEROUS DRIVELINE I HAVE EVERY FELT AND DID NOT AT ALL FEEL SAFE RIDING IT. EXPERIENCE BMW MOTORCYCLES IN AUCKLAND SOLD THE BIKE BUT STILL MAINTAIN ITS NORMAL!! GO FIGURE. TOOK THE BIKE TO THE MOTOR VEHICLE DISPUTE TRIBUNAL AND WITH AN INDEPENDENT TEST RIDE THEY DEEMED THE BIKE TO BE NOT OF ACCEPTABLE QUALITY AND NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE. APPARENTLY THEY ARE ALL LIKE THIS?? BMW ARE SETTING THEMSELVES UP FOR A LAW SUIT HERE. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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