RoadVitals

2014 BMW K 1600 Gtl Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
7
Latest Oct 9, 2021
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
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Dec 30, 2013

What this page shows

Our database holds 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2014 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.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–7 of 7

Fuel system
Filed Oct 9, 2021
Fire reported

BMW has an open recall regarding a defective fuel pump. Affected bikes: BMW K 1600 GT, K 1600 GTL, K 1600 GTL Exclusive (2011-2014) When I contact BMW they tell me my VIN is not affected, but I have 100% confirmed that my fuel pump is leaking gas at a very unsafe rate. My bike year and model matches, and the effected part also matching, including the failure. This can cause my motorbike to turn into flames very easily as soon as it is turned on. I have seen it throw a flame but it stopped soon after. BMW is not willing to help me, even though there is an open recall.

NHTSA ID
11436183
Incident
Sep 30, 2021
Body & structure
Filed Sep 28, 2020

WHEN MY WIFE AND I CAME TO A STOP AFTER COMING OFF THE INTERSTATE, SHE ADJUSTED HER SELF ON THE SEAT OF THE 2014 BMW K1600 MOTORCYCLE, AS SHE USED THE ARM REST FOR SUPPORT IN SHIFFING HER WEIGH (SHE WEIGHTS 105 LBS) THE ARM REST SNAPPED OFF). HAD WE BEEN GOING INTO A TURN OR PASSING ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND IF SHE HAD BEEN USING THE ARMREST FOR SUPPORT AND IT BROKE, THIS COULD HAVE SHIFTED HER WEIGHT UNEXPECTIALLY WHICH MIGHT HAVE CAUSE THE DRIVE TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE. I REPORTED THIS TO THE DEALER AND BMW, RECEIVED A CALL FROM BMW ASKING ME TO CALL THEM BACK, I DID, SHORTLY AFTER GETTING THERE CALL. NO ANSWER, EMAILED THEM 4 TIMES, NO ANSWER. I CONSIDER THIS A FACTORY DEFECT WITH THE PART JUST SNAPPING OFF. I HAVE PICTURES OF MY BIKE TO SHOW IT WAS NOT DROPPED OR DAMAGED. SIMILY A BAD PART. I HAD TO USE EPOXEY TO FASTHEN IT BACK ON SO THAT MY WIFE WOULD NOT CUT HER SELF ON THE SHARP EDGES. THE LADY THAT CALLED FROM BMW SAID HERE NAME WAS ASHLEY, (800-831-1117 EXT 8816. HOWEVER, AFTER CALLING BACK 4 TIMES, ON TWO DAYS, AND 4 EMAILS, IT APPEARS THEY ARE TOO BUSY TO REPLY TO MY CONCERN.

NHTSA ID
11361509
Incident
Sep 20, 2020
Mileage
21,900 mi
SteeringSuspension
Filed Sep 22, 2018

WHILE RIDING THE BMW MOTORCYCLE THERE IS A PRONOUNCED PULL TO THE LEFT. THIS HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS. THE HIGHER THE SPEED THE GREATER THE PULL IS. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE APRIL 2014. DIFFERENT TIRES AND CHANGING THE RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURE MAKES NO IMPROVEMENT IN THE LEFT PULL.

NHTSA ID
11130793
Incident
May 30, 2014
Mileage
1,500 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jun 13, 2017

1. THE MOTORCYCLES PULLS TO THE LEFT. CONSTANT CORRECTION IS STRESSFUL ON HIGHWAYS AND TAXES ONE'S MUSCLES. 2. ENGINE HAS A TICKING NOISE (VALVE CHATTERING) AT 3000-3500 RPM BAND (FIRST NOTICED AT 8000 MILES) AND DEALER/MANUFACTURER IS UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THERE ARE LOTS OF K1600 ON THE ROAD WITH THIS ISSUE AND BMW HAS NO RESOLUTION FOR THIS. 3. SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL - FIRST OBSERVED AT APPROX 16000 MILES (IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIRD SERVICE) - THE MOTORCYCLE DOES NOT SLOT INTO 2ND AND NEUTRAL GEARS WITH PRECISION. FIRST GEAR HAS A LOUD CLUNK SOUND ON ENGAGING AND SOMETIMES CLUTCH DO NOT DISENGAGE FULLY ENOUGH THOUGH I WOULD DEPRESS THE LEVER FULLY. AT TIMES GEAR CHANGE REQUESTS ARE ABORTED AS THE GEAR CHANGE ENTERS LIMBO STATE. THE GEARBOX AND CLUTCH DO NOT WORK IN TANDEM FOR SMOOTH UPSHIFTS. AT STOP-N-GO TRAFFIC FINDING NEUTRAL BY ROCKING GEAR LEVER IS A PAIN. I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY LOT AT GEAR INDICATOR TO CONFIRM IS UPSHIFT WAS EXECUTED FROM 1ST TO 2ND (OR IS IT IN A LIMBO - NOT EVEN NEUTRAL). DURING THIS SITUATION THERE IS LOUD MECHANICAL GRINDING NOISE WHEN I WOULD WANT TO SLOT TO SECOND GEAR AND COUPLE OF ATTEMPTS TO UPSHIFT GO IN VAIN. BEEN RIDING FOR YEARS AND I KNOW ALL TIMING TECHNIQUES BUT A MISSED UPSHIFT PUTS ME AT RISK.

NHTSA ID
10995023
Incident
May 26, 2017
Mileage
16,200 mi
Steering
Filed Jun 10, 2015

THE MOTORCYCLE PULLS HARD TO THE LEFT (TOWARD ONCOMING TRAFFIC) WHEN LIGHT PRESSURE IS USED ON THE HANDLEBARS. THE VEHICLE BASICALLY DOES NOT TRACK STRAIGHT ON ITS OWN WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE TO COUNTERACT THE EFFECT. BMW WAS CONTACTED VIA MY LOCAL BMW LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WHO RULED OUT THE POSSIBILITY THAT IT COULD BE ANOTHER FACTOR WITH THE BIKE (TIRES, EXCESSIVE LOAD ON ONE SIDE, ETC.). BMW'S RESPONSE WAS THAT I SHOULD ADD WEIGHT TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE MOTORCYCLE TO MITIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND THAT ALL OF THESE K1600 MODELS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE TO VARYING DEGREES. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE BIKE DOES NOT TRACK STRAIGHT AND SIGNIFICANTLY PULLS TOWARD ONCOMING TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ID
10724639
Incident
Jun 10, 2015
Mileage
13,467 mi
Engine
Filed May 4, 2014

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC AT APPROXIMATELY 70MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITH NO WARNING. WE WERE FORCED TO GO OFF THE ROAD ON LEFT SHOULDER TO AVOID BEING STRUCK FROM BEHIND. ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART, AND WE COASTED ACROSS TO THE RIGHT SHOULDER WHEN IT WAS SAFE TO DO SO. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE. ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS WERE STILL WORKING, JUST NOT THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10586473
Incident
May 4, 2014
Mileage
504 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 30, 2013

THE MOTORCYCLE DOES NOT NATURALLY STEER STRAIGHT. IT REQUIRES SIGNIFICANT RIGHT HANDLEBAR PRESSURE TO KEEP IT STEERING STRAIGHT WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY AND A HEALTH HAZARD. WITHOUT THIS ADDITIONAL RIGHT HANDLEBAR PRESSURE, THE MOTORCYCLE QUICKLY STEERS TO THE LEFT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10557848
Incident
Dec 19, 2013
Mileage
3 mi

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.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .