2003 BMW K1200 GT Owner Complaints

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW K1200 GT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AT 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE SLID FROM UNDER HIM AND CRASHED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BRUISES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS INDEPENDENTLY INSPECTED AND A FUEL LEAK WAS DISCOVERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,082.

NHTSA ID

10555953

Incident

Aug 3, 2013

Mileage

28,082 mi

I FOUND A 4 FT DIAMETER PUDDLE OF GASOLINE ON MY GARAGE FLOOR. THE AIR IN THE GARAGE WAS ALSO VERY THICK WITH GASOLINE FUMES. I NOTICED A STEADY DRIPPING FROM THE BMW MOTORCYCLE AS THE SOURCE OF THE GASOLINE, WHICH HAD BEEN DRIPPING OVERNIGHT. I FEEL FORTUNATE TO HAVE CAUGHT THIS ISSUE BEFORE THE GAS IGNITED AND BURNED THE MOTORCYCLE AND POSSIBLY THE GARAGE. THERE WAS NO WAY TO STOP THE DRIPPING AND SO I REMOVED THE FAIRING THAT COVERS THE ENGINE (NOT A SIMPLE JOB) AND FOUND ONE OF THE PLASTIC FUEL DISCONNECTS HAD BROKEN AND WAS LEAKING GAS. UPON INSPECTING THE FITTING, I FOUND THAT A PLASTIC MALE QUICK DISCONNECT FUEL FITTING HAD BROKEN CLEANLY, IF EXPOSED TO FULL SYSTEM PRESSURE, GASOLINE WOULD HAVE GUSHED ONTO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE MOTOR AND MY RIGHT LEG HAD I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CYCLE, IN RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, I FIND IT IS VERY COMMONPLACE. THERE IS AN ACTION THAT DEALERS ARE SUPPOSED TO TAKE TO "INSPECT" THE FITTINGS AND REPLACE IF LEAKING. MY CYCLE WAS IN FOR SERVICE AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AT 8211 MILES. LESS THAN 500 MILES PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE INSPECTION SOLUTION DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM AS THE FITTING FAILED SUDDENLY AND CATASTROPHICALLY. UNTIL THAT POINT, THEY MAY NOT LEAK. MINE SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF LEAKING UNTIL IT FAILED COMPLETELY. ALSO, THE WAY THE FUEL LINES ARE SECURED PLACES BENDING STRESS ON THE FITTINGS THAT MAY ENCOURAGE THE BREAKING OF THE MALE FITTING AT THE NARROW DIAMETER OF THE CONNECTOR WHERE THE PLASTIC IS VERY THIN. GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE, ITS FREQUENCY, AND THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES OF PUMPING FUEL AT FULL CAPACITY ONTO THE RIDER AND HOT ENGINE, I FEEL THE INSPECTION SOLUTION IS INADEQUATE AND ALL OF THESE PLASTIC FITTINGS SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH THE METAL FITTING THAT IS NOW BEING USED ON LATE MODELS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10513994

Incident

May 28, 2013

Mileage

8,630 mi