RoadVitals

2004 BMW K1200 GT

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.
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Latest Sep 20, 2014
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.
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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.
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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.
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Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 BMW K1200 GT, most frequently naming the brakes, powertrain (other) and fuel system categories. 12 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

  • Brakes350.0%
  • Powertrain (other)233.3%
  • Fuel system116.7%

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

Brakes
Filed Sep 20, 2014

WITH REFERENCE TO COMPLAINT NUMBER 10630065 FILED ON 2 SEPTEMBER 2014, THE FOLLOWING IS ADDED: WHEN THE DEFECTIVE ABS PUMP ON THESE BMW MOTORCYCLES IS REPLACED BY DEALERS, THE NEW PUMPS SUPPLIED ARE NO BETTER THAN THE ONES IT REPLACES AND PRONE TO THE SAME FAILURES. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10637751
Incident
Aug 31, 2014
Mileage
14,800 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 2, 2014

AT A SPEED OF 50 MPH, I APPLIED BOTH FRONT AND REAR POWER ASSISTED BRAKES AND THE REAR BRAKE DID NOT WORK. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW USING THE FRONT BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. A MASTER CAUTION LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS A RAPIDLY BLINKING BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT. THIS IS A KNOWN AND VERY EXPENSIVE FAILURE ON ALL BMW MOTORCYCLES COSTING UP TO $3000 TO REPAIR AT A DEALER. WHEN REPAIRED, THESE BRAKE SYSTEMS ARE STILL SUBJECT TO FAIL WITHOUT WARNING IN THE SAME MANNER AS DESCRIBED ABOVE. THIS HAS AND WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH AND PERSONAL INJURY UP TO AND INCLUDING RIDER/PASSENGER DEATH. THE COMPANY SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL THE AFFECTED BIKES (1997-PRESENT MODEL) TO INSPECT AND REPAIR THESE VERY EXPENSIVE, FAILURE PRONE BRAKE SYSTEMS WITHOUT COST TO THE OWNERS. UPDATED 10/22/14. *JB UPDATED 12/15/14. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE FAILURE OF THE ABS MODULE LEAVES THE MOTORCYCLE WITH MINIMAL TO NO BRAKING ABILITY. UPDATED 09/28/15.

NHTSA ID
10630065
Incident
Aug 30, 2014
Mileage
14,800 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 8, 2013

FINAL DRIVE CROWN BEARING WORE PREMATURELY AND CAUSED THE REAR WHEEL TO MAKE NOISE AND WOBBLE SLIGHTLY WHEN RIDDEN. COULD HAVE BECOME A VERY SERIOUS SITUATION IF I HAD NOT BEEN ATTENTIVE TO EXACTLY HOW THE BIKE WAS SOUNDING AND ACTING.

NHTSA ID
10542486
Incident
Sep 3, 2012
Mileage
27,600 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 2, 2012

THE OE PART IS MADE OF PLASTIC AND ACCORDING TO INTERNET SEARCH THEY ARE PRONE TO BREAKING WITH AGE. MINE BEGAN SPILLING FUEL ON THE HOT ENGINE. I HAVE ORDERED A METAL REPLACEMENT! THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS PROBLEM SINCE GASOLINE WAS ALSO SPRAYED ON MY LEG AND BOOT AND ANY IGNITION SOURCE COULD HAVE SET ME AND THE CYCLE ON FIRE. *JS

NHTSA ID
10463946
Incident
Jun 29, 2012
Mileage
10,153 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 22, 2012
Crash reported

FAILED OF POWER BRAKE ASSIST, THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AMONG FORUM MEMBERS IN NUMBERS THAT WOULD INDICATE THAT THIS ISSUE IS FAR MORE THAN AN ISOLATED ISSUE IN MULTIPLE FORUMS FOR BMW MOTORCYCLES. DEALERS HAVE NOT INDICATED ANY SAFETY RECALLS OR ADMIT TO ANY PROBLEMS. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT THE POWER ASSIST BRAKES MAY FAIL AT ANYTIME OR WILL ACTIVATE AT ANY TIME WHILE USING THE BRAKES UNDER NON ASSIST CONDITIONS AND ACTIVATING IN THE MIDDLE OF A BRAKE ACTIVATION CAUSING WHEEL LOCK UP AND NO CONTROL OF MOTORCYCLE. THIS RESULTED IN A DUMP OF MOTORCYCLE LUCKILY AT LOW SPEED AND NO REAL INJURY BUT IT HAS HAPPENED AT HIGHER SPEED WHILE ANTICIPATING A PROBLEM AND WAS ABLE TO COUNTER CONTROL BIKE TO KEEP IT UP AND OTHER TIMES THE BIKE WOULD HAVE NO BRAKES AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10456011
Incident
Oct 13, 2011
Mileage
99,653 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 4, 2012

FINAL DRIVE UNIT, CROWN GEAR OUTER BEARING FAILURE. FOUND DURING INSPECTION DURING SERVICE. *KB

NHTSA ID
10446658
Incident
Jul 10, 2010
Mileage
47,145 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

B611305

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle “discharged battery” complaints.

MC610107

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

There is a possibility of the "EWS" (electronic immobilizer) error message being displayed in the instrument cluster of the K 1200 GT (K44). If this occurs the engine will not start.

MC460807

EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE

Manufacturing tolerances between the center stand and the main frame can result in excessive endplay of the center-stand pivot mount.

MC650109

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

IT is no longer necessary to place a PMP coded part order to obtain a Repair Enabling code

B611305

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Discharged Battery Energy Diagnosis Must Be Performed: The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle "discharged battery" complaints. In order to properly repair the vehicle the first time in the workshop, it is very important that the diagnostic test plans are performed to completion, with all results taken into consideration. Without performing the energy diagnosis test plan, the root cause of the discharged battery cannot be identified. This increases the chances of a repeat repair.

MC64010520

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

Incorrect tire pressure appears in the instrument cluster. Contamination or obstruction of the RDC sensor.

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 K1200 GT by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2010000
2009000
2008347149.7
2007287146.3
2006115144.6
2005230
2004Viewing600
2003200

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.