RoadVitals

2003 BMW K1200 S

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.
2
Latest Jan 9, 2008
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.
1
Latest Feb 23, 2007
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 BMW K1200 S, most frequently naming the fuel system and transmission categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 9 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

  • Fuel system150.0%
  • Transmission150.0%

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

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
07V066000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Feb 23, 2007
6,631 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, FREQUENT SHORT TRIPS PARTICULARLY DURING COLD TEMPERATURES, CAN CAUSE WATER TO ACCUMULATE IN THE OIL TANK, AND WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING, ESCAPING WATER VAPOR CAN CONDENSE ON THE OIL TANK AIR BLEED VALVE. IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES, THIS WATER COULD FREEZE AND BLOCK THE AIR BLEED VALVE.
The risk: IT IS POSSIBLE THAT A PRESSURE BUILD UP IN THE OIL TANK COULD CAUSE IT TO RUPTURE, ALLOWING OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE REAR TIRE. AN OIL LEAK COULD CAUSE A FIRE. OIL ON THE REAR TIRE COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW OIL TANK CAP CONTAINING A VALVE TO PREVENT OVERPRESSURE IN THE TANK FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 10, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Fuel system
Filed Jan 9, 2008

(1) EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: NORMAL USE OF THE VEHICLE (MOTORCYCLE), NOTHING OUT OF THE ORDINARY. THE SAME FAILURE HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES (TWICE WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD (3/36) AND ONCE OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY. (2) FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES: THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE CONNECTORS BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL RAIL CRACK AND LEAK FUEL. ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE PERSONAL AT THE BMW DEALERSHIP, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. (3) WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; I.E, PARTS REPAIRED OR REPLACED (AND IF OLD PART IS AVAILABLE): THE FACTORY (PLASTIC) FUEL LINE CONNECTORS WERE INSTALLED UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER, WHEN I WENT TO BUY THE REPLACEMENT CONNECTORS AT THE DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD I SHOULD BUY STEEL CONNECTORS, THAT THE PLASTIC ONES BREAK ALL THE TIME. YES, I HAVE THE OLD FUEL LINE CONNECTORS (FROM THE LAST REPAIR). *TR

NHTSA ID
10214261
Incident
Jan 7, 2008
Mileage
15,000 mi
Transmission
Filed May 23, 2007

CLUTCH FAILURE WHILE DRIVING CAUSED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. WHILE PULLING OUT OF AN INTERSECTION, THE CLUTCH ON THE 2003 BMW K1200GT MOTORCYCLE FAILED, CAUSING ME TO BE UNABLE TO PULL OUT AND ACCELERATE. ONCOMING TRAFFIC WAS FORCED TO SWERVE TO AVOID KILLING ME AND CAUSING A SEVERE ACCIDENT. MINOR RESEARCH TURNED UP THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE OF OIL LEAKING ONTO THE CLUTCH CAUSING TOTAL FAILURE. *AK THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. THE BIKE WILL BE FIXED SHORTLY, BUT IS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AND ONCE FIXED, THE ORIGINAL PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION. PLEASE CONTACT ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO INSPECT THE MOTORCYCLE IN ITS CURRENT STATE. *AK SINCERELY, TOM VICKERMAN

NHTSA ID
10191554
Incident
May 10, 2007
Mileage
10,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

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

MC62133778

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)

Map data should be stored on a 64 GB SD card. In GARMIN Express the note appears that a maximum of 32 GB is possible.

SIB-63-02-01

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

BMW: PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING AND REPLACING INCANDESCENT AND HALOGEN LIGHT BULBS UNDER WARRANTY. *RM

SIB-16-02-09

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

BMW VEHICLES: FUEL LEVEL SENSOR REPAIRS. WHERE IT IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT SIDE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR DUE TO A FAILURE, THE ENTIRE PUMP AND HOUSING OR DELIVERY UNIT (SUCTION JET ASSEMBLY) DO NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. IN SOME CASES, EPC DOES NOT SHOW THAT THE REPAIR KIT IS AVAILABLE SEPARATELY IN THE ILLUSTRATION, BUT IT IS AVAILABLE IN THE PARTS DESCRIPTION. ALL MODELS. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE

SB-17927831-02

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC

BMW MOTORCYCLE: WHEEL SPEED DEPENDENT, CLEARLY AUDIBLE CLANKING NOISE OCCURS WHEN BRAKING TO ADJUST SPEED. E SERIES (K25; K25/02; K25/03; K25/11; K25/12; K25/HP; K26; K27; K28; K29; K29/HP; K40; K41; K43; K43/HV; K44; K589/03; K71). NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE

SIB-61-001-08

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS

BMW MOTORCYCLES: ESA REAR SPRING STRUT CANNOT BE CALIBRATED WITH THE GT1, CIP ERROR 14007. ALL MODELS WITH ESA, EXCEPT R1200R (K27), R1200GS (K25/11) AND R1200GS ADV. (K25/12). MODEL YEARS UNKNOWN. *PE

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 S by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2010100—
2009000—
2008137152.6
2007471—
2006156152.0
2005157165.8
2004310—
2003Viewing210—

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.