RoadVitals

2004 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.
3
Latest Mar 4, 2019
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 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 BMW K1200 S, most frequently naming the brakes category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 14 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

  • Brakes3100.0%

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

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

Brakes
Filed Mar 4, 2019

ABS SYSTEM FAILED AT 26K, UPON RESEARCH,FOUND THIS TO BE VERY COMMON TO THIS YEAR/MODEL, AND ,OF COURSE, VERY DANGEROUS ON A MOTORCYCLE.A REPLACEMENT ABS UNIT COST IS MORE THAT THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE!, AS A RETIRED FIREFIGHTER, I CAN'T AFFORD THIS RIDICULOUS EXPENSE,ANS AS A RESULT,HAVE REMOVED THE SYSTEM, RESULTING IN NO POWER BRAKES,NO ABS, AND NO SPEEDOMETER.

NHTSA ID
11183945
Incident
Jan 15, 2016
Mileage
26,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 13, 2018

I-ABS PUMP MODULE FAILURE ON VERY LOW MILEAGE VEHICLE, MAINTAINED PER MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS. ABS PUMP FAILURE CAUSES "RESIDUAL BRAKING" DEFAULT, WHICH IS ABOUT 20% OF NORMAL BRAKE PERFORMANCE AND SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN NEEDED TO REASONABLY STOP AND CONTROL THIS VERY HEAVY MOTORCYCLE. ADVANCE WARNING OF ABS PUMP FAILURE IS NOT ASSURED, SO THIS MAY RESULT IN DEATH OR LIFE THREATENING CONDITIONS.

NHTSA ID
11140099
Incident
Oct 4, 2018
Mileage
10,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 17, 2007

TL* -THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK OF HIS MOTORCYCLE A 2004 BMW K1200 S. THE CONTACT TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO A DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RIVETS ON THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY WERE SEPARATING FROM THE ANTI- LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. THE MECHANIC TOLD THE CONTACT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH BMW MOTORCYCLES. THE BMW DEALER SAID THAT THEY WOULD PAY FOR THE PARTS, BUT NOT THE LABOR. THE 2004 K1200 BMW MOTORCYCLE HAS 43,000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ID
10178896
Incident
Jun 1, 2006
Mileage
43,000 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.

MC000521

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

One of the following situations can occur when connecting to BN2000 motorcycles: 1. The installed control units cannot be found when reading out with ISTA. 2. Control units initially communicate after connecting to the vehicle, but communication later stops.

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.

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.

MC50349142

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

Bluetooth issues between Navigators, mobile phones, communication and audio systems.

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
2004Viewing310
2003210

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.