1999 BMW K1200LT Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1999 BMW K1200LT, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Powertrain (other)3566.0%
- Suspension47.5%
- Brakes35.7%
- Transmission23.8%
- Visibility23.8%
- Engine23.8%
- Exterior lighting11.9%
- Driver assistance11.9%
- Fuel system11.9%
- Body & structure11.9%
- Other / unspecified11.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
I'VE OWNED THIS BIKE SINCE 2002 AND SILL HAVE IT. DURING THAT TIME I HAVE EXPERIENCE TWO REAR DRIVE FAILURES AS DESCRIBED IN ODI NO. 10439549, AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001. AT THE TIME BMW WAS IN DENIAL ABOUT THE ISSUE OR CLAIMED THAT IT WAS RARE. WELL, I KNOW 6 PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME MOTORCYCLE AND WE'VE ALL HAD THE REAR DRIVE FAIL. I AM THE ONLY ONE TO HAVE IT FAIL TWICE. I BELIEVE BMW HAS SUPERSEDED THAT LARGE BEARING IN THE REAR DRIVE WITH A NEW PART NUMBER AND IT'S HOLDING UP BETTER. ANYWAY, THE FROST TIME MY REAR DRIVE FAILED THE BEARING HAD "PAULED" AND AS IT CAUSED [XXX] DRAG THE CAGE AROUND THE BALL BEARINGS CAME APART AND TOOK OUT THE SEAL. ONCE RELIEVED OF IT'S OIL IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE THE BEARING FAILS. THE REAR LOCKED AND I CAME TO A STOP MORE RAPIDLY THAN I WOULD HAVE LIKED. I DROPPED THE BIKE TO THE RIGHT AND DID A LITTLE BODY DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND SADDLE BAGS. I WAS OK BUT STRANDED WEST OF FRISCO COLORADO. I WAITED MOST OF THE NIGHT FOR A TOW TRUCK TO COME UP FROM DENVER. I SLEPT ON THE SIDEWALK OF THE BMW DEALER THAT NIGHT AND HAD TO RENT A CAR AND "CAMP" WHILE WAITING FOR REPAIRS. MISSED MOST OF A WEEK OF WORK TOO. ANYWAY, THE SECOND FAILURE I CAUGHT EARLIER AND BOUGHT THE PARTS AND ASSISTED ION THE REPAIR SO IT COST MAYBE $600 COMPARE TO THE BMW REPAIR OF $1700. IN TOTAL THAT AND $100 RENTAL AND $50 CAMPING AND WHO KNOWS WHAT A WEEK OF WORTH COST ME. *TR
SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN ODI NO. 10439549, AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001. THIS SAME PART HAS FAILED THREE TIMES DURING THE LAST SIX YEAR, OR APPROXIMATELY EVERY 10,000 MILES. *TR
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE REAR DRIVE FAILURE. REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING.*AK
FAILURE OF A REAR END BEARING AND OIL SEAL ON MY 1999 BMW K1200LTI MOTORCYCLE. THIS FAILURE CAUSED AN OIL SPILL AND A SERIOUS POTENTIAL AND DANGEROUS SITUATION. *PH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
SPRING OF 2009, THE ABS LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD OF MY TEN YEAR OLD BMW 1999 K1200 LT BEGAN FLASHING. TOOK IT TO A BMW DEALER, BMW DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS ABS MODULE FAILURE, CLAIMED IT WAS DUE TO BRAKE FLUID NOT BEING CHANGED REGULARLY, AS LISTED IN OWNERS MANUAL, SAME AS HARLEY. THIS IS THE SAME DEAL HARLEY IS DEALING WITH NOW, IN 2018 THE BMW'S NEED INVESTIGATED! HOW HAS BMW GOTTEN AWAY WITHOUT DOING A RECALL AND PAYING FOR THE DEFECTIVE ABS MODULES, DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE AS HARLEY? THIS COULD KILL SOMEONE! THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY BMW, IT IS ALL OVER THE BLOGS, YOU CAN NOT EVEN FIND A USED ABS MODULE TO BUY TO REBUILD, THE ISSUE IS SO BAD. THE ABS MODULE ISSUE, WITH THE BMW'S IS SO BAD, THERE IS A COMPANY, OUT THERE, THAT HAS SET UP A REMANUFACTURING PROCESS TO REBUILD THE ABS MODULES. BMW SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO DO A RECALL AND PAY FOR THIS REPAIR, IT IS A $2,500 + FIX. THE DEALER CLAIMS IT IS DUE TO NOT CHANGING BREAK FLUID REGULARLY, DID THEY PROPERLY INFORM BIKE OWNERS OF THIS ISSUE, NO! BMW IS GETTING AWAY WITH THIS, BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT AS MANY BIKES SOLD, LESS COMPLAINTS, BUT THIS NEEDS INVESTIGATED ALSO, JUST LIKE AS HARLEY HAS BEEN REQUIRED, BMW NEEDS TO BE REQUIRED TO DO A RECALL AND PAY FOR THE FIX!
FINAL DRIVE ON MY 1999 BMW K1200LT FAILED AT 52,000 MILES. PARTS AND LABOR ARE OVER $1400. *NM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE REAR DRIVE ASSEMBLY ON MY BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE STARTED VIBRATING AND MAKING GRINDING NOISES. IT THEN DUMPED DRIVE OIL ALL OVER THE REAR WHEEL AND TIRE, CAUSING THE REAR BRAKES TO BECOME INOPERATIVE AND THE REAR TIRE TO SLIP ON THE ROAD. I WAS FORTUNATELY ABLE TO BRING THE BIKE UNDER CONTROL AND TO A COMPLETE STOP THUS AVOIDING A SERIOUS CRASH.*AK
SHIFT LINKAGE BROKE ON 1999 BMW K1200 LT ICON MOTORCYCLE. VIN [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
FINAL DRIVE HAVE BEING REBUILT ONE YEAR EARLIER & AGAIN I LOST CONTROL REAR TIRE WHILE RIM START IT WOBBLING OUT CONTROL, BIKE WEIGHT 840 POUNDS VERY DIFFICULT AND WITH MY WIFE ON BOARD THANKS GOD WE ARE ALIVE. GOLD STAR BMW DEALER IN QUEENS DETERMINE THAT I NEED A BRAND NEW FINAL DRIVE,I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO BE ALIVE; FINAL DRIVE IT WAS TOTAL BLOWN AWAY INTO LITTLE PIECES . REPAIR COST AROUND $1500.00 DOLLARS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WHEN HITTING A BUMP ON ROAD SURFACE LEFT HAND SIDE MIRROR FELL COMPLETELY OFF. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES DEALERSHIP REPLACED MIRROR FOR FREE.*JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW K1200LT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON START UP OF HIS MOTORCYCLE, THE MOTORCYCLE CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE MOTORCYCLE WITH WATER BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE HIS MOTORCYCLE OUT OF HIS BUILDING AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED; THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER HAVE YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE REMAINED IN THE POSSESSION OF THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 152,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF*JB
REAR DRIVE FAILURE CAUSES OIL TO LEAKED ONTO REAR TIRES OF MOTORCYCLE AT SPEED. *TS JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***761961
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
K1200LT QUERY: IF A MOTORCYCLE HAS POWERED OR MOTORIZED REVERSE GEAR, SHOULD IT NOT BE REQUIRED TO DISPLAY A BACKUP LIGHT FOR SAFETY? *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
I BOUGHT MOTORCYCLE USED JUST RECENTLY FROM A PRIVATE OWNER. WHEN TEMPERATURES STARTED REACHING UP TO 90 DEGREES AND ABOVE, THE THROTTLE BECAME VERY HESITANT WHEN DOING A SLOW ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE, THEN SURGE FORWARD A COUPLE TIMES.. EVEN WHEN HOLDING THE THROTTLE CONSTANT. THIS HAS PUT ME IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS LIKE WHEN MAKING TURNS FROM A STOP AND THE BIKE DOES NOT KEEP THE CENTRIFUGAL FORCE TO HOLD THE BIKE UP BECAUSE IT HESITATES, OR WHEN ACCELERATING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC OR IN BUSY CITY STREETS (I LIVE IN THE WASHINGTON DC METRO AREA). THIS IS 800 POUND VEHICLE ON 2-WHEELS. ALONG WITH A RIDER, PASSENGER, AND LUGGAGE, I HAVE TO BALANCE AROUND 1200 POUNDS ON 2-WHEELS AND IT BECOMES A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN IF THE BIKE IS GOING TO STALL, HESITATE AND SURGE FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY... PUTTING ME AND MY PASSENGER IN DANGER. THERE ARE NOT TOO MANY BMW MOTORCYCLE DEALERSHIPS AND THE TWO CLOSEST ONES (40 MILES AND 60 MILES AWAY) GAVE ME A HARD TIME ABOUT IT AND SAID THEY COULD NOT FIX IT. I WAS TOLD THAT THEIR IS A FIX BY REPLACING THE MOTRONIC COMPUTER IN MY 1999 K1200LT AND PULLING A CAT CODE PLUG UNDER THE TRUNK, BUT BMW WON'T DO THIS. WHY? THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN AND I'M SURPRISED THAT THIS IS NOT A RECALL.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
STARTED ENGINE, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER VEHICLE, TURNED ENGINE TO OFF, GOT OFF AND SAW FIRE ON LEFT SIDE. GRABBED FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND EXTINGUISHED FIRE. FIRE CAUSED BY PLASTIC FUEL RAIL FAILURE AND SPILLING FUEL ONTO ENGINE HEADER. PROBABLE CAUSE OF FUEL RAIL FAILURE IS ETHANOL FUEL DETERIORATING FUEL RAIL. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
I'VE OWNED THIS BIKE SINCE 2002 AND SILL HAVE IT. DURING THAT TIME I HAVE EXPERIENCE TWO REAR DRIVE FAILURES AS DESCRIBED IN ODI NO. 10439549, AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001. AT THE TIME BMW WAS IN DENIAL ABOUT THE ISSUE OR CLAIMED THAT IT WAS RARE. WELL, I KNOW 6 PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME MOTORCYCLE AND WE'VE ALL HAD THE REAR DRIVE FAIL. I AM THE ONLY ONE TO HAVE IT FAIL TWICE. I BELIEVE BMW HAS SUPERSEDED THAT LARGE BEARING IN THE REAR DRIVE WITH A NEW PART NUMBER AND IT'S HOLDING UP BETTER. ANYWAY, THE FROST TIME MY REAR DRIVE FAILED THE BEARING HAD "PAULED" AND AS IT CAUSED [XXX] DRAG THE CAGE AROUND THE BALL BEARINGS CAME APART AND TOOK OUT THE SEAL. ONCE RELIEVED OF IT'S OIL IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE THE BEARING FAILS. THE REAR LOCKED AND I CAME TO A STOP MORE RAPIDLY THAN I WOULD HAVE LIKED. I DROPPED THE BIKE TO THE RIGHT AND DID A LITTLE BODY DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND SADDLE BAGS. I WAS OK BUT STRANDED WEST OF FRISCO COLORADO. I WAITED MOST OF THE NIGHT FOR A TOW TRUCK TO COME UP FROM DENVER. I SLEPT ON THE SIDEWALK OF THE BMW DEALER THAT NIGHT AND HAD TO RENT A CAR AND "CAMP" WHILE WAITING FOR REPAIRS. MISSED MOST OF A WEEK OF WORK TOO. ANYWAY, THE SECOND FAILURE I CAUGHT EARLIER AND BOUGHT THE PARTS AND ASSISTED ION THE REPAIR SO IT COST MAYBE $600 COMPARE TO THE BMW REPAIR OF $1700. IN TOTAL THAT AND $100 RENTAL AND $50 CAMPING AND WHO KNOWS WHAT A WEEK OF WORTH COST ME. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
FINAL DRIVE HAVE BEING REBUILT ONE YEAR EARLIER & AGAIN I LOST CONTROL REAR TIRE WHILE RIM START IT WOBBLING OUT CONTROL, BIKE WEIGHT 840 POUNDS VERY DIFFICULT AND WITH MY WIFE ON BOARD THANKS GOD WE ARE ALIVE. GOLD STAR BMW DEALER IN QUEENS DETERMINE THAT I NEED A BRAND NEW FINAL DRIVE,I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO BE ALIVE; FINAL DRIVE IT WAS TOTAL BLOWN AWAY INTO LITTLE PIECES . REPAIR COST AROUND $1500.00 DOLLARS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .