Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
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Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2000 BMW K1200LT submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 37 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 37, in the owner's own words
DP12001 THE FINAL DRIVE FAILED AT 74,000 MILES WITH THE BEARING FAILING AND THE SEAL LEAKING OIL ONTO THE REAR WHEEL. AFTER REPAIR AT AN AUTHORIZE BMW MOTORCYCLE DEALER THE FINAL DRIVE FAILED A SECOND TIME AT 91,000 MILES.
WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY I NOTICED A NEW RHYTHMIC VIBRATION TRANSMITTED THROUGH FOOTPEGS, VARIED SPEED & VIBRATION RATE ALSO VARIED. STOPPED, CHECKED WHEELS & TIRES, NO DEFECTS NOTED, CONTINUED TO DESTINATION. PARKED MOTORCYCLE ON IT'S CENTER STAND, REMOVED HELMET, GLOVES, JACKET & STOWED. VISUALLY INSPECTED MOTORCYCLE APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES LATER & FOUND FINAL DRIVE LUBE DRIPPING FROM FINAL DRIVE, REAR BRAKE CALIPER ONTO REAR WHEEL, RUNNING DOWN RH SIDE OF REAR TIRE AND DRIPPING ON THE FLOOR. FLUID LOSS AT THAT POINT ESTIMATED TO BE APROX. 1 TEASPOON. ROTATING REAR WHEEL FOUND ROTATION "NOTCHY"/NOT SMOOTH, TURNING FASTER BY HAND COULD HEAR RUMBLE. SUSPECT CROWN BEARING CAGE FAILURE, FURTHER DAMAGING SEAL. DRAINED FINAL DRIVE, FOUND FLUID VERY DARK WITH METAL PARTICLES SUSPENDED IN FLUID. MAGNETIC DRAIN PLUG COATED WITH FLAKES & SLUDGE OVER 1/4 INCH THICK. EXAMINED DRAINED FLUID & FOUND PIECES OF SEAL MATERIAL. PHOTOGRAPHED ALL FINDINGS. FINAL DRIVE HAS BEEN REMOVED FOR REPAIRS. FINAL DRIVE HAS HAD REGULAR, SCHEDULED FLUID CHANGES WITH NO ABNORMALITIES NOTED, LAST CHANGE AT 52K MILES, NEXT CHANGE WOULD HAVE BEEN 60K MILES. A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE CROWN BEARING COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE, AND POTENTIALLY SERIOUS INJURY TO A RIDER &/OR PASSENGER. SUSPECT THAT THE PRELOAD ON THE BEARING WAS SET TOO HIGH FROM THE FACTORY & THAT THE DAMAGE PROGRESSION CAUSED BY THIS ERROR WAS EXPONENTIAL OVER TIME. *TR
THE FINAL DRIVE FAILED AND THE BEARING SEAL LEAKED OIL ON THE REAR TIRE. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BMW K1200 LT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE AS IF THERE WAS A FLAT TIRE. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE BUT THERE WAS NO VISIBLE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FINAL DRIVE BALL BEARING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,035 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 31,500.
I HAD TAKEN A TRIP TO ATLANTA, GA 700 MILES ONE WAY AND THE FOLLOWING WEEK WAS RIDING TO AND FROM WORK. THERE WAS A NOISE THAT I COULD NO IDENTIFY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD A REAR BEARING PROBLEM. THIS WAS THE SECOND REAR BEARING TO GO OUT ON ME. *TR
I WAS TRAVELING WITH FRIENDS BACK HOME FROM A 200 MILE TRIP. THE BIKE STARTED MAKING NOISE IN THE REAR AND ONE OF THE RIDERS WITH ME SAID THAT MY BIKE WAS NOT ACTING WRIGHT. WE STOPPED LOOKED AT MY REAREND AND OIL WAS LEAKING. I GOT BACK ON BIKE TO MAKE IT HOME AND THE LONGER I RODE THE MORE NOISE IT MADE. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT MY REAREND BEARINGS HAD GONE OUT. *TR
MY FINAL DRIVE MAIN BEARING FAILED AS I WAS TRAVELING ON THE TURNPIKE. FORTUNATELY, I WAS AWARE OF THIS POTENTIAL AND HAD INSTALLED A CHIP DETECTOR IN THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT. THAT ALERTED ME OF THE FAILURE BEFORE IT BECAME AN IMMEDIATE DANGER TO ME. SUBSEQUENT REBUILD OF THE UNIT SHOWED THAT THE ORIGINAL BEARING HAD BEEN OVER-SHIMMIED TO .30MM WHEN THE FACTORY SPECIFICATION CALLS FOR .05MM TO .10MM. AS FAR AS I AM AWARE, THIS WAS DONE AT THE FACTORY. THIS MEASURED OVER-SHIM IS ALSO CONSISTENT WITH THE GALLING OF THE INNER RACE WHICH WAS VISIBLY OFF CENTER AND AT ABOUT 45 DEGREES TO THE AXIS OF THE BEARING WHERE THE LOAD SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE RACE. I HAVE RETAINED THE RACE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT. *TR
A LOW FREQUENCY, RUMBLING NOISE STARTED SLOWLY AT EAR OF MOTORCYCLE. THE NOISE INCREASED IN INTENSITY FOR APPROXIMATELY 500 MILES, WHEN AT THAT POINT IT BECAME A FULL, METAL-TO-METAL GRINDING NOISE, AT THAT POINT, THE MOTORCYCLE WAS PARKED AND RIDDEN NO FURTHER. *TR
THE FINAL DRIVE ON THE MOTORCYCLE FAILED. IT WAS SUDDEN, STARTED WITH A VIBRATION COMING FROM THE REAR END, AND THE TIRE THEN HAD A SLIGHT "WOBBLE". THE FLUID MUST HAVE LEAKED ONTO THE SENSORS ON THE REAR BRAKES AS THE ABS LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH. I PULLED THE BIKE OVER AND NOTICED FLUID DRIPPING FROM THE FINAL DRIVE. I GOT THE BIKE OFF OF THE FREEWAY AND HAD TO TRAILER IT HOME. *TR
WHILE DRIVING I FELT REPETITIVE KNOCKING NOISES COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE MOTORCYCLE, WHICH SHOOK THE FRAME AND GOT WORSE AND WORSE THE MORE I DROVE, UNTIL I COULD DRIVE NO FURTHER. *TR
THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING AND SHIMS AND SEALS FAILED, REQUIRING EXPENSIVE REPAIRS, AND TWO WEEKS WITHOUT RIDING. *TR
2000 K1200LT BMW MOTORCYCLE FINAL DRIVE FAILURE. WHEN ATTEMPTED TO BRING THE MOTORCYCLE TO A SAFE STOP, DISCOVERED THE REAR BRAKE DID NOT WORK, WHICH FORCED TO USE THE FRONT BRAKES ONLY, WHICH EXTENDED HIS STOPPING DISTANCE. WAS ABLE TO BRING THE BIKE TO A SAFE STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION, REALIZED THE REAR BRAKES FAILED BECAUSE THEY WERE SATURATED IN GEAR OIL, THAT LEAKED FROM THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT AFTER THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING SEAL FAILED. THE FINAL GEAR CROWN GEAR BEARING FAILED, ALLOWING THE OIL TO LEAK. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS THE THIRD TIME THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING FAILED ON HIS BIKE. *TR
2000 K1200LT BMW MOTORCYCLE FINAL DRIVE FAILURE. WHEN ATTEMPTED TO BRING THE MOTORCYCLE TO A SAFE STOP, DISCOVERED THE REAR BRAKE DID NOT WORK, WHICH FORCED TO USE THE FRONT BRAKES ONLY, WHICH EXTENDED HIS STOPPING DISTANCE. WAS ABLE TO BRING THE BIKE TO A SAFE STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION, REALIZED THE REAR BRAKES FAILED BECAUSE THEY WERE SATURATED IN GEAR OIL, THAT LEAKED FROM THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT AFTER THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING SEAL FAILED. THE FINAL GEAR CROWN GEAR BEARING FAILED, ALLOWING THE OIL TO LEAK. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS THE SECOND TIME THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING FAILED ON HIS BIKE.*TR
2000 K1200LT BMW MOTORCYCLE FINAL DRIVE FAILURE. WHEN ATTEMPTED TO BRING THE MOTORCYCLE TO A SAFE STOP, DISCOVERED THE REAR BRAKE DID NOT WORK, WHICH FORCED TO USE THE FRONT BRAKES ONLY, WHICH EXTENDED HIS STOPPING DISTANCE. WAS ABLE TO BRING THE BIKE TO A SAFE STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION, REALIZED THE REAR BRAKES FAILED BECAUSE THEY WERE SATURATED IN GEAR OIL, THAT LEAKED FROM THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT AFTER THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING SEAL FAILED. THE FINAL GEAR CROWN GEAR BEARING FAILED, ALLOWING THE OIL TO LEAK. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING FAILED ON HIS BIKE. *TR
REAR DRIVE FAILURE OCCURING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. *TR
FINAL DRIVE BEARING FAILURE. THIS INITIALLY CAUSED AN UNSTABLE SIDE TO SIDE MOTION OF THE VEHICLE. BEFORE BEING ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE THE REAR WHEEL INTERMITTENTLY LOCKED UP. THEN GEAR OIL LEAKED ONTO THE BRAKE PADS AND DISC RENDERING THEM INEFFECTIVE. THIS IS THE SECOND OCCURRENCE OF FINAL DRIVE BEARING FAILURE IN THIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED TO THE MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS. THIS BEARING HAD ONLY 26,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
FINAL DRIVE BEARING FAILURE RESULTING IN GEAR OIL LEAKING ONTO BRAKE PADS AND DISC. THUS RENDERING THE REAR BRAKE INEFFECTIVE. *TR
REAR DRIVE FAILURE. *TR
FINAL DRIVE FAILURE RESULTING IN REAR WHEEL SEIZURE AND TOTAL LOSS OF POWER TO REAR WHEEL. *TR
I PURCHASED MY K1200LT LAST MONDAY (24 JULY 2006) FROM A RESIDENT IN OHIO. DROVE THE BIKE HOME TO GEORGIA. I FELT A SLIGHT VIBRATION OVER THE LAST 100 MILES OR SO. I THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE THE ROAD. T HE NEXT DAY I TOOK THE BIKE OUT, VIBRATION AND A RUBBING SOUND WAS COMING FROM THE REAR END. WHEN I GOT THE BIKE HOME I NOTICE OIL LEAKING FROM WHAT I THOUGHT WAS THE REAR BRAKE. TOOK BIKE TO BMW THEY SAID IT WAS FINAL DRIVE FAILURE. BIKE IS STILL IN THE SHOP. I ONLY OWNED THE BIKE FOR TWO DAYS AND ALREADY A MAJOR PROBLEM. *JB
(1) WE WERE IN A VERY DESOLATE SECTION OF SOUTHERN IDAHO, WITH NO CELL PHONE SERVICE, WHEN OUR REAR DRIVE FAILED ON OUR MOTORCYCLE. WE HAD BEEN CRUISING AT ABOUT 65-70 WHEN WE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A VERY PRONOUNCED RHYTHMIC SENSATION, NOT UNLIKE EXPANSION STRIPS CAUSE, BUT THE ROAD WAS SMOOTH! THIS WAS JUST A FEW MILES BEFORE IT GOT REALLY SHAKY AND NOISY. JUST AS A SIDE NOTE, I DID NOTICE SOMETHING WAS NOT RIGHT WHEN WE STARTED OUT THAT MORNING, BUT COULD NOT PUT A FINGER ON THE PROBLEM. HINDSIGHT SAYS THAT IT WAS TALKING TO ME ABOUT 150 MILES BEFORE IT FINALLY WENT, BUT I WAS NOT SURE IF IT WAS THE REAR DRIVE OR MY PARANOIA ABOUT JUST SUCH A THING HAPPENING ON OUR VACATION! (2) AFTER WE LUCKILY MANAGED TO PULL OVER IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE (SOUTHERN IDAHO, 111 MILES SOUTH OF MOUNTAIN HOME ON ID-51) WE WERE ABLE TO SEE THE ONLY SIGN OF CIVILIZATION ON A NEARBY HILLTOP. THANK HEAVENS THEY HAD A PHONE BECAUSE THERE WAS NO CELL PHONE SERVICE IN THE AREA! AFTER THE BIKE WAS STOPPED IN A SAFE PLACE OFF THE HIGHWAY, THE REAR DRIVE IMMEDIATELY FINISHED DUMPING THE REMAINDER OF THE GEAR OIL ON THE BRAKE ROTOR AND WHEEL. IF WE HAD NEEDED TO STOP QUICKLY I AM SURE IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC WITH THAT BRAKE ROTOR SOAKED IN OIL! (3) I DO MOST OF MY OWN SERVICE, BUT HAVE UTILIZED PORTLAND AND SALEM BMW DEALERS FOR SERVICE AND PARTS. IN THIS CASE SINCE IT HAPPENED ON THE ROAD (DON'T MOST OF THEM?) IT WAS BIG TWIN CYCLES BMW IN BOISE IDAHO WHO DID THE REPLACEMENT. THE REPLACEMENT BEING THE ENTIRE REAR DRIVE ASSEMBLY WHICH HAD TO BE OVERNIGHTED FROM THE BMW NORTH AMERICAN WAREHOUSE TO BIG TWIN. AS IT WAS THE TOW BILL WAS STILL OUTRAGEOUS BECAUSE OF THE DISTANCES INVOLVED. WHAT IF WE HAD NOT BEEN NEAR (OVER 100 MILES = NEAR!) A BMW DEALER? IT COULD HAVE BEEN ASTRONOMICAL! *JB
I FELT A VIBRATION AND THEN THE I FELT A WOBBLE AT THE REAR WHEEL THE REAR DRIVE BEARING ON MY 2000 BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE AT 14500 MILES THE BIKE WAS DISABLED AND HAD TO BE TOWED
(1) NO PROBLEMS UNTIL APPROXIMATELY 20 MILES FROM FINAL FAILURE BEGAN HEARING A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT TONE TO THE NOISE OF THE MOTORCYCLE. IF YOU WERE NOT EXTREMELY FAMILIAR WITH THE MOTORCYCLE YOU WOULD NOT EVEN NOTICE IT. NOTICED A SLIGHT ROUGHNESS ON DECELERATION ABOUT 10 MILES FROM FAILURE. (2) FINAL DRIVE FAILED. I WAS STRANDED ABOUT 250 MILES FROM NEAREST DEALER AND SPENT MANY HOURS AND $425 GETTING TOWED BACK. I FEEL VERY FORTUNATE AS THIS FAILURE SPILLED LUBRICANT ON THE REAR TIRE AND BRAKES OF THE MOTORCYCLE. COULD BE A SETUP FOR A SEVERE CRASH. (3) BMW MOTORAD US REPLACED THE FINAL DRIVE AT NO CHARGE TO ME. I WAS OUT THE TOW BILL.*AK
(1) STOPPED FOR DAY OF TRAVELLING (ABOUT 500 MILES) (2) REAR DRIVE BEARING FAILURE, NOTICED REAR BEARING SEAL LEAK. HAD TO BE TOWED OVER 400 MILES TO NEAREST DEALER FOR REPAIR. REAR DRIVE BEARING HAD FAILED. 5 BALLS FROM THE 19 BALL BEARING HAD DISINTEGRATED, CAUSING THE RACE TO TEAR THE SEAL, AND CAUSING THE LEAK OF REAR END GEAR OIL ALL OVER THE REAR TIRE. (3) DEALER REPAIRED BEARING AND SEAL. OLD BEARING IS AVAILABLE AT THE DEALER. *AK
I HAVE A 2000 BMW K1200LTC MOTORCYCLE. WHILE RIDING YESTERDAY, A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WAS NOTICED AND CAUSED THE REAR OF THE BIKE TO WOBBLE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED IT. THE REAR DRIVE UNIT HAS FAILED AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY IF IT HAD HAPPENED AT SPEED ON AN INTERSTATE HWY. I AM GOING TO CONTACT THE DEALER FOR OUT-OF-WARRANTY REPLACEMENT OF THE DRIVE SINCE THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON FAILURE ON THIS MODEL. I AM INFORMING NHTSA TO PROVIDE FURTHER EVIDENCE OF THE MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB
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.
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