2002 BMW K1200LT Owner Complaints

I STARTED MY BIKE UP AT 8:00 AM ON A WARM MORNING IN MY GARAGE AS I ALWAYS DO, AND BACKED IT OUT WHILE IT WAS IDLING PERFECTLY. SUDDENLY SMOKE BEGAN TO RISE UP FROM THE LEFT FAIRING VENT. I SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN AND JUMPED OFF THE BIKE TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE. TO MY SURPRISE, THE ENGINE BAY WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I GRABBED MY GARDEN HOSE AND MANAGED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE WHOLE EVENT LASTED ABOUT A MINUTE OR TWO. THE DAMAGE WAS DONE, I REMOVED THE FAIRING COVERS TO EXAMINE THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. IT APPEARED TO BE A FUEL RAIL FAILURE. I FOUND WHAT LOOKS LIKE A "T" SHAPED FRACTURE NEAR THE HIGH PRESSURE INPUT SIDE OF THE FUEL RAIL. THE DAMAGE WAS MOSTLY CONFINED TO THIS HIGH PRESSURE SIDE OF THE FUEL RAIL AREA. I SEARCHED THE BMW LUXURY TOURING SITE TO SEE IF THERE MAY BE A PATTERN OF THESE "K" MODEL BIKES CATCHING ON FIRE. TO MY SURPRISE THERE WERE MANY, DESCRIBING MY EXPERIENCE EXACTLY AS MINE HAD OCCURRED. THE PLASTIC GAS TANK IS MOUNTED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE AREA THAT WAS ON FIRE. I HAD A 1/4 TANK OF GAS. THIS COULD HAVE BECOME EXPLOSIVE. THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED DURING MY RIDE THAT MORNING. I HAVE BEEN RIDING BIKES MOST OF MY LIFE. I'M 62 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A BIKE FIRE ON ANY BIKE THAT I HAVE OWNED. WHAT STRUCK ME IN THE OTHER ACCOUNTS OF OTHER OWNERS OF THESE BIKES WAS THE EXACTNESS OF THE DESCRIPTION AND THAT THE FIRE WAS SPONTANEOUS.

NHTSA ID

11145173

Incident

Oct 20, 2018

Mileage

65,000 mi

RIDING ON RELATIVELY STRAIGHT, TWO LANE STATE ROAD IN RURAL GEORGIA ( WITHOUT HAVING ANY PREVIOUS ISSUES). RIDING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MILES PER HOUR. BIKE SUDDENLY BEGAN MAKING A CLANKING NOISE FROM THE REAR WHEEL. RODE APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE-TENTH MILE TO STORE PARKING LOT. SHUT DOWN BIKE AND TRANSPORTED TO MY RESIDENCE ON TRAILER.

NHTSA ID

11113474

Incident

Jul 15, 2018

Mileage

103,000 mi

I CAN'T GET THE BRAKE WARNING FAILURE LIGHT TO STOP BLINKING. THE BRAKES WORK GREAT07

NHTSA ID

11010744

Incident

Jul 22, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW K1200LT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BRAKE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,197. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10724825

Incident

Jun 9, 2013

Mileage

220,197 mi

I WAS RIDING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 75 MPH. I STARTED SMELLING A STRONG ODOR OF GAS. WHEN I GOT HOME I HAD FUEL DRIPPING ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE BIKE. IT WAS ON MY BOOTS, PANTS LEG AND ALL OVER THE SIDE OF MY BIKE. IT MESSED UP MY PAINT IN SOME AREAS AND WILL NEED TO BE REPAINTED. I TOOK THE SIDE COVER OFF AND WAS ABLE TO SEE THE FUEL DRIPPING FROM THE QUICK DISCONNECT ON THE LOWER FUEL LINE. I AM NOT A HAPPY CAMPER AND I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10521391

Incident

Jun 22, 2013

Mileage

17,000 mi

ABS PUMP FAILED ON BMW K1200LT 2002, BIKE WAS IN STORAGE FOR A YEAR AND A HALF, TOOK OUT OF STORAGE AND NO SERVO ASSISTED BRAKES? *TR

NHTSA ID

10511793

Incident

May 5, 2011

Mileage

53,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED RANDOMLY. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND ADVISED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM COULD LOCK WHILE DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10502759

Incident

Jan 1, 2010

Mileage

6,500 mi

ODI NO. [XXX], AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001. OIL LEAKED OVER TIRE AND BRAKES. NOTICED THE LEAK WHEN TRIED TO STOP AND DIDN'T STOP AS IT NORMALLY DID. BMW DEALER REPLACED FINAL DRIVE. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

10460878

Incident

Apr 8, 2010

Mileage

57,010 mi

SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN ODI NO. 10439549, AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001. *KB

NHTSA ID

10446626

Incident

Apr 6, 2010

Mileage

76,244 mi

FINAL DRIVE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT FOR GRINDING, CLUNKING AND VIBRATION. DEALER FOUND OIL LOADED WITH BEARING MATERIAL AND SIGNS OF AN OIL LEAK. *KB

NHTSA ID

10446625

Incident

Apr 10, 2010

Mileage

76,244 mi

THE LINEAR BEARING IN THE REAR DRIVE FAILED - METAL FLAKES AND BEARING MATERIAL APPEARED IN THE REAR DRIVE OIL WHEN THE OIL WAS CHANGED. THE OIL WAS CHANGED EVERY 3000 - 400 MILES AND WITHOUT WARNING THE DRIVE OIL BECAME CONTAMINATED BY A BEARING THAT DETERIORATED. THE BEARING CAGE HAD NOT STARTED TO FAIL AT THIS TIME. THE REAR DRIVE WAS REMOVED FROM THE MOTORCYCLE, TAKEN APART AND UPON INSPECTION THE BEARING WAS IN EARLY STAGES OF COMPLETE FAILURE. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION AND MEASUREMENT IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE BEARING WAS INITIALLY OVER SHIMED (GREATER THAN THE MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS CALLED FOR) AT THE FACTORY PLACING UNDUE FORCES ON THIS LINEAR BEARING - THUS CAUSING ITS PREMATURE FAILURE. THE REPLACEMENT BEARING ALONG WITH PROPER SHIMS, AS CALLED FOR IN THE MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS, WERE PLACED BACK INTO THE DRIVE. *KB

NHTSA ID

10446624

Incident

Mar 14, 2011

Mileage

58,000 mi

SECOND REAR DRIVE FAILURE OF 2002 BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE AT 42502 MILES FIRST AT 17520 MILES. *TT

NHTSA ID

10417790

Incident

Jun 6, 2011

Mileage

42,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW K1200 LT. WHILE TRAVELING AT 20 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT GASOLINE WAS LEAKING ONTO HIS RIGHT FOOT. THE DEALER AS CONTACTED WHERE HE WAS ADVISED THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST IN SERVICING THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000. UPDATED 08/11/10. *LJ UPDATED 08/17/10

NHTSA ID

10339700

Incident

Oct 18, 2009

Mileage

26,000 mi

ON AUGUST 28TH, MY WIFE AND I WERE TRAVELING TO EUREAKA SPRINGS, ARKANSAS FOR OUR 40TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. ABOUT TEN MILES FROM OUR DESTINATION, THE REAR WHEEL DRIVE BEARINGS WENT OUT ON OUR BMW K12LT MOTORCYCLE FOR THE SECOND TIME. WE WERE TRAVELING DOWN A STEEP, WINDING, MOUNTAIN ROAD AND WERE EXTREMELY WORRIED THAT THE BACK WHEEL WOULD LOCK UP AND SEND US SKIDDING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN. GOD WAS WATCHING OVER US AND BROUGHT US SAFELY INTO TOWN WHERE WE WERE THEN STRANDED. THE NEXT DAY, I FOUND A KIND MAN WITH A TRUCK AND TRAILER, WHO HAULED US TO BENTONVILLE, ARKANSAS TO THE BMW DEALER. THEY REPAIRED THE BIKE IN ONLY THREE HOURS AND WERE WONDERFULLY KIND AND HELPFUL. SINCE THE BEARINGS HAD ONLY BEEN REPLACED 3000 MILES AND ONE MONTH BEFORE, THEY DIDN'T CHARGE US FOR THE REPLACEMENT BECAUSE BMW HAS A ONE YEAR PARTS WARRANTY. THE LOCAL DEALERS ARE GREAT, BUT BMW IN UNCARING WITH REGARD TO THE SAFETY OF THE MOTORCYCLISTS WHO RIDE THEIR BIKES. THIS REAR WHEEL DRIVE BEARING IS A COMMON PROBLEM AFFECTING MOST OF THE BMW BIKES, BUT BMW HAS CHOSEN TO IGNORE THE PROBLEM. THEY ARE STILL BUILDING THE PROBLEM INTO THE NEW BIKES THEY ARE SELLING. THE FIRST QUESTION THE DEALER ASKED ME WHEN WE ARRIVED IN BENTONVILLE WITH THE BIKE WAS "IS THE BACK WHEEL LOCKED UP?" THAT IS THE MOST FRIGHTENING THING TO ME ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. IF YOUR REAR WHEEL LOCKS UP WHILE YOU ARE LEANING INTO A CURVE ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD, THERE WON'T BE ANY WAY TO AVOID A SKID AND CRASH. MY WIFE AND I COULD BOTH BE KILLED IF THIS HAPPENED. WE LOVE BMW BIKES AND WE LOVE RIDING. HOWEVER, I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT BMW SHOULD BE FORCED INTO CORRECTING THIS DEFICIENCY BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED, IF THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ALREADY. TO DATE, BMW IS PRETENDING THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM. THE FACT THAT THERE IS A LARGE PROBLEM CAN CLEARLY BE SEEN ON THE INTERNET AND IN THE MAGAZINE ARTICLES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10283064

Incident

Aug 28, 2009

Mileage

56,000 mi

THE REAR WHEEL DRIVE BEARING ON MY BMW K12LT MOTORCYCLE FAILED WHILE MY WIFE AND I WERE TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS A ROAD SIDE PARK NEARBY. WE PULLED IN AND WATCHED THE OIL RUN OUT ON THE GROUND FROM THE DRIVE. WHILE TRYING TO GET THE BIKE ON A TRAILER, THE REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP. IF THAT HAD HAPPENED ON THE INTERSTATE, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIFE THREATENING, SINCE GOING INTO A SKID ON A MOTORCYCLE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. THE COST TO HAVE THIS BEARING REPLACED WAS ALMOST $700. GOD WAS WATCHING OVER US AND KEPT US FROM HAVING ANY INJURIES FROM THIS FAILURE. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM WITH THE K12LT'S. IT HAPPENS TO ALMOST ALL OF BMW'S BIKES. AT EVERY BMW RALLY, ONE OR MORE PEOPLE HAVE THIS BEARING GO OUT EITHER GOING TO OR COMING FROM THE RALLY. BMW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT CHOOSES TO IGNORE IT AND ACT LIKE IT DOESN'T EXIST. IN FACT, THEY CONTINUE TO MANUFACTURE NEW MOTORCYCLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THEY ARE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR BOTTOM LINE THAN THEY ARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE MOTORCYCLE RIDING PUBLIC. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE HAS BEEN INJURED OR KILLED AS A RESULT OF THIS DEFECTIVE DESIGN, BUT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THE BEARING FAILURE CAUSES THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK UP WHILE SOMEONE IS TRAVELING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10282941

Incident

Jun 26, 2009

Mileage

53,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW K1200LT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE O-RING IN THE FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLING FAILED. AS A CONSEQUENCE, FUEL BEGAN LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V028000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. SECONDLY, HE BELIEVES THAT THE REMEDY FOR THE REPAIR IS INSUFFICIENT BECAUSE IT ONLY REQUIRES THE TECHNICIANS TO ADJUST ALL CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS OR A REPLACEMENT OF THE QUICK-DISCONNECT O-RING USING PLASTIC MATERIALS. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 65,800.

NHTSA ID

10246835

Incident

Oct 23, 2008

Mileage

65,800 mi

BMW K1200LT-C MOTORCYCLE: HEARD SOME GRINDING FROM FINAL DRIVE, THEN FELT THE VIBRATION AND ABOUT 10 MILES LATER THE REAR WHEEL WAS WOBBLING UNCONTROLLABLY. THE FINAL DRIVE COMPLETELY FAILED WHICH DAMAGES THE ABS SPEED SENSOR AND HAD TO BE U-HAULED AS I WAS 900 MILES FROM HOME AT THE TIME. MY DEALER REPLACED THE FINAL DRIVE AND ABS SPEED SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE AS I WAS STILL COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10201745

Incident

Jul 27, 2007

Mileage

41,487 mi

I HAD THE FINAL DRIVE BEARINGS AND SEALS MALFUNTIONED ON THE BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED AT GINAS BMW IN IOWA CITY, IA. *AK

NHTSA ID

10195550

Incident

Jun 26, 2007

Mileage

24,500 mi

REAR WHEEL DRIVE FAILURE (CROWN BEARING FAILURE). *NM

NHTSA ID

10176866

Incident

Nov 15, 2006

Mileage

16,750 mi

THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION IS A BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE. THIS BIKE USES TWO QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLINGS IN THE FUEL LINES NEAR THE FUEL TANK. THESE CONNECTORS ARE MADE OF A PLASTIC-LIKE MATERIAL THAT IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO CRACKING. WHEN SUCH A FAILURE OCCURS (THEY ARE COMMON), THE PRESSURIZED FUEL SPRAYS AROUND UNDER THE DECORATIVE COVERS OF THE BIKE WITHOUT ANY WARNING OTHER THAN THE ODOR OF FUEL AND VISUALLY DETECTABLE LEAKS. IF LEFT UNDETECTED, THERE IS A SERIOUS RISK OF FIRE WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS BEING RIDDEN. BMW OFFERS TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE CONNECTORS WITH THE SAME PART INSTEAD OF CHANGING THE DEFECTIVE DESIGN. *JB

NHTSA ID

10167526

Incident

May 1, 2006

Mileage

31,000 mi

SUDDEN FINAL DRIVE FAILURE ON MOTORCYCLE @ 14079 MILES NO WARNING I WAS FORTUNATE AS I SLOWED FOR A TOLL BOOTH, SUDDENLY REAR OF THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED 'DANCING" COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC IF IT HAD HAPPENED AT SPEED. HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED TO DEALER $100, DEALER REPLACED BEARING AND SEAL $466.52, HAVE THE OLD BEARING. BMW UPGRADED THE BEARING ON NEWER BIKES BUT NEVER RECALLED OLDER MODELS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10151093

Incident

Oct 17, 2005

Mileage

14,079 mi

THE FIRST 100 MILES LEADING TO THE FAILURE, THERE WAS A WINDING NOISE THAT SOUND LIKE IT'S GOING OVER THE GROOVED PAVEMENT. THE LAST 50 MILES FELT LIKE THERE WAS SOMETHING GRINDING IN THE CHASSIS, WASN'T SURE IT WAS THE FRONT OR REAR. ONCE I GOT HOME, THERE WAS A LEAKAGE IN THE REAR WHEEL DRIVE. THE SEAL WAS SHREDDED. ONCE OPENED UP INSIDE, THE BEARING WAS SHREDDED AND TORE UP THE SEAL. THEY WERE REPLACE WITH DEALER PARTS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10135893

Incident

Aug 26, 2005

Mileage

46,573 mi

VIBRATION SIMILAR TO A ROUGH TIRE. WORSENED WITHIN A FEW MILES, MECHANICAL NOISE, BRAKE DRAGGING AND REAL WHEEL HOPPING. NO OIL LEAKS. WHEEL BEARING FAILED, ENTIRE FINAL DRIVE WAS REPLACED. REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ID

10132728

Incident

Jul 16, 2005

Mileage

22,200 mi

I NOTICED LEAKING OIL COMING FROM THE APPROXIMATE CENTER OF MY VEHICLE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE LEAK WAS FROM THE MAIN TRANSMISSION SEAL & THAT IF NOT REPAIRED, WOULD GET PROGRESSIVELY WORSE; MEANING EVENTUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THEREFORE, I HAD THE MAIN SEAL REPLACED; AN EXPENSIVE $1300 JOB!

NHTSA ID

10118079

Incident

Nov 16, 2004

Mileage

72,726 mi

I WAS DRIVING A 2002 BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE. I HAS SPENT THE DAY DRIVING AROUND TOWN, LOCALLY AT AVERAGE CITY SPEEDS & IN AVERAGE TRAFFIC. WHILE SLOWING TO INITIATE A TURN I DOWN SHIFTED INTO 1ST GEAR WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT LINKAGE SNAPPED. THIS LEFT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER DANGLING LOOSELY. WHILE STUCK IN 1ST GEAR, I DROVE MY VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP. THE REPAIR TOOK A WHOLE WEEK SINCE THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO ORDER PARTS. THE PARTS, SUPPOSEDLY COMING FROM GERMANY, DID NOT GET TO THE DEALERSHIP IN TIME. THEY HAD TO TAKE THE PARTS FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE & INSTALL THEM IN MINE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10118078

Incident

Apr 2, 2005

Mileage

76,305 mi