2001 BMW K1200RS 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 2001 BMW K1200RS, 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
- Engine228.6%
- Suspension228.6%
- Brakes114.3%
- Fuel system114.3%
- Powertrain (other)114.3%
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
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TIMING COVER OIL LEAK. *AK
EXHAUST PIPES ARE POSITIONED BELOW FOOT PEGS SO THAT WHEN YOU COME TO A STOP AND PUT YOUR FOOT DOWN YOU WILL BRUSH UP AGANIST HOT PIPE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
MOTORCYCLE WILL ROLL OFF OF SIDE STAND ON LEVEL GROUND. POTENTIAL HAZARD FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE AND PERSONNEL. IF A CURIOUS CHILD WERE TO JOSTLE THE MOTORCYCLE THEY COULD BE CRUSHED IF IT ROLLED ONTO THEM (834LBS).*AK
1. FIRST INCIDENT OCCURED A APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES AFTER THE MOTORCYCLE HAD BEEN PARKED OUTSIDE THE GARAGE ON LEVEL GROUND. THE SIDESTAND FOLDED AND THE MOTORCYCLE FELL OVER JUST A FEW FEET FROM THE NEAREST PERSON THAT HAD A TO JUMP AWAY NOT TO GET HIT BY AN 800+ LBS MOTORCYCLE. THIS INCIDENT PRODUCED DAMAGED TO THE CRASHBAR, FAIRING COMPONENTS AND SIDEBAG COMPONENTS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS PARKED IN THE EXACT SAME LOCATION AND MANNER AS I DO PARK MY OTHER TOURING BIKES WITHOUT THEM FALLING OVER. THE OWNER'S MANUAL WAS CAREFULLY STUDIED AND THE PROCEDURE OUTLINED TO PLACE THE MOTORCYCLE ON THE SIDESTAND WAS FOLLOWED. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE INCIDENT AND BMW USA WAS NOTIFIED IN WRITING BUT HAVE RESPONDED THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO ABOUT IT. I HAVE ALSO PERFORMED A POLL AMONG OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME TYPE OF BIKE AND OUT OF THE CLOSE TO 100 RESPONDENTS APP. 40% OF THEM HAVE HAD THE SAME THING HAPPENING TO THEM. 2ND INCIDENT HAPPENED WHILE STILL ON THE BIKE AND READY TO PARK. SIDESTAND WAS FULLY EXTENDED BUT GAVE AWAY. THIS TIME THE BIKE WAS CAUGHT BEFORE IT HIT THE GROUND AND A PERSON. AS A SIDE NOTE, BMW HAVE HAD TO CONSTRUCT A SPECIAL SIDE STAND FOR THEIR POLICE VERSION OF THE 1100 RT DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE SIDE STANDS FOLDS AND THE BIKE FALLS OVER.
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
FAILURE OF THE REAR INTEGRAL ABS BRAKING ABILITIES BEING INTERMITTENT AND UNAVOIDABLE. BIKE HAS BEEN METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED WITH THE ABS FLUSH PERFORMED EVERY TWO YEARS PER BMW SERVICE BULLETIN. PROBLEM BEGAN WITH 35,000 MILES ON THE BIKE. *TR
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW K-1200 RS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH GASOLINE BEGAN LEAKING FROM THE SIDES AND BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 32000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN ODI NO. 10439549, AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001. *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 .