RoadVitals

2002 BMW K1200RS

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.
18
Latest Mar 2, 2016
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.
0
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.
1
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.
2
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 18 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 BMW K1200RS, most frequently naming the fuel system, brakes and powertrain (other) categories. 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 8 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

  • Brakes314.3%
  • Powertrain (other)314.3%
  • Tires & wheels29.5%
  • Other / unspecified14.8%
  • Seat belts14.8%
  • Suspension14.8%
  • Driver assistance14.8%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE03054ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

FUEL LINE LEAKAGE

Opened Dec 1, 2003
Closed Jan 23, 2004

BMW IS CONDUCTING A RECALL (04V-028).AN INFORMATION REQUEST(IR)RESPONSE WAS NOT RECEIVED. UPON BMW'S RECEIPT OF THE IR, AND AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH ODI, BMWDETERMINED THAT A RECALL WAS NECESSARY. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE O-RING CONTAINED WITHIN THE FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLING COULD BECOME DAMAGED.FURTHER, THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM INVOLVING CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS, WHICH CAN ALSO RESULT IN A SMALL FUEL LEAK.DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY, ADJUST ALL CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS.ALSO ALL FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLINGS WILL BE INSPECTED.IF A LEAK IS DETECTED, THE QUICK-DISCONNECT O-RING WILL BE REPLACED.IF DAMAGED, THE COUPLING WILL BE REPLACED.OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2004.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGSLed to recall 04V028000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Fuel system
Filed Mar 2, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW K1200RS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, FUEL LEAKED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED DAILY. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V028000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000.

NHTSA ID
10839389
Incident
May 7, 2012
Mileage
28,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Dec 12, 2015

WHILE RIDING THE BIKE A FEW DAYS AGO, THE ABS FAILURE LIGHTS CAME ON. I SHUT THE BIKE OFF, AND RESTARTED TO ATTEMPT TO RESET THE SYSTEM. THIS DID NOT WORK. LATER IN THE DAY, WHEN STARTING THE BIKE UP,...THE ABS WAS FUNCTIONING, FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, THEN THE FAILURE LIGHTS AGAIN CAME ON AND HAVE CONSTANTLY STAYED ON SINCE. THE BIKE IS A 2002 AND HAS JUST TURNED 33,000 MILES. I HAD THE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUSHED ABOUT A YEAR AGO IN HOPES IT WOULD PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING, AS THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ON BMW BIKES OF THIS PERIOD,...ESPECIALLY THE BIKES IN THE "K" FAMILY. BMW DEALERS CHARGE $2200 TO REPLACE THE UNIT, WITH ANOTHER IDENTICAL UNIT, WHICH IS KNOWN TO FAIL AGAIN. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS, AND BMW IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. ISN'T IT TIME TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT? I RIDE BMW MOTORCYCLES BECAUSE THEY HAVE ABS BRAKES. THIS IS THE SECOND BMW K1200 THAT I HAVE OWNED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS,.....THE ABS FAILED ON THE FIRST ONE AS WELL.

NHTSA ID
10809823
Incident
Dec 9, 2015
Mileage
33,000 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 13, 2014

I PUT SHENKO MOTORCYCLE TIRES ON MY 2002 BMW MOTORCYCLE. AFTER ABOUT 3000 MILES THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE BASE. I COMPLAINED TO SHENKO AND THE DEALER I PURCHASED THEM FROM. THIS WAS A LIFE THREATENING SITUATION ON A MOTORCYCLE WITH A PASSENGER. I HAVE DONE RESEARCH AND THIS PROBLEM IS MORE COMMON THAN IT SHOULD BE. SHENKO SHOULD NOT BE SELLING INFERIOR AND LIFE ENDANGERING PRODUCTS IN THE USA. PLEASE RESPOND AND LOOK INTO THE QUALITY OF THIS IMPORTED PRODUCT, THERE WILL BE DEATHS IN THE FUTURE WITH THIS TIRE. I CAN SUPPLY PHOTOS IF YOU LIKE. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10610153
Incident
May 19, 2014
Mileage
120,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 13, 2013

THIS IS A FOLLOW-UP TO MY FIRST REPORT OF THIS DATE. BMW APPARENTLY CONDUCTED A RECALL (04V-028) FOR LEAKS WITH THIS COUPLING, HOWEVER THE RECALL ADDRESSED LEAKS FROM THE QUICK DISCONNECT O-RING AND THE HOSE CLAMPS. IN THIS CASE THE BODY OF THE PLASTIC MALE END OF THE COUPLING INITIALLY CRACKS AND THEN SEPARATES ALLOWING FUEL UNDER 100 PSI TO FLOW DOWN THE ENGINE AND THEN TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE BIKE. THERE WAS ONE REPORT OF A FIRE AND AN INJURY FROM THE PREVIOUS RECALL. HERE WE HAVE A LEAK OCCURRING FROM THE SAME FITTING WITH THE SAME POTENTIAL. INITIALLY BMW REPLACED THIS FITTING WITH THE SAME ORIGINAL PART ONLY TO FIND THAT THE FITTING FAILED AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES TO PLAGUE BMW RIDERS AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IT APPEARS THAT THE NTSB'S INITIAL INVESTIGATION WAS SUSPENDED WHEN THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO A RECALL BACK IN THE 2004/5 TIME FRAME, THUS THE PARTICULARS OF THIS PROBLEM WHERE NOT FORTHCOMING, AND THE FULL NATURE OF THE DEFECT NOT ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10511677
Incident
May 9, 2013
Mileage
30,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 13, 2013

STARTED MY BMW K1200RS AND BACKED IT OUT OF THE GARAGE. NOTICED A SPRAY EMANATING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE ABOVE THE VALVE COVE. SHUT THE BIKE DOWN AND CHECKED FOR THE LEAK. FOUND THAT THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE QUICK DISCONNECT COUPLING WAS CRACKED ALLOWING FUEL TO SPRAY OUT IN A FINE MIST. THIS COULD HAVE EASILY CAUGHT FIRE IF THE BIKE HAD BEEN HOT. CHECKED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THIS FAILURE IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON BMW MOTORCYCLES AND IS NOT LIMITED TO MY MODEL OR YEAR. BMW HAS NOT SEEN FIT TO RECALL THE AFFECTED MOTORCYCLES EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAVE REDESIGNED THE COUPLING. THE FUEL LINE IS PRESSURIZED AT 100PSI SO THE LIKELIHOOD OF A CATASTROPHIC EVENT IS HIGH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10511646
Incident
May 9, 2013
Mileage
30,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 13, 2013

SLOWING DOWN TO STOP ABS BRAKE LIGHTS CAME ON. FRONT ABS STILL WORKS BUT REAR WENT OUT. TOOK IT TO BMW DEALER SERVICE TECH SAYS HAD TO REPLACE A LOT OF ABS UNITS IN THE PAST BUT NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL. THIS PART IS 2332.00 PLUS LABOR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10498032
Incident
Jan 15, 2013
Mileage
13,101 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 18, 2009

THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE IS WITHIN A FUEL LINE COUPLING SYSTEM. THE O-RINGS WITHIN THE COUPLING SYSTEM, WHICH HELP TO SEAL THE COUPLING, WERE EATEN AWAY AND GASOLINE SPRAYS OUT OF THE COUPLING. THIS LEAKING SPRAY OCCURS WHENEVER THE MACHINE IS TURNED ON, OR RUNNING, AS THE FUEL PUMP JUST KEEPS PUMPING FUEL OUT OF THE LEAK. CONSEQUENCES COULD BE A FIRE IF THE LEAK HAPPENS AT SPEED OUT ON THE ROAD, AND THE OPERATOR IS UNAWARE THAT THE GASOLINE IS BEING SPRAYED ALL OVER THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE AS OF YET-I AM RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM FOR A COMPETENT FIX. *TR

NHTSA ID
10284479
Incident
Sep 16, 2009
Mileage
42,863 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 10, 2009

MALE END OF FUEL QUICK DISCONNECT BROKE, SPRAYING FUEL. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALER, THEY SAID THAT THIS WAS COMMON, AND THAT MINE HAD A PLASTIC MALE END, AND THAT A REPLACEMENT MALE END WAS AVAILABLE FOR TWENTY SOMETHING DOLLARS AND WAS BEING USED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON LATER MODEL BIKES.. FOR ME THIS ENDED WELL. I NOTICED IT AS I WAS ABOUT TO ENTER THE GARAGE. THERE ARE TWO QUICK DISCONNECTS AND I PLAN ON REPLACING BOTH MALE ENDS WITH THE NEW IMPROVED MODELS. MINE ALSO DID NOT BREAK OFF ENTIRELY, BUT CRACKED AND SPRAYED A THIN STREAM OF FUEL THROUGH HOLE IN THE BODY WORK. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR DISASTER HOWEVER, SINCE BOTH CONNECTORS ARE BEHIND BODY WORK. AND ARE LIKELY TO FILL THE BELLY PAN WITH FUEL WITH AN ENSUING FIRE, PARTICULARLY IF THE END BREAKS OFF ENTIRELY. MY BIKE HAS ALWAYS BEEN RIDDEN CONSERVATIVELY ON PAVED ROADS: I DON'T THINK THAT THE DISCONNECTS WERE SUBMITTED TO ANY UNUSUAL STRESS. I SUSPECT FATIGUE AND AGING OF THE PLASTIC CONTRIBUTED TO ITS FAILURE. I THINK THAT FROM READING THE SHOP MANUAL, THAT THE QUICK DISCONNECTS ARE A FEATURE ADDED IN AROUND THE YEAR 2000. OLDER MODELS DID NOT HAVE THEM. THERE IS A RECALL ON THESE BIKES FOR BAD O RINGS IN THE QUICK DISCONNECTS. I SUSPECT THAT THE PLASTIC DISCONNECTS ARE A BAD BIT OF WORK, AND FAIRLY DANGEROUS, UNDERENGINEERED.. *TR

NHTSA ID
10280042
Incident
Jul 15, 2009
Mileage
14,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

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

Pre Delivery

Pre-delivery Intervention Check List.

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.

MC51142327

EQUIPMENT

Leaks have been reported in fork legs. The cause is reported be from oil lubricating film with accompanying dirt/grease ring is incorrectly interpreted to be a leaking fork leg. Investigations have shown that the part is not defective.

SIB-63-02-01

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

BMW: PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING AND REPLACING INCANDESCENT AND HALOGEN LIGHT BULBS UNDER WARRANTY. *RM

SIB-16-02-09

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

BMW VEHICLES: FUEL LEVEL SENSOR REPAIRS. WHERE IT IS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT SIDE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR DUE TO A FAILURE, THE ENTIRE PUMP AND HOUSING OR DELIVERY UNIT (SUCTION JET ASSEMBLY) DO NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. IN SOME CASES, EPC DOES NOT SHOW THAT THE REPAIR KIT IS AVAILABLE SEPARATELY IN THE ILLUSTRATION, BUT IT IS AVAILABLE IN THE PARTS DESCRIPTION. ALL MODELS. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE

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 K1200RS by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003500
2002Viewing180141.5
2001701
2000411
1999210
1998642
1997100

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.