RoadVitals

2003 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.
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Latest Oct 17, 2012
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.
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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.
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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.
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Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 BMW K1200RS, most frequently naming the fuel system and brakes categories. 5 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

  • Fuel system480.0%
  • Brakes120.0%

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.

Recent owner complaints

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

Fuel system
Filed Oct 17, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW K1200RS MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SMELLING FUEL AROUND THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE FUEL QUICK DISCONNECT SPRAYED FUEL ALL OVER THE MOTORCYCLE AND HIS GARMENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSTALLED A PLUG AND A HOSE ON THE QUICK DISCONNECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL AND REFERRED HIM TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,920.

NHTSA ID
10480834
Incident
Oct 17, 2011
Mileage
22,920 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jul 17, 2012

WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE, FUEL BEGAN FORCEFULLY SPRAYING OUT OF THE RIGHT SIDE ENGINE AREA ON TO MY LEG. I STOPPED THE ENGINE AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS CLEAR THAT LEAK WAS COMING FROM A FUEL QUICK DISCONNECT ON LINE RUNNING ALONG RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE. THE DISCONNECT WAS LEAKING BECAUSE A PLASTIC INTERNAL PART HAD BROKEN. CALLED UP THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP AND DESCRIBED THE QUICK DISCONNECT LEAK AND THEY IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND COMMENTED THAT "IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME" THAT "THE PLASTIC PART BREAKS AND IS NOW DESIGNED USING A METAL PART". THERE WAS A RECALL (52513) THAT WAS ISSUED IN JANUARY 2004 CONCERNING INSPECTING THE QUICK DISCONNECT FOR LEAKAGE, AND REPLACE AS NEEDED, BUT THAT RECALL WAS NEVER PERFORMED ON MY BIKE AND ACCORDING TO BMW WAS SOMEHOW NOT APPLICABLE TO MY BIKE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN ON A BIKE (OR CAR FOR THAT MATTER) YET ACCORDING TO THE DEALER IS PRETTY PREVALENT AND THERE IS APPARENTLY A FIX TO THE DEFECT THAT I WAS NOT INFORMED ABOUT AND AS FAR AS I KNOW IS NOT EVEN THE SUBJECT OF ANY OTHER RECALL. IF THIS IS THE CASE, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL OF ALL AFFECTED BIKES AND THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT ADDRESSED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10466039
Incident
Jul 13, 2012
Mileage
10,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 26, 2010

WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE DRIVER NEXT TO ME ASKED WHAT WAS LEAKING FROM MY MOTORCYCLES. ON FURTHER INSPECTION I FOUND IT TO VE FUEL FROM BROKEN FUEL LINE CONNECTOR WHICH WAS LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE AND WHILE RIDING WAS BEING BLOWN ONTO MY PANTS. ON CHECKING ONLINE AND WITH LOCAL DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAPPENS OFTEN ON THIS AND OTHER MODEL BMW MOTORCYCLES. I KNOW THAT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH RAW GASOLINE BEING PUMPED ONTO A HOT ENGINE JUST WAITING FOR A SPARK TO IGNITE IT YET I CAN'T FIND A RECALL ON THIS CONNECTOR TO REPLACE IT WITH A METAL ONE WHICH IS AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10368821
Incident
Nov 24, 2010
Mileage
15,434 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 3, 2009

TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE ON BMW'S K1200RS MOTORCYCLE. JUST WEEKS OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP THE BRAKE FAILED - I WAS ALMOST INJURED. EVERY YEAR SINCE I HAVE HAD SOME CLOSE CALLS - THE PROBLEM IS A DEFECTIVE ABS MODULATOR THERE IS AN UNUSUALLY HIGH FAILURE RATE OF THE ABS MODULATOR ON MODEL YEARS 2000-2004 BMW K1200RS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10279152
Incident
Jul 16, 2009
Mileage
12,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 3, 2009

QUICK DISCONNECT FITTING BETWEEN FUEL TANK AND INJECTOR SYSTEM FAILED ...DIFFERENT THAN PE03054 ... MALE COUPLING IS PLASTIC AND CRACKS. LEAK OCCURRED AT 65MPH, SPAY GAS ON HOT MOTOR AND LEG. STOPPED BIKE , TOUCHED FITTING, IT BROKE IN HALF, SPRAYING ME WITH MORE GAS. DEALER KNEW OF PROBLEM, RECOMMENDED REPLACING UNBROKEN QUICK DISCONNECT. BELIEVE THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD ... SURPRISED THAT NO RECALL RECEIVED SINCE THEY ALSO HAD PE03054. DEALER INDICATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ...NEW FITTING IS AVAILABLE MADE OF METAL WHICH IMPLIES BMW KNEW OF PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10279131
Incident
Jul 31, 2009
Mileage
12,489 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

MC50349142

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

Bluetooth issues between Navigators, mobile phones, communication and audio systems.

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

SB-00-021-07

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

BMW MOTORCYCLE: ENGINE FUELS CONTAINING ETHANOL. BMW MOTORRAD HAS NO OBJECTION TO THE USE OF SI ENGINE FUELS CONTAINING UP TO A MAXIMUM OF 10% ETHANOL AND IMPOSES NO WARRANTY RESTRICTIONS. ETHANOL MIXTURES IN PROPORTIONS HIGHER THAN 10% CAN HAVE AN ADVERSE EFFECT ON PERFORMANCE AND CAN RESULT IN DAMAGE TO COMPONENTS THAT COME INTO CONTRACT WITH FUEL. NO WARRANTY CLAIMS WHATSOEVER FOR DAMAGE CAUSED IN THIS WAY WILL BE ACCEPTED. 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
2003Viewing500—
2002180141.5
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.