IllustrationWHILE RIDING IN TO A LEFT HANDED CORNER THE FRONT RIGHT FRONT LEG BROKE STANDING THE MOTORCYCLE STRAIGHT UP AND SENDING ME AND THE BIKE INTO THE GUARDRAIL CAUSING A CRASH THAT I WAS LUCKY TO WALK AWAY FROM. *TR
2005 BMW K1200 Lt
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Other model years Selected year
Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 17 of 19 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports
Suspension complaints
3 reportsTHE UPPER THREADED PORTION OF THE SHAFT OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINT BROKE OFF, WHICH IS THE CONNECTION POINT FROM THE LEADING LINK TO THE FRONT FORK BRIDGE, AN INTEGRAL PART OF BMW'S TELELEVER FRONT SUSPENSION. LOSS OF THIS CONNECTION POINT ALLOWS THE FRONT FORKS TO MOVE FRONT TO REAR CAUSING DANGEROUS LOSS OF STEERING C…
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THE UPPER THREADED PORTION OF THE SHAFT OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINT BROKE OFF, WHICH IS THE CONNECTION POINT FROM THE LEADING LINK TO THE FRONT FORK BRIDGE, AN INTEGRAL PART OF BMW'S TELELEVER FRONT SUSPENSION. LOSS OF THIS CONNECTION POINT ALLOWS THE FRONT FORKS TO MOVE FRONT TO REAR CAUSING DANGEROUS LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. NORMAL OPERATION OF THE TELELEVER SUSPENSION EXERTS FORCES WHICH ARE LONGITUDINAL ALONG THE BALL JOINT SHAFT. THE BALL JOINT SHAFT IS NOT SUBJECT TO SIDEWAYS SHEAR FORCE, SO THE SHAFT SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN UNDER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. THE METAL IN THE SHAFT MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE AT MANUFACTURE IN ORDER FOR THE LONGITUDINAL FORCE ALONG THE SHAFT AXIS TO HAVE BROKEN OFF THE THREADED PORTION OF THE BALL JOINT SHAFT. *TR
REAR WHEEL STARTED MAKING A DRAGGING SOUND AND SEEMED TO BE ON INSIDE OF ROTOR. THOUGHT IT WAS AN OCCLUSION IN THE CASTING BUT THE WHEEL BEARING RETAINER IN THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING WAS CONING OUT. UPON INSPECTION AT DEALER IT WAS FOUND THE BEARING HAD BEEN OBLITERATED WHEN THE BEARING MOVED FROM ITS SPOT INSIDE THE REAR HUB. DEA…
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REAR WHEEL STARTED MAKING A DRAGGING SOUND AND SEEMED TO BE ON INSIDE OF ROTOR. THOUGHT IT WAS AN OCCLUSION IN THE CASTING BUT THE WHEEL BEARING RETAINER IN THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING WAS CONING OUT. UPON INSPECTION AT DEALER IT WAS FOUND THE BEARING HAD BEEN OBLITERATED WHEN THE BEARING MOVED FROM ITS SPOT INSIDE THE REAR HUB. DEALER WILL REPLACE REAR WHEEL DRIVE ASSEMBLY. *TR
Official recalls
204V438000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Sep 9, 2004
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, AT LOWER TEMPERATURES, WIRING WITHIN THE ANTI-THEFT CONTROL UNIT MAY PRESS AGAINST THE FUEL PUMP RELAY. THE FUEL PUMP RELAY CONTACTS COULD OPEN, INTERRUPTING THE FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE, RESULTING IN STALLING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF STALLING WERE TO OCCUR, THE DRIVER WOULD BE UNABLE TO MAINTAIN SPEED OR ACCELERATE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE ANTI-THEFT CONTROL UNIT. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 4, 2004. CUSTOMERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
04V304000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
Jun 23, 2004
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, AN INCORRECT SEALING RING WAS MOUNTED TO THE PISTON OF THE REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF ONLY THE REAR BRAKE WERE APPLIED DURING RIDING, INSUFFICIENT BRAKING PRESSURE WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO SLOW THE MOTORCYCLE, WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE RECALL BEGAN JULY 16, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP12001 · M/c Final Drive Ball Bearing Failure
Opened Jan 20, 2012 · Closed Jun 20, 2013
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:driveline:differential Unit
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a defect petition requesting that it open an investigation into model year (MY) 1998-2009 BMW KLT series motorcycles for final drive bearing failures.The petitioner asked NHTSA to issue an order that [BMW] be required to recall the affected models for inspection ofcomponent wear and proper assembly of the [final drive] bearing.ODI has reviewed the petition, assessed relevant consumer complaints, and gathered other data in the course of investigating this issue.Based on its review, ODI does not believe that a safety-related defect trend currently exists for final drive bearing failures in the subject motorcycles.Therefore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize NHTSA's limited resources to accomplish the agency's safety mission, the petition is denied.However, the agency will continue to monitor information related to this issue and will take further action if warranted.For detailed information, see the Federal Register notice: https://federalregister.gov/a/2013-13779.