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
What owners actually said
19 reports
19,130 miles · Dec 18, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
FUEL LINE FITTING FAILURE ON 2005 BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE. MALE FITTING FAILURE. DEALER KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHEN I DESCRIBED PROBLEM ON PHONE. DEALER SAID THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM ACROSS FULL LINE OF BIKES AND ALWAYS MALE FITTING FAILURE. MY BIKE HAD ONLY 19000 MILES AT TIME OF FAILURE. WHEN FITTINGS FAIL GASOLINE POURS O…
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FUEL LINE FITTING FAILURE ON 2005 BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE. MALE FITTING FAILURE. DEALER KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHEN I DESCRIBED PROBLEM ON PHONE. DEALER SAID THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM ACROSS FULL LINE OF BIKES AND ALWAYS MALE FITTING FAILURE. MY BIKE HAD ONLY 19000 MILES AT TIME OF FAILURE. WHEN FITTINGS FAIL GASOLINE POURS OUT OF RIGHT SIDE OF BIKE ONTO RIDERS SHOE AND PANTS AND ONTO ROAD. POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. I E-MAILED BMW USA AND NEVER RECEIVED A REPLY. COST OF REPAIR $192 SHOULD BE ON BMW FOR POOR ENGINEERING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10252251
Mileage unknown · Nov 10, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE REAR BRAKE ROTOR ON MY 2005 BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE IS DEFECTIVE AND I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE FLOATING POINTS ON THE ROTOR HAVE MELTED ALLOWING THE ROTOR TO MOVE IN ALL DIRECTIONS CAUSING THE ABS MODULATOR TO ACTIVATE ON ANY BRAKING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10248325
30,000 miles · Sep 21, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
FAILURE OF PLASTIC QUICK DISCONNECTS IN FUEL LINE FROM FUEL TANK TO ENGINE. REPLACED WITH METAL QD'S AND NO PROBLEM SINCE..COULD BE FIRE HAZARD WHILE RIDING..VEHICLE IS A BMW 2005 K1200LT MODEL. FAILURE OCCURRED AT APPROX. 30,000 MILES.. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10243017
33,500 miles · Aug 10, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
GASOLINE ON MY RIGHT SHOE WHEN I GOT TO WORK. INTERNET DISCUSSION BOARD LED ME TO CHECK THE QUICK DISCONNECT, WHICH FELL APART WHEN I MOVED IT. THE PLASTIC MALE COMPONENT OF THE QUICK DISCONNECT HAD BROKEN. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10237583
13,491 miles · Jul 28, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
THE GAS FUEL LINE STARTED SPRAYING GASOLINE OUT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COVER ONTO THE DRIVERS LEG. DEALER ADVISED WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BEFORE SEEING THE MOTORCYCLE. SHE SHOWED ME A DISPLAY ON HER DESK SHOWING A PLASTIC FUEL QUICK DISCONNECT VALVE AND A METAL ONE THAT NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS PLA…
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THE GAS FUEL LINE STARTED SPRAYING GASOLINE OUT THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COVER ONTO THE DRIVERS LEG. DEALER ADVISED WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BEFORE SEEING THE MOTORCYCLE. SHE SHOWED ME A DISPLAY ON HER DESK SHOWING A PLASTIC FUEL QUICK DISCONNECT VALVE AND A METAL ONE THAT NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS PLASTIC PART SEEMS TO BE PROBLEMATIC. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10236185
31,000 miles · Jul 20, 2008
Power Train
FINAL DRIVE FAILURE ON K1200LT WHILE RIDING ON I-5 IN DOWNTOWN LA CA. 31,000 MILES ON UNIT. BIKE TAKEN BACK TO DEALER IN SPARKS NV WHERE WARRANTY COVERED PART. CROWN BEARING CAGE DESTROYED NEW UNIT INSTALLED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10235069
20,000 miles · Jun 13, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline
GASOLINE LEAK INTO RIGHT SHOE CAUSED BY CRACKED FUEL LINE PLASTIC QUICK DISCONNECT. THERE ARE MANY INCIDENTS OF THIS FAILURE ON THE BMW LUXURY TOURING WEBSITE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10230989
Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2007
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury
ABS BRAKE FAILURE CRASH BMW K1200S MOTORCYCLE. I HAVE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED AN ABS SERVO BRAKE FAILURE RESULTING IN A CRASH ON A K1200S. I SIMPLY LIGHTLY CARESSED THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER ON A DRY ROAD WITH THE BIKE UPRIGHT AT MODEST SPEED AND THE FRONT BRAKES IMMEDIATELY LOCKED AND FAILED TO RELEASE EVEN AFTER THE BRAKE LEVER WAS R…
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ABS BRAKE FAILURE CRASH BMW K1200S MOTORCYCLE. I HAVE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED AN ABS SERVO BRAKE FAILURE RESULTING IN A CRASH ON A K1200S. I SIMPLY LIGHTLY CARESSED THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER ON A DRY ROAD WITH THE BIKE UPRIGHT AT MODEST SPEED AND THE FRONT BRAKES IMMEDIATELY LOCKED AND FAILED TO RELEASE EVEN AFTER THE BRAKE LEVER WAS RELEASED. I SURVIVED, JUST, BUT WITH VERY SERIOUS INJURIES I NEED TO HAVE THE ABS BRAKE SYSTEM ON MY [WRITTEN OFF] BIKE INDEPENDENTLY TESTED SO THAT I MAY TACKLE BMW IN AN ATTEMPT TO PREVENT FURTHER INJURY/DEATH TO OTHERS AS A RESULT OF THESE IMO LETHAL BRAKES. IS ANY BODY ABLE TO ASSIST IN THIS RESPECT? DOES ANY BODY KNOW OF A RESOURCE THAT HAS LOGGED SIMILAR INCIDENCES [I.E. BRAKE FAILURES ON ABS SERVO EQUIPPED BMWS], THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT FOR EXAMPLE? ALL ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GRATEFULLY RECEIVED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10203402
300 miles · Dec 4, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control
PURCHASED A NEW BMW K1200RS IN AUGUST 2004, EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL. THE THROTTLE IS EXTREMELY STIFF AND WHILE RIDING ON LOCAL AND/OR BACK ROADS, THE RIGHT HAND BECOMES FATIGUED TO THE POINT OF NUMBNESS. THE RIGHT HAND NOT ONLY CONTROLS THE THROTTLE, BUT THE INTEGRATED ABS BRAKING SYSTEM OF THE UNIT. HAVE SPOKEN WITH SELLIN…
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PURCHASED A NEW BMW K1200RS IN AUGUST 2004, EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL. THE THROTTLE IS EXTREMELY STIFF AND WHILE RIDING ON LOCAL AND/OR BACK ROADS, THE RIGHT HAND BECOMES FATIGUED TO THE POINT OF NUMBNESS. THE RIGHT HAND NOT ONLY CONTROLS THE THROTTLE, BUT THE INTEGRATED ABS BRAKING SYSTEM OF THE UNIT. HAVE SPOKEN WITH SELLING DEALER, TAMPA BMW @ 813-926-9937 AND THEY ADVISE THAT ALL OF THE THROTTLES ARE THAT WAY IF THE UNIT IS EQUIPPED WITH CRUIS CONTROL AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE. THE SUGGEST THAT CRUISE CONTROL BE DISCONNECTED. SINCE THE BRAKING CAPACITY IS HINDERED BY THIS SITUATION, I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. OTHER BMW OWNERS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN WITH HAVE SAME PROBLEM AND ARE ALSO BLOWN OFF BY THE SERVICING DEALER AND BMW.*AK
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.
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
1
DP12001 · 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.
2005 BMW K1200 Lt Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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