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2002 BMW K1200LT

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2002 BMW K1200LT do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 21.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

36 reports with mileage · 1 unknown

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.

  • Power Train. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. 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.

1 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

37 reports
65,000 miles · Nov 4, 2018
Fuel/propulsion SystemFire

I STARTED MY BIKE UP AT 8:00 AM ON A WARM MORNING IN MY GARAGE AS I ALWAYS DO, AND BACKED IT OUT WHILE IT WAS IDLING PERFECTLY. SUDDENLY SMOKE BEGAN TO RISE UP FROM THE LEFT FAIRING VENT. I SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN AND JUMPED OFF THE BIKE TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE. TO MY SURPRISE, THE ENGINE BAY WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I …

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I STARTED MY BIKE UP AT 8:00 AM ON A WARM MORNING IN MY GARAGE AS I ALWAYS DO, AND BACKED IT OUT WHILE IT WAS IDLING PERFECTLY. SUDDENLY SMOKE BEGAN TO RISE UP FROM THE LEFT FAIRING VENT. I SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN AND JUMPED OFF THE BIKE TO DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE SMOKE. TO MY SURPRISE, THE ENGINE BAY WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I GRABBED MY GARDEN HOSE AND MANAGED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE WHOLE EVENT LASTED ABOUT A MINUTE OR TWO. THE DAMAGE WAS DONE, I REMOVED THE FAIRING COVERS TO EXAMINE THE EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE. IT APPEARED TO BE A FUEL RAIL FAILURE. I FOUND WHAT LOOKS LIKE A "T" SHAPED FRACTURE NEAR THE HIGH PRESSURE INPUT SIDE OF THE FUEL RAIL. THE DAMAGE WAS MOSTLY CONFINED TO THIS HIGH PRESSURE SIDE OF THE FUEL RAIL AREA. I SEARCHED THE BMW LUXURY TOURING SITE TO SEE IF THERE MAY BE A PATTERN OF THESE "K" MODEL BIKES CATCHING ON FIRE. TO MY SURPRISE THERE WERE MANY, DESCRIBING MY EXPERIENCE EXACTLY AS MINE HAD OCCURRED. THE PLASTIC GAS TANK IS MOUNTED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE AREA THAT WAS ON FIRE. I HAD A 1/4 TANK OF GAS. THIS COULD HAVE BECOME EXPLOSIVE. THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED DURING MY RIDE THAT MORNING. I HAVE BEEN RIDING BIKES MOST OF MY LIFE. I'M 62 YEARS OLD AND I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED A BIKE FIRE ON ANY BIKE THAT I HAVE OWNED. WHAT STRUCK ME IN THE OTHER ACCOUNTS OF OTHER OWNERS OF THESE BIKES WAS THE EXACTNESS OF THE DESCRIPTION AND THAT THE FIRE WAS SPONTANEOUS.

NHTSA ODI #11145173

103,000 miles · Jul 25, 2018
Power Train

RIDING ON RELATIVELY STRAIGHT, TWO LANE STATE ROAD IN RURAL GEORGIA ( WITHOUT HAVING ANY PREVIOUS ISSUES). RIDING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MILES PER HOUR. BIKE SUDDENLY BEGAN MAKING A CLANKING NOISE FROM THE REAR WHEEL. RODE APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE-TENTH MILE TO STORE PARKING LOT. SHUT DOWN BIKE AND TRANSPORTE…

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RIDING ON RELATIVELY STRAIGHT, TWO LANE STATE ROAD IN RURAL GEORGIA ( WITHOUT HAVING ANY PREVIOUS ISSUES). RIDING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MILES PER HOUR. BIKE SUDDENLY BEGAN MAKING A CLANKING NOISE FROM THE REAR WHEEL. RODE APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE-TENTH MILE TO STORE PARKING LOT. SHUT DOWN BIKE AND TRANSPORTED TO MY RESIDENCE ON TRAILER.

NHTSA ODI #11113474

Mileage unknown · Jul 26, 2017
Service Brakes

I CAN'T GET THE BRAKE WARNING FAILURE LIGHT TO STOP BLINKING. THE BRAKES WORK GREAT07

NHTSA ODI #11010744

220,197 miles · Jun 11, 2015
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW K1200LT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BRAKE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,197. THE VIN WAS NOT A…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW K1200LT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BRAKE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,197. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10724825

17,000 miles · Jun 24, 2013
Fuel/propulsion System

I WAS RIDING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 75 MPH. I STARTED SMELLING A STRONG ODOR OF GAS. WHEN I GOT HOME I HAD FUEL DRIPPING ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE BIKE. IT WAS ON MY BOOTS, PANTS LEG AND ALL OVER THE SIDE OF MY BIKE. IT MESSED UP MY PAINT IN SOME AREAS AND WILL NEED TO BE REPAINTED. I TOOK THE SIDE COVER OFF AND WAS ABLE TO…

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I WAS RIDING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT 75 MPH. I STARTED SMELLING A STRONG ODOR OF GAS. WHEN I GOT HOME I HAD FUEL DRIPPING ON THE GROUND UNDERNEATH THE BIKE. IT WAS ON MY BOOTS, PANTS LEG AND ALL OVER THE SIDE OF MY BIKE. IT MESSED UP MY PAINT IN SOME AREAS AND WILL NEED TO BE REPAINTED. I TOOK THE SIDE COVER OFF AND WAS ABLE TO SEE THE FUEL DRIPPING FROM THE QUICK DISCONNECT ON THE LOWER FUEL LINE. I AM NOT A HAPPY CAMPER AND I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10521391

53,000 miles · May 13, 2013
Service Brakes

ABS PUMP FAILED ON BMW K1200LT 2002, BIKE WAS IN STORAGE FOR A YEAR AND A HALF, TOOK OUT OF STORAGE AND NO SERVO ASSISTED BRAKES? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10511793

6,500 miles · Mar 14, 2013
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED RANDOMLY. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND ADVISED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM COULD LOCK WHILE DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,500 AND TH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED RANDOMLY. THE DEALER PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND ADVISED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM COULD LOCK WHILE DRIVING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 11,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10502759

57,010 miles · Jun 7, 2012
Power Train

ODI NO. [XXX], AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001. OIL LEAKED OVER TIRE AND BRAKES. NOTICED THE LEAK WHEN TRIED TO STOP AND DIDN'T STOP AS IT NORMALLY DID. BMW DEALER REPLACED FINAL DRIVE. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #10460878

76,244 miles · Feb 4, 2012
Power Train

SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN ODI NO. 10439549, AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10446626

76,244 miles · Feb 4, 2012
Power Train

FINAL DRIVE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT FOR GRINDING, CLUNKING AND VIBRATION. DEALER FOUND OIL LOADED WITH BEARING MATERIAL AND SIGNS OF AN OIL LEAK. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10446625

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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.