THE FIRST 100 MILES LEADING TO THE FAILURE, THERE WAS A WINDING NOISE THAT SOUND LIKE IT'S GOING OVER THE GROOVED PAVEMENT. THE LAST 50 MILES FELT LIKE THERE WAS SOMETHING GRINDING IN THE CHASSIS, WASN'T SURE IT WAS THE FRONT OR REAR. ONCE I GOT HOME, THERE WAS A LEAKAGE IN THE REAR WHEEL DRIVE. THE SEAL WAS SHREDDED. ONCE O…
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THE FIRST 100 MILES LEADING TO THE FAILURE, THERE WAS A WINDING NOISE THAT SOUND LIKE IT'S GOING OVER THE GROOVED PAVEMENT. THE LAST 50 MILES FELT LIKE THERE WAS SOMETHING GRINDING IN THE CHASSIS, WASN'T SURE IT WAS THE FRONT OR REAR. ONCE I GOT HOME, THERE WAS A LEAKAGE IN THE REAR WHEEL DRIVE. THE SEAL WAS SHREDDED. ONCE OPENED UP INSIDE, THE BEARING WAS SHREDDED AND TORE UP THE SEAL. THEY WERE REPLACE WITH DEALER PARTS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10135893
22,200 miles · Aug 13, 2005
Power Train
VIBRATION SIMILAR TO A ROUGH TIRE. WORSENED WITHIN A FEW MILES, MECHANICAL NOISE, BRAKE DRAGGING AND REAL WHEEL HOPPING. NO OIL LEAKS. WHEEL BEARING FAILED, ENTIRE FINAL DRIVE WAS REPLACED. REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10132728
72,726 miles · Apr 19, 2005
Power Train
I NOTICED LEAKING OIL COMING FROM THE APPROXIMATE CENTER OF MY VEHICLE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE LEAK WAS FROM THE MAIN TRANSMISSION SEAL & THAT IF NOT REPAIRED, WOULD GET PROGRESSIVELY WORSE; MEANING EVENTUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THEREFORE, I HAD THE MAIN SEAL REPLACED; AN …
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I NOTICED LEAKING OIL COMING FROM THE APPROXIMATE CENTER OF MY VEHICLE. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE LEAK WAS FROM THE MAIN TRANSMISSION SEAL & THAT IF NOT REPAIRED, WOULD GET PROGRESSIVELY WORSE; MEANING EVENTUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THEREFORE, I HAD THE MAIN SEAL REPLACED; AN EXPENSIVE $1300 JOB!
NHTSA ODI #10118079
76,305 miles · Apr 19, 2005
Power Train
I WAS DRIVING A 2002 BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE. I HAS SPENT THE DAY DRIVING AROUND TOWN, LOCALLY AT AVERAGE CITY SPEEDS & IN AVERAGE TRAFFIC. WHILE SLOWING TO INITIATE A TURN I DOWN SHIFTED INTO 1ST GEAR WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT LINKAGE SNAPPED. THIS LEFT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER DANGLING LOOSELY. WHILE STUCK IN 1ST GEAR, I DROVE MY VEH…
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I WAS DRIVING A 2002 BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE. I HAS SPENT THE DAY DRIVING AROUND TOWN, LOCALLY AT AVERAGE CITY SPEEDS & IN AVERAGE TRAFFIC. WHILE SLOWING TO INITIATE A TURN I DOWN SHIFTED INTO 1ST GEAR WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT LINKAGE SNAPPED. THIS LEFT THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER DANGLING LOOSELY. WHILE STUCK IN 1ST GEAR, I DROVE MY VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP. THE REPAIR TOOK A WHOLE WEEK SINCE THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO ORDER PARTS. THE PARTS, SUPPOSEDLY COMING FROM GERMANY, DID NOT GET TO THE DEALERSHIP IN TIME. THEY HAD TO TAKE THE PARTS FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE & INSTALL THEM IN MINE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10118078
28,300 miles · Sep 9, 2004
Power Train
BMW MOTORCYCLE FINAL DRIVE FAILURE -- OIL LEAKAGE ONTO REAR TIRE RESULTING IN TIRE SLIDING AND POTENTIAL FOR SUDDEN CRASH (RIDER SUFFICIENTLY SKILLED TO (BARELY) MAINTAIN CONTROL WHILE STOPPING). FAILURE WAS BY DISINTEGRATION OF FINAL DRIVE CROWN GEAR BEARING BALL RETAINING ELEMENTS (OBSERVED BY RIDER UPON DISASSEMBLY/INSPECTIO…
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BMW MOTORCYCLE FINAL DRIVE FAILURE -- OIL LEAKAGE ONTO REAR TIRE RESULTING IN TIRE SLIDING AND POTENTIAL FOR SUDDEN CRASH (RIDER SUFFICIENTLY SKILLED TO (BARELY) MAINTAIN CONTROL WHILE STOPPING). FAILURE WAS BY DISINTEGRATION OF FINAL DRIVE CROWN GEAR BEARING BALL RETAINING ELEMENTS (OBSERVED BY RIDER UPON DISASSEMBLY/INSPECTION OF FAILED FINAL DRIVE), WHICH IN TURN DESTROYED ADJACENT OIL SEAL. RIDER UNDERSTANDS BMW HAS EXPERIENCED CIRCA 400 SIMILAR FAILURES OUT OF CIRCA 10,000 K1200LT MOTORCYCLES SOLD IN THE U.S. -- A 4% (!) FAILURE RATE, BUT HAS NOT PROVIDED CUSTOMERS WITH INFORMATION AS TO CAUSE, CURE OR REMEDY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10090678
11,900 miles · Mar 1, 2004
Power Train
THE REAR DRIVE ASSEMBLY ON MY BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE STARTED VIBRATING AND MAKING GRINDING NOISES , CAUSING THE REAR OF THE BIKE TO BECOME UNSTABLE. THIS COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED A REAR WHEEL LOCKUP AND SERIOUS CRASH IF IT WASN'T CAUGHT IN TIME.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10060124
5,800 miles · Mar 1, 2004
Power Train
REAR DRIVE ASSEMBLY ON MY BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE STARTED LEAKING FLUID ONTO THE REAR WHEEL & TIRE. THIS COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED A REAR WHEEL SLIDE AND SERIOUS CRASH IF IT WASN'T CAUGHT IN TIME.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10060122
24,000 miles · Sep 16, 2003
Power Train
REAR DRIVE FAILURE ON BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10039008
16,100 miles · Aug 18, 2003
Power Train
THE SHIFT LINKAGE ON MY 2002 BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE BROKE WHILE I WAS RIDING RESULTING IN MY NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. I ENTERED K1200RS IN YOUR FORM SINCE MY MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT LISTED AND SINCE IT IS SIMILAR. SUCH OMISSIONS ON THIS MENU AND OTHER MENUS REFLECTS YOUR AGENCY'S BIAS AGAINST MOTORCYCLES WHICH ARE ARE AN INCREA…
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THE SHIFT LINKAGE ON MY 2002 BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE BROKE WHILE I WAS RIDING RESULTING IN MY NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. I ENTERED K1200RS IN YOUR FORM SINCE MY MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT LISTED AND SINCE IT IS SIMILAR. SUCH OMISSIONS ON THIS MENU AND OTHER MENUS REFLECTS YOUR AGENCY'S BIAS AGAINST MOTORCYCLES WHICH ARE ARE AN INCREASING TRANSPORTATION OPTION FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10033005
9,983 miles · Aug 12, 2003
Power Train
THE REAR DRIVE UNIT ON MY 2002 BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE FAILED. THE INITIAL DIAGNOSIS IS THAT THE CROWN BEARING FAILED. THERE WAS LITTLE WARNING THIS WAS GOING TO OCCUR, WITHIN A COUPLE OF MILES IT WENT FROM WORKING FINE TO A LOUND THUMPING/GRANDING NOISE AND A VERY NOTICEABLE WOBBLE AND VIBRATION SENT THOROUGH THE MOTORCYCLE. *A…
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THE REAR DRIVE UNIT ON MY 2002 BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE FAILED. THE INITIAL DIAGNOSIS IS THAT THE CROWN BEARING FAILED. THERE WAS LITTLE WARNING THIS WAS GOING TO OCCUR, WITHIN A COUPLE OF MILES IT WENT FROM WORKING FINE TO A LOUND THUMPING/GRANDING NOISE AND A VERY NOTICEABLE WOBBLE AND VIBRATION SENT THOROUGH THE MOTORCYCLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10032679
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.
2002 BMW K1200LT Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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