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

Service Brakes, Air complaints

1 reports

Clear category filter

500 miles · May 1, 2003

Service Brakes, Air

Read full complaint

I OWN A BMW MOTORCYLE K1200LTE WITH FAULTY BRAKES. EVERYTIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE THEY MAKE A LOUD SCREECHING NOSIE AND SOUND LIKE TWO PIECES OF BARE METAL PRESSING AGAINST EACH OTHER. BMW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED A "NOTICE" TO THEIR DEALERS, HOWEVER, THEY HAVE NO PARTS TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. THEY CLAIM IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE HOWEVER THE BMW DEALER IN RALEIGH NC TOLD ME TO "GET THE BIKE GOING 100 MPH AND LOCK IT DOWN". I WAS TOLD TO DO THIS ABOUT "2-3 TIMES" AND IT WOULD "BURN THE GLAZE OFF THE BRAKES". I AM CONVINCED THAT THIS MOTORCYCLE IS NOT SAFE TO RIDE, HOWEVER, NEITHER THE DEALER NOR BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE WILL PROPERLY ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS OUT THERE LIKE ME AND IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL SOMEONE IS KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS CONDITION AND BMW'S LACK OF RESPONSE.

NHTSA ODI #10016856

Official recalls

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

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.