NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
37 reports14,079 miles · Feb 24, 2006
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
SUDDEN FINAL DRIVE FAILURE ON MOTORCYCLE @ 14079 MILES NO WARNING I WAS FORTUNATE AS I SLOWED FOR A TOLL BOOTH, SUDDENLY REAR OF THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED 'DANCING" COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC IF IT HAD HAPPENED AT SPEED. HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED TO DEALER $100, DEALER REPLACED BEARING AND SEAL $466.52, HAVE THE OLD BEARING. BM…
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SUDDEN FINAL DRIVE FAILURE ON MOTORCYCLE @ 14079 MILES NO WARNING I WAS FORTUNATE AS I SLOWED FOR A TOLL BOOTH, SUDDENLY REAR OF THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED 'DANCING" COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC IF IT HAD HAPPENED AT SPEED. HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED TO DEALER $100, DEALER REPLACED BEARING AND SEAL $466.52, HAVE THE OLD BEARING. BMW UPGRADED THE BEARING ON NEWER BIKES BUT NEVER RECALLED OLDER MODELS. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10151093
46,573 miles · Sep 8, 2005
Power Train
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
5,000 miles · Oct 6, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON A EIGHT HOUR DRIVE THE MUFFLER BURNED A HOLE IN THE SADDLE BAGS. NO INJURIES REPORTED. *AK *TC
NHTSA ODI #10083632
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
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