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2003 BMW K1200LT

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 BMW K1200LT do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 21.

About this comparison →
21Owner complaints

Model-year median: 21

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
51
200025
200137
200221
20034
20041
2006
Compare all K1200LT years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
13Fuel System, Gasoline
3Fuel/propulsion System
3Suspension
2Unknown Or Other
2
All reported categories
Electrical System
1Engine
1Service Brakes
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

21 reports with mileage · 0 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 13 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 →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. 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.

2 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

3 reports
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21,740 miles · Sep 1, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW K1200LT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE HAS QUICK RELEASE FUEL LINES THAT ARE MADE OUT OF PLASTIC AND THEY BREAK EASILY. IF THE MOTORCYCLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AND THEY BREAK, GAS WOULD LEAK ONTO THE DRIVER AND IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS HAPPENS FROM TIME TO TIME AND THE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW K1200LT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE HAS QUICK RELEASE FUEL LINES THAT ARE MADE OUT OF PLASTIC AND THEY BREAK EASILY. IF THE MOTORCYCLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AND THEY BREAK, GAS WOULD LEAK ONTO THE DRIVER AND IT COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS HAPPENS FROM TIME TO TIME AND THEY WOULD REPLACE THEM. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE TWO LINES, ONE MALE AND ONE FEMALE AND THAT IT NEEDS TO BE MADE KNOWN WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE IS PURCHASED THAT THE LINES SHOULD BE REPLACED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21740 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21740. UPDATED 2/22/11 *CN UPDATED 11/28/2011 *LN

NHTSA ODI #10353369

21,050 miles · Apr 1, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL SMELL FROM RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE WHEN RUNNING. FUEL SPRAY ON MY RIGHT BOOT. REMOVED SIDE FAIRING, STARTED ENGINE AND NOTICED FUEL SPRAYING FROM PLASTIC FUEL LINE CONNECTOR. REPLACED PLASTIC CONNECTOR WITH BRASS.*TR

NHTSA ODI #10263902

33,320 miles · Jun 2, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2003 BMW K1200LTE MOTORCYCLE THAT JUST EXPERIENCED A MASSIVE FUEL LEAK UNDER PRESSURE DUE TO A CRACKED PLASTIC QUICK DISCONNECT FITTING ON A FUEL LINE THAT WAS UNDER PRESSURE. THIS CAUSED SPRAYING FUEL TO SOAK MY RIGHT SHOE AND RUN DOWN OVER THE HOT ENGINE. THERE WAS A BULLETIN FROM BMW TO HAVE THE QUICK DI…

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I AM THE OWNER OF A 2003 BMW K1200LTE MOTORCYCLE THAT JUST EXPERIENCED A MASSIVE FUEL LEAK UNDER PRESSURE DUE TO A CRACKED PLASTIC QUICK DISCONNECT FITTING ON A FUEL LINE THAT WAS UNDER PRESSURE. THIS CAUSED SPRAYING FUEL TO SOAK MY RIGHT SHOE AND RUN DOWN OVER THE HOT ENGINE. THERE WAS A BULLETIN FROM BMW TO HAVE THE QUICK DISCONNECTS, O-RINGS, AND CLAMPS CHECKED. I HAD THIS DONE BY THE DEALERSHIP JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO. THE BULLETIN HOWEVER DOESN'T PROVIDE FOR REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PARTS WITH AN UPGRADED PART. THERE HAVE NOW BEEN MANY INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING ON THIS MODEL BIKE. YOU CAN GO TO THE WWW.BMWLT.COM WEBSITE FORUM AND SEARCH FOR FUEL LEAK TO GET AN IDEA OF SOME OF THE INSTANCES. ONE BIKE BURNED TO THE GROUND, BUT BMW STATES THAT IT WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING....I WONDER ABOUT THAT. THE RIDER WAS KILLED. I FEEL IT MY DUTY TO REPORT THIS AND HOPE THAT A RECALL AND REDESIGN OF THE PART CAN PREVENT ANYONE FROM DYING. A SIDE NOTE TO THIS IS THE POSSIBILITY OF THE VAST AMOUNT OF FUEL GETTING ON THE REAR TIRE AND CAUSING A CRASH DUE TO SLIPPAGE. RON KELLENBENZ 18123 CR 1275 TYLER, TX 75703 903 839-5132 KELLENBENZ@COX.NET. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10158846

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.