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U.S. public vehicle records

Bmw K 1600 GTL problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

72 owner complaints analyzed

8 distinct recall campaigns

3,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2011 to 2025 model years. Data snapshot: . 49 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 72 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Fuel system concerns1013.9%
Transmission and shifting79.7%
Steering behavior68.3%
Engine operation34.2%
Electrical and battery issues34.2%
Braking behavior22.8%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Steering
18
Fuel/Propulsion System
14
Power Train
12
Electrical System
9
Engine
9
Fuel System, Gasoline
6
Suspension
5
Unknown Or Other
5
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Steering18
Fuel/Propulsion System14
Power Train12
Electrical System9
Engine9
Fuel System, Gasoline6
Suspension5
Unknown Or Other5

Steering: 18; Fuel/Propulsion System: 14; Power Train: 12; Electrical System: 9; Engine: 9; Fuel System, Gasoline: 6; Suspension: 5; Unknown Or Other: 5

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
46
25,000 to 49,999
3
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00046
25,000 to 49,9993
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 46; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (46). 23 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2011
7
2013
13
2014
3
2015
1
2017
3
2018
8
2019
5
2020
11
2021
12
2022
3
2023
2
2024
1
2025
1
2026
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20117
201313
20143
20151
20173
20188
20195
202011
202112
20223
20232
20241
20251
20262

2011: 7; 2013: 13; 2014: 3; 2015: 1; 2017: 3; 2018: 8; 2019: 5; 2020: 11; 2021: 12; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2024: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 2

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10438769 · 2011-12-06 (December 6, 2011)

ON TURNING ON THE IGNITION KEY IN MY GARAGE, THE FUEL PUMP WAS AUDIBLE, AND THE BIKE FAILED TO START WHEN THE STARTER BUTTON WAS PRESSED. IMMEDIATELY I NOTICED A VERY LARGE TORRENT OF GASOLINE POURING OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE, RIGHT OVER THE EXHAUST HEADERS, WHICH WERE FORTUNATELY NOT YET HOT. THE AMOUNT OF GASOLINE LOST WAS AROUND 1 LITER, BEFORE I REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING, AND TURNED OFF THE IGNITION KEY. FORTUNATELY, NO FIRE RESULTED AS I ROLLED THE BIKE OUT OF THE POOL OF GASOLINE AND ON OUT OF THE GARAGE. AFTER THE BIKE WAS…

Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10438769 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11280916 · 2019-11-18 (November 18, 2019)

AFTER RETURNING FROM A RIDE, I NOTICED A FUEL SMELL. I LOCATED DROPS OF FUEL BENEATH THE BIKE AND BEGAN TO TRACE THE LIQUID TO IT'S SOURCE. THE SOURCE WAS A CRACKED FUEL PUMP FLANGE WHERE A THREADED FITTING WAS INSTALLED. BMW ISSUED A RECALL ON 2012 K1600 GTLS, BUT DID NOT INCLUDE MY VIN. BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE CLAIMED MY BIKE WAS PRODUCED TWO MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL CUT OFF DATE. MY BIKE EXPERIENCED THE SAME LEAK AS DESCRIBED IN THEIR RECALL. THIS WAS VERIFIED BY THE LOCAL BMW DEALER, RIDENOW IN CHANDLER ARIZONA PER THE REQUEST OF BMW. AFTER "R…

Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11280916 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10440023 · 2011-12-15 (December 15, 2011)

HAD A BAD OIL LEAK FROM THE TRANSMISSION ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BIKE. NEW TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED BY BMW DEALER. BAD OIL AND COOLANT FLUID LEAK FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE MOTORCYCLE. NEW PUMP WAS INSTALLED. THE BIKE WAS OUT OF SERVICE AT THE DEALER FOR 2.5 MONTHS TO FIX IT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 3,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10440023 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11579464 · 2024-03-26 (March 26, 2024)

Motorcycle has 45000miles and the transmission started to stutter in 4th gear, the symptoms match the recalled transmission for 2017 bmw k1600. This is very dangerous and in 4th gear the vehicle is traveling at around 50mph, when applying throttle the whole bike bucks and becomes unstable

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11579464 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10429391 · 2011-10-11 (October 11, 2011)

THE BIKE HAS PULLED TO THE LEFT FROM THE TIME I PURCHASED IT. BMW DEALER TESTED IT AND VERIFIED THE PULL TO THE LEFT. LAST WEEK A STEERING PART WAS REPLACED AND THE DEALER SAID IT WAS FIXED. AFTER RIDING IT I KNOW THAT IT IS NOT FIXED. STILL PULLS TO THE LEFT - PERHAPS NOT QUITE AS MUCH AS BEFORE THE "REPAIR". *KB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10429391 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10543150 · 2013-09-11 (September 11, 2013)

THE MOTORCYCLE "PULLS" SEVERELY TO THE LEFT AT ALL TIMES WHEN IN MOTION RESULTING IN DRIVER FATIGUE AND PAIN IN ARMS AND SHOULDERS FROM CONSTANT COUNTER-STEERING. THE BIKE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER MANY TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND THEY REPORT THAT BMW DOESN'T CONSIDER IT A PROBLEM AND WILL NOT FIX IT. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN JUNE OF 2011. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 12,040 miles reported. Look up ODI 10543150 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10415521 · 2011-07-28 (July 28, 2011)

I HAVE SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUES WITH MY 2012 TRIUMPH TIGER 800 ABS. IT RELATES TO ENGINE STALLING. OTHERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR PROBLEMS ON INTERNET FORUMS, AND SO I HAVE DECIDED TO FILE A SAFETY COMPLAINT. I HAVE HAD MY TIGER 800 FOR SEVERAL WEEKS, AND HAVE PUT ON ABOUT 1500 MILES. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH STALLING. ON BOTH OCCASIONS I HAD BEEN RIDING ON RELATIVELY HOT DAYS (85 DEGREES F) FOR SEVERAL HOURS. I HAD NO ISSUES WITH OVERHEATING. SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, MY BIKE BEGAN TO STALL EVERY TIME I ROLLED OFF…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10415521 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10512968 · 2013-05-21 (May 21, 2013)

LEFT AND RIGHT HANDLEBAR CONTROLLER QUITS FUNCTIONING. THE LEFT CONTROLLER HOUSES THE HORN, TURN SIGNALS, CRUISE CONTROL, BRIGHT LIGHTS, FOG LAMPS, TRACTION CONTROL, HAZARD WARNING FLASHERS, AND THE DAMPING ON THE MOTORCYCLE AMONG OTHER THINGS THAT ARE NOT SO HAZARDOUS SUCH AS RADIO VOLUME AND WIND SHIELD HEIGHT. RIGHT HANDLEBAR CONTROLLER HOUSES THE ENGINE CUTOFF SWITCH, RIDING MODE (RAIN, DRY, DYNAMIC) WHICH CONTROLS THE RESPONSIVE OF THE BIKE, AND LESS CRITICAL ITEMS SUCH AS THE POWER LOCKS FOR LUGGAGE COMPARTMENTS. THESE HAVE B…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10512968 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10523171 · 2013-07-04 (July 4, 2013)

MY BMW K1600GTL HAS EXPERIENCED FOUR (4) FAILURES OF THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL SWITCHES ON THE HANDLEBARS. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS ON THE LEFT SIDE CAUSING THE LEFT TURN SIGNAL TO NOT FUNCTION. THE SECOND FAILURE WAS OF THE REPLACED LEFT HANDLEBAR CLUSTER CAUSING THE HIGH BEAM (HEADLIGHTS) TO NOT FUNCTION. THE THIRD SWITCH FAILURE WAS AGAIN ON THE LEFT SWITCH CLUSTER ON THE TURN SIGNAL CANCEL SWITCH CAUSING THE TURN SIGNALS TO FUNCTION FOR 0.2 MILES UNTIL THEY SELF CANCELED. THIS WAS THE MOST HAZARDOUS SITUATION AS OTHER VEHICLES WOULD ATTEMPT TO PU…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10523171 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10525449 · 2013-07-13 (July 13, 2013)

MY BMW K1600GTL HAS EXPERIENCED 3 FAILURES OF THE MULTI-PURPOSE ELECTRICAL CONTROL SWITCH ON THE LEFT HANDLEBAR AND 1 FAILURE OF THE MULTI-PURPOSE SWITCH ON THE RIGHT HANDLEBAR. THE LEFT HANDLEBAR FAILURES WERE THE HIGH/LOW BEAM SWITCH 2 TIMES AND THE MENU BUTTON 1 TIME. THE RIGHT HANDLEBAR FAILURE WAS THE MODE SWITCH THAT CONTROLS ENGINE MAPPING FOR ROAD, DYNAMIC AND RAIN. I WAS TOLD BY TWO BMW MOTORCYCLE DEALERSHIP EMPLOYEES THAT THESE FAILURES ARE VERY COMMON AND BMW DENIES THERE IS A PROBLEM. THE ISSUE WITH THESE SWITCHES ARE SAFETY RELATED…

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10525449 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10413494 · 2011-07-19 (July 19, 2011)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW K1600 GTL MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 72 MPH, HE ENGAGED THE HORN AND ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE LANES, BUT THE DRIVER OF ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO HEAR THE HORN, ALMOST RESULTING IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN OUTPUT WAS NOT LOUD ENOUGH TO BE HEARD BY OTHER DRIVERS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HORN WAS OPERATING ADEQUATELY. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE EQUIPPED WITH A T…

Owner-reported narrative. 520 miles reported. Look up ODI 10413494 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2011
1
2012
4
2013
1
2014
1
2015
0
2016
0
2017
1
2018
2
2019
3
2020
3
2021
1
2022
1
2023
1
2024
2
2025
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20111
20124
20131
20141
20150
20160
20171
20182
20193
20203
20211
20221
20231
20242
20251

2011: 1; 2012: 4; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 0; 2016: 0; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2019: 3; 2020: 3; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 2; 2025: 1

Year-by-year records

Bmw K 1600 GTL model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
201101Not available
2012334+3
201371-3
2014710
201510-1
2016300
201701+1
2018162+1
201933+1
2020030
202111-2
2022110
2023010
202402+1
202501-1