Bmw K SERIES problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
17 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
25,838 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 to 2004 model years. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 17 complaints (29.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 23.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 5.9% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 5.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 5.9% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Power Train:Driveline | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline: 4; Power Train: 3; Power Train:Driveline: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Engine: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 5 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
1995: 2; 2004: 2; 2006: 2; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2015: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 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 10165558 · 2006-08-15 (August 15, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS A GASOLINE SMELL WAS NOTICED. UPON THE ARRIVAL TO THE CONTACT HOME, GAS WAS OBSERVED TO BE LEAKING OUT OF THE HOSE FROM THE GAS TANK. WHEN THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED RECALL # 04V028000 WAS IDENTIFIED AND THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP WHICH WAS LOCATED 60 MILES AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS INOPERABLE THEREFORE THE CONTACT EXPRESSED IT WAS UNFAIR TO BE REQUIRED TO PAY FOR TOWING SERVICES TO THE DEALERSHIP.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,820 miles reported. Look up ODI 10165558 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11668176 · 2025-06-20 (June 20, 2025)
Approximately on Nov 25, 2024, my BMW K1200RS started on fire. I backed out of my garage and driveway onto the street. I started it up, and within a couple minutes it began smoking. I turned if off immediately and looked under the front of the bike and saw flames. I ran into my house and grabbed my fire extinguisher, and put out the flames. I had help pushing it back into my garage. About a week later I took off the left side panel and reviewed the damage. I put in a claim to my insurance. The agent that contacted me acted as if it was my fault…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11668176 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10169803 · 2006-10-02 (October 2, 2006)
NOTICE OF GASOLINE SMELL COMING FROM RIGHT SIDE. WHEN EXAMINED, GAS WAS DANGEROUSLY SPRAYING THE ENTIRE VALVE COVER, GEAR HOUSING, BOTTOM OF TRANSMISSION HOUSING, AND MY RIGHT LEG. THE ENTIRE PLASTIC QUICK DISCONNECT OF THE RETURN LINE SHEARED APART, CAUSING THE LEAK. DEALER HAS NOT CORRECTED IT YET SINCE ALL WERE CLOSED. I WAS ABLE TO FIND REPLACEMENT CLAMPS AND A THROUGH BARB AT A HARDWARE STORE. PAINTED ENGINE COMPONENTS ARE NOT STAINED AND NEED TO BE REPAINTED. PLASTIC QUICK DISCONNECTS FUEL LINE PARTS NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH APPROPR…
Owner-reported narrative. 27,676 miles reported. Look up ODI 10169803 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10694339 · 2015-03-15 (March 15, 2015)
THE BRAKE FAILURE LIGHT LIT UP AND I LOST POWER BRAKES AND EVEN AT 10 MPH IT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STOP THE BIKE. THE MODULE CONTROLS THE SERVO LINKAGE ALSO. THIS IS A KNOW PROBLEM WITH BMW K BIKES WITH ABS AND BMW REFUSES TO RECALL THE BIKES. I BELIEVE IT IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM AND RIDERS CANNOT GET ANY HELP FROM BMW. IT IS A 2500 DOLLAR REPAIR AND IT HAPPENS TO MANY BIKES AT AROUND 20,000 MILES. NO WARNING. WE NEED HELP WITH PUTTING SOME PRESSURE ON BMW. IF YOU WANT VERIFICATION CALL ANY BMW MOTORCYCLE DEALER. THERE ARE LOTS OF POST…
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10694339 at NHTSA ↗
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 0 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
1994: 0; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 1