Bmw K1200RS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
35 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
33,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 to 2002 model years. Data snapshot: . 23 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 35 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 25.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 8.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.9% |
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 | 7 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 4 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Suspension | 2 |
| Tires | 2 |
Fuel System, Gasoline: 7; Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit: 4; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Suspension: 2; Tires: 2
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 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 12 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 5; 2002: 4; 2003: 3; 2004: 2; 2006: 1; 2007: 4; 2009: 4; 2010: 1; 2012: 4; 2013: 3; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10456109 · 2012-04-23 (April 23, 2012)
(NOTE THAT THE INCIDENT DATE AND FAILURE MILEAGE REPORTED ARE APPROXIMATE.) WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE TWO ABS WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH PANEL FLASHED ALTERNATELY AS THEY NORMALLY DO UPON ENGINE START-UP, BUT DID NOT STOP FLASHING ONCE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS UNDERWAY AS THEY NORMALLY SHOULD DO, WHICH INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. AT THE BMW DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAVE MY MOTORCYCLE SERVICED, A TECHNICIAN RAN A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND IDENTIFIED THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED ABS MODULATOR. I WAS QUOTED $2200 FOR A REPLACE…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10456109 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032660 · 2003-08-12 (August 12, 2003)
REAR BRAKE CALIPER, I BELIEVE, FAILED TO RELEASE ON MY 1999 BMW K1200RS MOTORCYCLE CAUSING THE BRAKE TO SEVERELY OVERHEAT CAUSING A FIRE ON THE FINAL DRIVE PROTECTIVE BOOT AND THE ABS SENSOR WIRE. DAMAGE IS APPROXIMATELY $1000. BRAKE FLUID WAS CHANGED BY BMW DEALER (TOURING SPORT, INC. GREENVILLE, SC) APRIL 2, 2002. MOTORCYCLE IS ALWAYS STORED IN A MODERN ATTACHED GARAGE WITH MY CARS.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 6,994 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032660 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10455068 · 2012-04-13 (April 13, 2012)
RECALL 14401 FROM OCT. 14, 1988. THIS VEHICLE WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY IN 2001 UNDER THIS RECALL. IT FAILED AGAIN RECENTLY AND FUEL STARTED LEAKING. THE PARTS TO DO THE REMEDY ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE PER MY DEALER. THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE IS TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK AND RELATED COMPONENTS WITH A STYLE THAT BMW DEVELOPED TO SOLVE THIS SAFETY ISSUE. MY DEALER CALLED BMW NA SERVICE TWICE AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO LONGER SUPPORT FOR SOLVING THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND GOT THE SAME REPLY...NO CURRENT RECALL. BMW NA IS NOT WILL…
Owner-reported narrative. 59,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10455068 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10368768 · 2010-11-27 (November 27, 2010)
WHILE RIDING ON EXPRESSWAY ENGINE QUIT AND I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. FUEL WAS BEING PUMPED OUT ONTO THE HOT ENGINE AND MY SHOES AND CLOTHING. ON INSPECTION FOUND A BROKEN FUEL LINE CONNECTOR ON THE HIGH PRESSURE SIDE OF THE FUEL LINE GOING FROM THE FUEL PUMP TO THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM ON THE MOTOR. AT A LATER DATE THE LOW PRESSURE SIDE OF THE SYSTEM ALSO FAILED AND AGAIN FUEL RUNS OUT ONTO THE HOT ENGINE AND ONTO CLOTHING JUST WAITING FOR A SPARK FOR IGNITION. TO ME THIS LOOKS LIKE A REALLY BAD ACCIDENT JUST WAITING FOR A PLACE TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 73,678 miles reported. Look up ODI 10368768 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 722727 · 2000-05-15 (May 15, 2000)
VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED WITH A TRANSMISSION THAT REFUSED, AT TIMES TO SHIFT UPWARDS TO HIGHER GEARS. USUALLY THIS OCCURED IN COLDER WEATHER AND AFTER BEING RIDDEN FOR SOME DISTANCE BEFORE A BRIEF PERIOD OF COOLING OCCURRED TRIGGERING THE PROBLEM. WARRANTEE REPLACEMENT WAS DENIED BECAUSE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY COULDN'T CAUSE IT TO HAPPEN AS I'VE DESCRIBED. CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER OWNERS CONVINCES ME THIS HAS BEEN COMMON AND LIKEWISE DENIED TO THESE OTHER OWNERS. MOMENTARY LOSS OF ATTENTION DURING A STICKING EPISODE COULD PROVE FATAL, AND I WO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 722727 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 |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 4 |
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
1997: 0; 1998: 4; 1999: 1; 2000: 1; 2001: 0; 2002: 0