2008 Bmw K1200 GT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
22 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
11,975 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 22 complaints (27.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 9 | 40.9% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 4.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.5% |
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 | 6 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Power Train:Driveline | 1 |
Fuel System, Gasoline: 6; Service Brakes: 5; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3; Power Train: 2; Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Power Train:Driveline: 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 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 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 (15). 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 3 |
2008: 7; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2012: 4; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 3
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10231679 · 2008-06-20 (June 20, 2008)
MOTORCYCLE WAS DELIVERED WITH A DEFECTIVE AIRBOX. AS VEHICLE TEMPERATURE AND AMBIENT TEMPERATURE GOT HOTTER, THE THROTTLE WOULD STICK. THE HOTTER IT GOT, THE WORSE IT STUCK. THIS WOULD RESULT IN LOSS OF ENGINE BRAKING AND UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. ON THE THIRD DAY I RODE IT THE THROTTLE STUCK AT 3,000 RPM IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND I ALMOST REAR-ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AS A RESULT. I RODE THE REST OF THE WAY HOME WITH THE ENGINE STUCK AT 3,000 RPM. BMW HAS A SERVICE BULLETIN #13 003 07(056) THAT DEALS WITH THIS - THEY KNEW THE BIKE WAS LIKE…
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10231679 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10231924 · 2008-06-21 (June 21, 2008)
BMW K1200GT (MOTORCYCLE) - SURGING IDLE - POTENTIAL HAZARD - BIKE WILL BE RUNNING FINE AND THEN, FOR NO APPARENT REASON, BEGIN IDLING AROUND 3000 RPM. FAILURE OCCURRENCE IS VERY INCONSISTENT. AIR BOX HAS BEEN REPLACED BUT DID NOT RESOLVE ISSUE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON FAILURE. 1000 MILES ON A NEW BIKE AND FOUR TRIPS TO THE DEALER WITHOUT THE PROBLEM BEING RESOLVED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 160 miles reported. Look up ODI 10231924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10242999 · 2008-09-20 (September 20, 2008)
DRIVING MY BMW K1200LT TO PA. ONLY 6,500 MILES ON ODOMETER. I STOPPED IN W. VA AND NOTICED OIL ON THE REAR TIRE, INDICATING A FINAL DRIVE SEAL FAILURE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10242999 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10245019 · 2008-10-09 (October 9, 2008)
REAR BRAKE LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING, EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKES HAD NOT BEEN APPLIED FOR SEVERAL MILES PRIOR TO THIS HAPPENING. BRAKE LOCK-UP CAUSED CALIPER TO OVERHEAT WHICH IN TURN MELTED THE REAR BRAKE HOSE RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID IN THE REAR BRAKES. FORTUNATELY THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON A RURAL COUNTRY 2 LANE HIGHWAY AT LOW SPEEDS AND I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD IMMEDIATELY. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE ON AN INTERSTATE AT HIGH SPEEDS, IN TRAFFIC, I WOULD PROBABLY NOT BE HERE TO MAKE THIS REPORT. A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10245019 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10245022 · 2008-10-09 (October 9, 2008)
AT APROX. 600 MILES AFTER TAKING DELIVERY OF THIS NEW VEHICLE THERE OCCURRED TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE IDLE. EXAMPLE: WHEN LETTING OFF THE ACCELERATOR VEHICLE WILL NOT SLOW DOWN. THIS CAN BE A PROBLEM WHEN APPROACHING A CURVE, INTERSECTION, OR ANY INSTANCE THAT REQUIRES A SLOWDOWN OR STOP. VEHICLE RETURNED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR AND SOME PARTS WERE REPLACED, SPECIFICALLY THE AIRBOX. VEHICLE RAN FINE FOR APPROX. 600 MILES WHEN PROBLEM RETURNED. SOMETIMES THE IDLE WILL DROP OFF TO ZERO AND THE ENGINE DIES, STOPS, ETC. ENGINE WILL RESTART AFTER COOLD…
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10245022 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10247192 · 2008-10-29 (October 29, 2008)
IN EARLY SEPT MY 2008 BMW K1200GT BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE A HIGH IDLE. IT WOULD STAY AT 1800 TO 2000 RPM'S WHEN THE THROTTLE WAS RELEASED. IN TURNS OR HEAVY TRAFFIC THIS CAN CREATE A HAZARD. THE BIKE HAD APPROX. 10,160 MILES AT THE TIME. I NOTIFIED THE DEALER WHO PROMPTLY REPLACED THE AIRBOX, IDLE CONTROL VALVE AND RESET THE SOFTWARE FOR THE BIKE. THE SEEMED TO RUN FINE FOR APPROX. 300 MILES. THE HIGH IDLE RETURNED ONLY NOW IT WOULD SURGE TO ABOUT 3,000 RPM'S WHEN STOPPED OR SLOWING AND THEN EVENTUALLY DROP TO NORMAL IDLE. AGAIN THIS CREATED A SAFE…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,160 miles reported. Look up ODI 10247192 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10250906 · 2008-12-05 (December 5, 2008)
6/21/2008 UPON START UP, IDLE JUMPS TO 2000-3000RPM BEFORE RETURNING TO NORMAL IDLE OF 1000RPM. DEALER; RE-ADJUST IDLE ACTUATOR. ENGINE IDLE ACTUATOR NOT ADJUSTING IDLE PROPERLY BUT STILL IN SPEC. (MALFUNCTIONING BUT STILL IN SPEC. HOW DO YOU FIGURE??) 7/26/08 IDLE IS ERRATIC AT START-UP. (REVS TO 2000+ RPM THEN BACK DOWN TO 1000). SAME COMPLAINT AS LAST SERVICE. (EVEN MORE ERRATIC AT HIGH ALTITUDES). DEALER; IDLE VALVE PLUNGER STICKING IN THE AIR BOX, R&R INTAKE MUFFLER/AIR INTAKE BOX. 10/11/08 IDLE ACTUATOR OR IDLE VALVE PLUNGER …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,741 miles reported. Look up ODI 10250906 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10276014 · 2009-07-07 (July 7, 2009)
FINAL DRIVE FAILURE 2008 BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE. BEARING BAD IN FINAL DRIVE. THIS MODEL/YEAR NOT LISTED AS A CHOICE SO I PUT K1200GT AS THE CLOSEST ONE. FOUND LARGE OIL LEAK FROM DRIVE WHILE PARKED OVERNIGHT, DEALER STATED DRIVE BEARING IS SHOT NEEDS NEW BEARING AND SEALS. FIRST TIME, ALMOST NEW BIKE, 7600 MILES. 2008 MODEL. DEALER IS REPAIRING DRIVE UNDER WARRANTY. IF IT HAPPENED WHILE RIDING COULD HAVE CAUSED CRASH. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 7,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10276014 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
08V239000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Reported: 2008-06-02 (June 2, 2008)
BMW IS RECALLING 30 MY 2008 K1200 S AND K1200 GT MOTORCYCLES. A SET SCREW MAY NOT HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AT ITS SPECIFIC LOCATION WITHIN THE OIL DUCT. CONSEQUENTLY, AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF OIL MAY NOT CIRCULATE WITHIN THE ENGINE.
Consequence: IT IS POSSIBLE THAT CONNECTING ROD AND CRANKSHAFT DAMAGE COULD OCCUR. IF THIS HAPPENED, THE ENGINE COULD SEIZE. IF THE MOTORCYCLE WAS IN GEAR, ENGINE SEIZING COULD RESULT IN LOCK-UP OF THE REAR TIRE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SET SCREW IN THE OIL DUCT. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING AUGUST 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-331-1117.
NHTSA campaign record ↗08V245000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
Reported: 2008-06-04 (June 4, 2008)
BMW IS RECALLING 548 MY 2008 K1200 S AND GT MOTORCYCLES. THE FASTENERS USED TO SECURE THE FRONT BRAKE-DISC MAY NOT BE LONG ENOUGH TO ENSURE A SECURE MOUNTING. OVER TIME, THESE FASTENERS COULD LOOSEN. IF THAT HAPPENED, THE BRAKE DISC WOULD NO LONGER BE SECURELY MOUNTED.
Consequence: FAILURE TO OBSERVE THE FOLLOWING PRECAUTIONS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH TRAFFIC AND ROAD CONDITIONS, AND THE RIDER'S REACTIONS, COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND INSTALL A LONGER FRONT BRAKE DISC FASTENERS AND REROUTE THE SENSOR CABLE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING AUGUST 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-831-1117.
NHTSA campaign record ↗10V488000 · Suspension:Rear
Reported: 2010-10-08 (October 8, 2010)
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 MOTORCYCLES. THE BEARINGS COULD BE SUBJECT TO CORROSION. THIS COULD LEAD TO REDUCED MOVEMENT OF THE LINK LEVER.
Consequence: THIS COULD AFFECT THE HANDLING OF THE MOTORCYCLE INCREASING THE RISK A DRIVER MAY LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Remedy: BMW WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BMW AT 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗20V471000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump
Reported: 2020-08-10 (August 10, 2020)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2009-2011 K1300 (S, GT), 2010-2011 S1000 RR, 2005-2011 R1200 (GS, GS Adventure, R, RT, S, ST), 2006-2010 HP2 (Enduro, Megamoto, Sport), 2005-2008 K1200 (R, R Sport, S, GT), and 2012 K1600 (GT, GTL) motorcycles that were repaired under recall 13V-617 with the support ring remedy and where the fuel pump was not replaced at a later date. This recall involves the fuel pump, and also the auxiliary fuel pump as applicable. The affected motorcycles have a fuel pump flange that may crack, possibly resulting in a fuel leak while the engine is running.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump(s) with an improved version, free of charge. The recall began January 18, 2021. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗