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2008 Bmw K1200 S: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

13 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

7,150 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 13 complaints (38.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation753.8%
Braking behavior215.4%
Fuel system concerns215.4%

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.

Fuel/Propulsion System
5
Fuel System, Gasoline
4
Electrical System
2
Engine
2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
Service Brakes
2
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
1
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Fuel/Propulsion System5
Fuel System, Gasoline4
Electrical System2
Engine2
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine2
Service Brakes2
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)1
Engine And Engine Cooling1

Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline: 4; Electrical System: 2; Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
12
25,000 to 49,999
0
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 25,00012
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 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 (12). 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.

2009
4
2012
2
2013
2
2014
4
2018
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20094
20122
20132
20144
20181

2009: 4; 2012: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 4; 2018: 1

Pattern summary

Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 7 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 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 10277288 · 2009-07-18 (July 18, 2009)

1. NORMAL OPERATION OF BMW 2008 K1200S MOTORCYCLE WAS IN PROGRESS. WHILE SLOWING FOR STOPLIGHTS OR TRAFFIC, PULLING IN THE VEHICLE'S CLUTCH AND ROLLING OFF THE THROTTLE (EITHER WHILE DOWNSHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 1ST GEAR, OR SIMPLY PULLING IN THE CLUTCH WHILE IN FIRST GEAR AND ROLLING OFF OF THE THROTTLE), THE VEHICLE'S MOTOR STALLS AND THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. 2.) THE STALLING GENERALLY OCCURS SPORADICALLY, ONCE EVERY FEW WEEKS, AND GENERALLY ONLY ONCE OR TWICE PER RIDING SESSION, OVER THE VEHICLE OWNERSHIP PERIOD (JANUARY 2009-CURRENT). HOWEVER, A …

Owner-reported narrative. 2,005 miles reported. Look up ODI 10277288 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10278124 · 2009-07-23 (July 23, 2009)

ENGINE STALL/DIE AT LOW SPEED DECERATION TO STOP. INTERMINTENT, ONE IN 30-50 STOPS. TOOK TO DEALER 3 TIMES FOR TESTING SITUATION COULD NOT BE DUPLLICATED BECAUSE OF LACK OF TEST TIME AVAILABLE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,574 miles reported. Look up ODI 10278124 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10279634 · 2009-08-06 (August 6, 2009)

I OWN A 2008 BMW K1200S MOTORCYCLE. WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP, THE ENGINE STALLS NEARLY EVERYTIME, AND IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE IN TRAFFIC. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO MY BMW DEALER SEVERAL TIMES TO BE REPAIRED, BUT THEY TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. WHEN ANALYZED BY THEIR DIAGNOSTIC COMPUTER, NO FAULTS ARE SHOWN. AFTER NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS, MY DEALER HAS FINALLY TOLD ME THAT BMW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY ARE WORKING ON A SOLUTION, HOWEVER THEY DO NOT HAVE AN ANSWER YET. IN SPEAKING WITH MANY OTHER OWNERS OF THE SAME MOD…

Owner-reported narrative. 21,784 miles reported. Look up ODI 10279634 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10289371 · 2009-10-22 (October 22, 2009)

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW BMW K1200S IN OCT 2008. SINCE I BOUGHT IT HAS HAD A STALLING PROBLEM THAT MY DEALER CANNOT FIX AND BMW USA REFUSES TO ADDRESS. I HAVE ASK FOR THE MOTORCYCLE TO EITHER BE FIXED, REPLACED, OR REIMBURSE ME MY $19,000 CASH THAT I PAID FOR THE BIKE. THE MOTORCYCLE IS UNFIT FOR ROAD USE DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT STALLS EXCESSIVELY AND I FEEL UNSAFE. IF YOU GOTO THE INTERNET AND PUNCH IN KEY WORDS BMW K1200S STALLING YOU'LL FIND 30 TO 40 PAGES OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH CASES EVEN BEING REPORTED OF PEOPLE GETTING HIT FR…

Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289371 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10448592 · 2012-02-20 (February 20, 2012)

CRACK OBSERVED IN FUEL PUMP FLANGE (PLASTIC BOSS) ON FEMALE FITTING. THE CRACK MAY EVENTUALLY LEAK, CAUSING A FIRE, INJURY, AND/OR DEATH TO OPERATOR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 12,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10448592 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10466683 · 2012-07-19 (July 19, 2012)

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A ROAD AT A CONSTANT SPEED OF 30 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY MY BIKE SHUT OFF. I HAD CARS APPROACHING ME FROM THE REAR SO I DECIDED TO MAKE AN IMMEDIATE TURN ONTO A SECONDARY ROAD. AFTER COASTING TO A STOP I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO START THE BIKE WITH NO SUCCESS. IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS OUT OF GAS BUT I KNOW I HAD AT LEAST A HALF OF A TANK. I WENT AHEAD AND PUT MORE GAS IN THE TANK TO TOP IT OFF. AFTERWARDS IT IMMEDIATELY STARTED UP. THE NEXT DAY I WENT FOR ANOTHER RIDE AND THE BIKE STARTED TO PERFORM SLUGGISH. IT APPEAR T…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10466683 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10496593 · 2013-02-06 (February 6, 2013)

THE BMW K-SERIES MOTORCYCLES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH CRACKS IN THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING THAT NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING FOR THE R-SERIES BIKES (INVESTIGATION: PE 12-036 / INVESTIGATOR: [XXX]). THIS PROBLEM IS POTENTIALLY MORE SERIOUS IN THE K-SERIES BIKES BECAUSE ON THE K-SERIES MACHINES THE LEAK IS OVER THE CYLINDER HEADS WHERE THERE IS A GREATER DANGER OF FIRE. BMW HAS INDICATED TO ME (BY PHONE) THAT THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THIS WIDE-SPREAD DEFECT IN THEIR MOTORCYCLES THAT ARE OUT OF WARRANTY UNTIL THERE IS A RECALL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT…

Owner-reported narrative. 17,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10496593 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10537505 · 2013-08-27 (August 27, 2013)

FAILURE OF THE FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT INSIDE THE GASOLINE TANK CAUSED THE FUEL GAUGE TO REPORT INACCURATE FUEL LEVEL. GAUGE SAID TANK WAS HALF FULL, BUT TANK WAS EMPTY, CAUSING ENGINE TO SPUTTER AND STALL. CHECK OF TANK FUEL LEVEL WITH A FLASH LIGHT CONFIRMED TANK WAS EMPTY. ADDED GASOLINE TO TANK AND STARTED ENGINE OK. I HAVE OWNED THIS MOTORCYCLE FOR 14 MONTHS AND THIS MAKES THE THIRD FAILURE OF THE FUEL GAUGE, BUT THE FIRST TO CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. THE PROBLEM IS ACTUALLY VERY WIDE-SPREAD, JUST GOO…

Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10537505 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

5 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 ↗
12V487000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Reported: 2012-10-05 (October 5, 2012)

BMW is recalling certain model year 2007-2008 K1200 S, K1200 R, and K1200 R Sport motorcycles and 2012 and 2013 K1300 S motorcycles. In October 2012, BMW recalled 2062 2007-2008 K1200 S, K1200 R, and K1200 R Sport motorcycles. In November 2012, BMW informed the agency that it was adding model year 2012 and 2013 K1300 S (including HP Limited Edition) motorcycles to the recall campaign, representing an additional 421 units. The total number of motorcycles being recalled is now 2,483. In certain riding conditions, the brake fluid in the front brake fluid reservoir can foam.

Consequence: Brake fluid that foams could lead to a reduced braking capability of the front brake system, possibly resulting in a crash.

Remedy: The front brake fluid reservoir will be retrofitted with a screen insert, free of charge. The recall began on December 19, 2012. Owners may contact BMW at 1-800-525-7417 or email BMW at CustomerRelations@bmwusa.com.

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 ↗