2001 BMW K1200lt

Routine

Owners filed 25 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › driveline › differential unit. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit5
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip4
010
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2
000
Power Train › Axle Assembly › Axle Shaft › Seal2
000
Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices1
000
Suspension › Rear1
000
Suspension1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum1
000
Power Train › Driveline › Driveshaft1
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit
Filed Mar 13, 201245,151 milesID

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW K1200 LT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, HE FELT A SLIGHT VIBRATION. AFTER PULLING OVER HER NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK ON THE REAR TIRE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE BEARINGS HAD FAILED AND CAUSED THE SEAL TO FRACTURE, CAUSING THE LEAK. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE BEARINGS AND THE SEAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,151. UPDATED 04/10/12*LJ THE DIFFERENTIAL BEARING AND SEAL HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 04/16/12

Power Train
Filed Feb 3, 201287,000 milesWI

I HAD THE SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN ODI NO. 10439549, AND > CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001. GEAR OIL LEAKED. THIS FAILURE HAPPENED 850 MILES FROM HOME AND HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. *KB

Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit
Filed Dec 6, 201159,310 milesWA

2001 BMW K1200LT. REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION INTO BMW MOTORCYCLE FINAL DRIVE FAILURES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO BRING THE MOTORCYCLE TO A SAFE STOP, HE DISCOVERED THE REAR BRAKES DID NOT WORK, WHICH FORCED HIM TO USE THE FRONT BRAKES ONLY, WHICH EXTENDED HIS STOPPING DISTANCE. HE WAS ABLE TO BRING THE BIKE TO A SAFE STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION, HE REALIZED THE REAR BRAKES FAILED BECAUSE THEY WERE SATURATED IN GEAR OIL, THAT LEAKED FROM THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT AFTER THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING SEAL FAILED. THE FINAL GEAR CROWN GEAR BEARING FAILED, CAUSING METAL PARTS TO BE CRUSHED BETWEEN THE SPINNING GEARS, TEARING THE SEAL AND ALLOWING THE OIL TO LEAK. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS THE SECOND TIME THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING FAILED ON HIS BIKE. *JB UPDATED 12/13/11*JB UPDATED 01/05/12.*JB ...UPDATED 01/31/12 *BF UPDATED 02/03/12

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Jul 2, 201044,000 milesGA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK ON A 2001 BMW. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Apr 10, 201091,500 milesVA

UNEXPECTED FAILURE OF REAR BEARING ON 2001 BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE. REAR BEARING OIL SEAL ALSO FAILED, CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE ONTO TIRES AND BRAKING SURFACES. VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO WAS REMOVED FROM SERVICE IMMEDIATELY AFTER FAILURE, BEFORE OIL IMPAIRED BRAKING ABILITIES. BEARING AND HOUSING WILL BE REPLACED. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Dec 5, 200860,200 milesFL

I NOTICED MY BIKE TIRES SEEMED TO BE OUT OF BALANCE, A NOTICEABLE VIBRATION ESPECIALLY AT LOWER SPEEDS. I HAD THE TIRES CHECKED AND ENDED UP REPLACING THEM. THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO MOVE TO THE REAR OF THE BIKE AFTER REPLACING THE TIRES, WITH A VIBRATION IN THE FOOTPEGS AND WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP IT FELT AS IF THE REAR TIRE WAS FLAT. I CHECKED THE SUSPENSION AND SET IT TO THE PROPER PRELOAD ON THE REAR SHOCK BUT THE VIBRATION PERSISTED. I SEARCHED ON THE WEB AND FOUND WHERE OTHER BMW MOTORCYCLE RIDERS WITH SHAFT DRIVE HAD EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS WHEN THEIR REAR DRIVE BEARING WENT OUT. I HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A REAR DRIVE FAILURE. *TR

Power Train › Driveline
Filed Nov 2, 200830,775 milesCA

BMW MOTORCYCLE K1200LT FINAL DRIVE FAILED 300 MILES FROM HOME. HAD TO RENT A CAR TO GET HOME AND THEN BACK AGAIN TO PICK MOTORCYCLE UP. OUT OF POCKET COST OF REPAIRS AND TRANSPORTATION $700. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Aug 30, 2007NJ

COMPONENT FAILURE, HYDRAULIC BRAKES: ANTILOCK FINAL DRIVE FAILURE BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE

Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit
Filed Jul 1, 200747,314 milesNC

I OWN A 2001 BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE. I MAINTAIN IT VERY WELL AND CHANGE LUBRICANTS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. MY WIFE AND I WERE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE NOT FAR FROM OUR HOME WHEN WE FELT A ROUGHNESS AND VIBRATION THAT WORSENED AND WORSENED. HEARING THAT THESE BIKES ARE NOTORIOUS FOR A FAILED BEARING IN THE REAR DRIVE, I STOPPED TO CHECK IT AND THERE WAS GEAR OIL ALL OVER THE REAR WHEEL. EVEN MORE DANGEROUS THAN THE GEAR OIL SPILLING ONTO THE TIRE WAS THE FACT THAT IT RAN DOWN ONTO THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER! THANKFULLY, WE WERE CLOSE TO HOME, SO WE "LIMPED" HOME VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE THE TOTAL FAILURE HAPPENED. NUMBERS OF OWNERS ARE REPORTING THIS SAME FAILURE WHERE THE GEAR OIL IS SPILLING FROM THE REAR DRIVE ONTO THE TIRE AND BRAKES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

Suspension › Rear
Filed Jun 19, 200728,750 milesAL

FAILURE OF REAR DRIVE BEARING ON K1200LT BMW. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed May 20, 200747,195 milesFL

BRAKE HOSE RUPTURED CAUSING FRONT BRAKES TO FAIL AND FLUID TO LEAK ON TIRE. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Nov 24, 200644,039 milesFL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE FUEL LINE FITTING QUICK DISCONNECT CAME LOOSE CAUSING FUEL TO SPILL ON THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED TWICE. BOTH TIMES THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FITTING HIMSELF. THE DEALER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Feb 24, 200663,781 milesFL

VIBRATION IN FOOTPEGS AND RUMBLING NOISE FROM REAR DRIVE UNIT. CROWN WHEEL BEARING FAILED. CAUGHT IN TIME BEFORE SERIOUS DAMAGE WAS DONE. THIS BEARING IS THE MAIN SUPPORT ELEMENT FOR THE REAR WHEEL ON THIS MOTORCYCLE. PARTS FROM DAMAGED BEARING HAVE TAKEN OUT OIL SEAL WHICH LEADS TO REAR BRAKE AND WHEEL BEING COVERED IN GEAR LUBE. BROKEN BEARING COULD LEAD TO LOCK UP OF REAR WHEEL. GEAR LUBE ON THE REAR BRAKE DISC WOULD LEAD TO LOSS OF BRAKING. GEAR LUBE ON REAR WHEEL WOULD LEAD TO LOSS OF TRACTION. ALL COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITH SUBSEQUENT PROPERTY AND BODILY DAMAGE. BEARING AND SEAL WHERE REPLACED. OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *NM

Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit
Filed Sep 11, 200582,400 milesOH

BMW MOTORCYCLE, MODEL K1200LT. RIDING NORMALLY AT 65 MPH ON FREEWAY, OIL LEAKED OUT OF REAR DRIVE UNIT ONTO BRAKES, WHEEL AND TIRE. LOST ALL REAR BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS, TIRE SLIPPED SLIGHTLY ON ROAD. PULLED ONTO SHOULDER, STOPPED BY USING FRONT BRAKE ONLY. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER WHERE REAR DRIVE UNIT WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. OLD PART IS BEING SHIPPED TO MY OFFICE. *NM

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipFire
Filed Sep 11, 200512,000 milesTX

THERE HAVE BEEN DOZENS OF REPORTS OF BMW K1200 LT MOTORCYCLES ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AS WELL AS DIRECTLY TO BMW AND AT THE BMW LT OWNERS WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.BMWLT.NET/UBBTHREADS/SHOWFLAT.PHP?CAT=&BOARD=SURVEYS&NUMBER=17109&PAGE=&VIEW=&SB=&O=&FPART=ALL&VC=1 THE COMMON THREAD IS THAT THE BEARING FAILS, THE SEAL LEAKS DUE TO DEBRIS AND THE REAR END DUMPS IT LUBRICATION OIL ALL OVER THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY, TIRE ETC. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION FOR A MOTORCYCLE!!! ONLY TWO WHEELS TO START WITH!!!! IN LIGHT OF THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V297000 FOR LUBE LEAKAGE ON THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY OF ANOTHER BMW MOTORCYCLE PLEASE REVIEW ANY/ALL COMPLAINTS ALREADY RECEIVED BY NHTSA AND READ THE TEXT TO SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON AND RECURRING PROBLEM THAT MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY CLASSIFIED BY THE PEOPLE MAKING THE REPORT. BOTTOM LINE, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHER BMW MOTORCYCLES OUT THERE, HUNDREDS OF WHICH HAVE (NOT THEORETICALLY) DUMPED REAR END LUBE ALL OVER THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY WITH CONSEQUENCES IDENTICAL TO CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V297000 . OUR GROUP AT THE WEBSITE ABOVE CAN PRODUCE NAMES, DATES, VIN NUMBERS ETC. TO BACK UP THIS CLAIM. PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFORMATION. I CONSIDER THIS FORMAL NOTIFICATION TO NHTSA OF THE SEVERITY OF THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. STEPHEN M. WHITE LEWISVILLE, TX. *NM

Power Train › Axle Assembly › Axle Shaft › Seal
Filed Jun 2, 200537,000 milesIL

WIFE AND I GOING HOME FROM WEEKEND TRIP WHEN OUR MOTORCYCLE STARTED MAKING A GRINDING SOUND FROM THE REAR WHEEL. AFTER GETTING BIKE TO SIDE OF THE ROAD I NOTICED OIL COVERING WHEEL, BRAKE AND TIRE. HAD BIKE TOWED TO DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS THE REAR DRIVE BEARING. THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD A FEW OF THEM GO BAD. WITH 37,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. STILL AT DEALER WAITING REPAIR.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed Jan 23, 2004OH

POOR HEADLIGHT -GIVES OUT ABOUT AS MUCH LIGHT AS A CANDLE. *LA

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Nov 17, 200352,000 milesNY

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit
Filed Aug 17, 200326,705 milesIN

REAR DRIVE DIFFERENTIAL MAIN BEARING FAILED ON MY BMW 2001 K1200LT MOTORCYCLE CAUSING A WOBBLING REAR WHEEL AND EXCESSIVE NOISE. I WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CYCLE UNDER CONTROL AND MAKE IT TO THE DEALER.*AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly › Pedal/Hand Lever(motorcycle)
Filed Jul 22, 200311,203 milesNM

BROKEN THREADED STUD ON SHIFTER LINKAGE BALL ASSY.

20 of 25 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2000
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20094000Routine
20084000Routine
20061000Routine
200519200Routine
20044000Routine
200321020Routine
200237010Routine
2001 — this page25010Routine
200051000Routine
199950020Routine

Compare every K1200lt year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.