2007 BMW K1200 GT problems

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I HAVE A 2007 K1200GT MOTORCYCLE, AN EARLY PRODUCTION MODEL, THAT HAS DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE SPEED CONTROL - THE ENGINE EXPECTEDLY REVS UP AND DOWN (HUNTS). I DID AN INTERNET SEARCH AND FOUND BMW NORTH AMERICA SERVICE BULLETIN 13 003 07 (058), WHICH DESCRIBES THE EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE BIKE. THE SERVICE BULLETIN WAS INTENDED FOR THESE EARLY PRODUCTION BIKES. HOWEVER, THE ISSUE ONLY SURFACED RELATIVELY RECENT ON MY BIKE, WHICH IS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS ONLY 12,000 MILES ON THE BIKE AT THE TIME. I TOOK THE BIKE INTO THE SAN FRANCISCO BMW DEALER AND THEY REFUSED TO COVER THE RECOMMENDED REPAIRS. THEN CONTACTED BMW NORTH AMERICA AND THEY HAVE ALSO REFUSED TO FIX THE ISSUE. THE ISSUE IS PARTICULARLY HAZARDOUS, AS THE BIKE WILL CUT OUT UNEXPECTEDLY AND/OR ACCELERATE DESPITE CLOSING THE THROTTLE, AS IS NECESSARY WHEN APPROACHING A CORNER. AS A SENIOR PRODUCT SAFETY ENGINEER WITH OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE, I FIND THIS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE, AND AM SHOCKED THAT BMW NA HAVE NOT VOLUNTARILY ADDRESSED THIS ON ALL EARLY PRODUCTION UNITS.

NHTSA complaint #11093177 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FUEL STRIP FAILURE FOR SECOND TIME AFTER BMW EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 12 YEARS AFTER ORIGINAL DATE OF PURCHASE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE LOW FUEL LIGHT REMAINS ON CONSTANTLY. COULD CAUSE A CRASH IF THE MOTORCYCLE WERE TO RUN OUT OF FUEL.

NHTSA complaint #10955425 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

FOR THE SECOND TIME THE ENING SHUT OFF COMPLETELY UNDER ACCELARATION. THE ELECTRONICS AND ENGINE WENT TOTALLY DEAD. HAD TO PULL OVER TO RESTART. THE BIKE WAS BEING SHIFTED FROM 1ST GEAR INTO SECOND WHEN IT DIED.

NHTSA complaint #10881715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER ONLY 8000 MILES. MOTORCYCLE IS ADULT DRIVEN, LIGHTLY USED, REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND GARAGED. BMW CAN DO BETTER THAN THIS.

NHTSA complaint #10780436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW K1200 GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO AVOID A CRASH, THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE ABS PUMP FAILED AND THE WHEELS LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. UPDATED 01/20/15*LJ UPDATED 06/9/2015

NHTSA complaint #10660566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE LIGHT ON, OUT OF NOWHERE. HAPPENS TO TOO MANY BMW MOTORCYCLES. YOU LOOSE BRAKE SENSITIVITY AND ABS.

NHTSA complaint #10618489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW K1200 GT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE PERFORMED, HE WAS ALERTED THAT THE ABS MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,176.

NHTSA complaint #10546148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR OF RIDING THROTTLE WILL NOT SHUT OFF WHEN RETURNED. DEAD SPOTS AT LOW RPM AND ROUGH IDLE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF POOR BUYERS WITH THIS EXACT PROBLEM BUT STILL NO SERVICE BULLETIN? WILL SOMEONE GET KILLED FIRST?

NHTSA complaint #10516088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW K1200GT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NOT A VISIBLE FUEL LEAK, HE DETECTED A FUEL LEAK AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000.

NHTSA complaint #10512411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE ABS MODULE FAILED ON THIS VEHICLE THE LOCAL DEALER HAS INDICATED SEVERAL OF THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR HAVE HAD THE MODULE FAIL SEVERAL INTERNET FORUMS INDICATE THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE AND THE QUANTITY OF FAILURES EXCEEDS 10% OF THE MODEL AND YEAR OF VEHICLE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10469708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

THE ABS MODULE FAILED ON THIS VEHICLE THE LOCAL DEALER HAS INDICATED SEVERAL OF THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR HAVE HAD THE MODULE FAIL SEVERAL INTERNET FORUMS INDICATE THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE AND THE QUANTITY OF FAILURES EXCEEDS 10% OF THE MODEL AND YEAR OF VEHICLE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10469708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

FUEL LINE CONNECTION FAILED CAUSING GAS TO SPILL ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND ON THE GROUND. IN MY OPINION THIS COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO A POSSIBLE GASOLINE FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10425622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

(NOTE: 2000 CHARACTERS IS TOO SHORT!) 2007 BMW K1200GT MOTORCYCLE 15,433 MILES EVENT DATE/PLACE: AUGUST 4, 2011; RIDING HOME FROM WORK (24 MILES). PRIMARY DEFECT: COMPLETE AND SUDDEN DRIVE DIFFERENTIAL OIL LOSS! (THIS ENDANGERED MY LIFE THROUGH POSSIBLE SUDDEN GEAR FAILURE--HENCE, LOST POWER TO DRIVE WHEEL; OIL COATED REAR TIRE, OIL SATURATED REAR BRAKE PADS.) SECONDARY DEFECT: MANUFACTURER PROVIDES NO WARNING OF THIS DESIGN FLAW--NEITHER AT POINT OF SALE OR IN MEAGER MAINTENANCE DATA. EXPECTATION IS THIS UNIT WILL EXCEED 100,000 MILES WITH OIL CHANGES EVERY 6,000 MILES. THIS IS A RELATIVELY NEW, $21,000 BIKE; 11 MONTHS BEYOND WARRANTY. I CHANGED OIL EVERY 3,000 JUST TO BE SAFE. (EVEN MY OLD TRUCK DIFFERENTIAL WITH 140,000 DOESN'T LEAK OIL--MUCH LESS SUFFERING A TOTAL LOSS OF LUBRICANT! NEVER MIND DRIVING A TRUCK IS A SIGNIFICANTLY LESS CHALLENGING TASK!) SOLUTION: RECALL THESE BIKES AND HAVE THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDE APPROPRIATE ENGINEERING REDESIGN--SUCH THAT ONLY 1 DIFFERENTIAL FAILS IN EACH 100 UNITS PER 100,000 MILES, OR HAVE FACTORY PROVIDE AND INSTALL NEW DIFFERENTIALS EVERY 10,000 MILES FOR THE LIFE OF THE MOTORCYCLE, OR PULL THESE MACHINES OFF THE ROAD BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. RESOLUTION: NONE. I HAVE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER (LAST WEEK) AND I AWAIT THEIR REPLY. I FEAR I MAY HAVE TO GO TO COURT--WE SHALL SEE. EVEN IF BMW AGREES TO REPAIR THIS MACHINE, THEY WILL NOT HAVE ADDRESSED THE DESIGN FLAW SINCE NO RECALL NOTICE HAS BEEN FORTH COMING. WILL THE NEXT DIFFERENTIAL SUDDENLY DUMP ITS OIL AT 5,000 MILES? OR AT 12,000 MILES? AGAIN, THERE EXIST NO MAINTENANCE CRITERIA OR FACILITATION FOR MAINTAINING THE INTEGRITY OF THESE SEALS. AND NEW MOTORCYCLES ARE BEING PRODUCED WITH VERY MUCH THE SAME DESIGN! (THE INTERNET REFLECTS OTHER, SIMILAR FAILURES.) IF INTEGRITY OF THIS UNIT CANNOT BE GUARANTEED FOR 100,000 MILES, THEN DESIGN CAPACITY SHOULD ALLOW FOR EASE AND FREQUENT SEAL CHANGES--AND SO SPECIFIED BY MAINTENANCE DATA.

NHTSA complaint #10417879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THROTTLE STICKS ON MY BMW K1200GT MOTORCYCLE. VERY WELL KNOWN ISSUE. IN MY OPINION IT SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL FOR ALL OF THESE MOTORCYCLES. DOESN'T APPEAR THAT BMW HAS A FIX FOR IT. MINE HAS BEEN WORKED ON THREE TIMES UNDER WARRANTY AND STILL HAS THE SAME SYMPTOM.

NHTSA complaint #10383344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

2007 BMW1200GT WITH 15,000 MILES RUNS GOOD HOWEVER ENGINE HAS STALLED FOUR TIMES IN ONE WEEK WHEN COMING TO STOP ' OCCURS WHILE GEARING DOWN FOR STOP AND WHEN SHIFTING UP. ONCE WHILE TURNING AND DOWNSHIFTING BETWEEN 3RD TO 2ND CUT OUT AND NEARLY LOST THE BIKE. SEARCHED WEB AND PROBLEM IS PERVASIVE -- WHEN WILL YOU ACT AND I WILL CONTACT CONGRESSMAN, SENATOR AND CALIFORNIA CONSUMER BUREAU.

NHTSA complaint #10319615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

2007 BMW1200GT WITH 15,000 MILES RUNS GOOD HOWEVER ENGINE HAS STALLED FOUR TIMES IN ONE WEEK WHEN COMING TO STOP ' OCCURS WHILE GEARING DOWN FOR STOP AND WHEN SHIFTING UP. ONCE WHILE TURNING AND DOWNSHIFTING BETWEEN 3RD TO 2ND CUT OUT AND NEARLY LOST THE BIKE. SEARCHED WEB AND PROBLEM IS PERVASIVE -- WHEN WILL YOU ACT AND I WILL CONTACT CONGRESSMAN, SENATOR AND CALIFORNIA CONSUMER BUREAU.

NHTSA complaint #10319615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2007 BMW1200GT WITH 15,000 MILES RUNS GOOD HOWEVER ENGINE HAS STALLED FOUR TIMES IN ONE WEEK WHEN COMING TO STOP ' OCCURS WHILE GEARING DOWN FOR STOP AND WHEN SHIFTING UP. ONCE WHILE TURNING AND DOWNSHIFTING BETWEEN 3RD TO 2ND CUT OUT AND NEARLY LOST THE BIKE. SEARCHED WEB AND PROBLEM IS PERVASIVE -- WHEN WILL YOU ACT AND I WILL CONTACT CONGRESSMAN, SENATOR AND CALIFORNIA CONSUMER BUREAU.

NHTSA complaint #10319615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW K1200 GT MOTORCYCLE. THE DRIVER STATED THAT HE WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN HE BEGAN TO APPLY THE BRAKES AND HIS MOTORCYCLE STALLED. HE WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED A FEW TIMES SINCE HE PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE IN 2007. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000. UPDATED 11/16/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/08/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED AS OF NOVEMBER 20,2010 THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR A FEW TIMES WHEN DECELERATING AND BRAKING. UPDATED 12/08/10

NHTSA complaint #10314539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I OWN A 2007 K1200GT AND LIVE IN IL. TOOK MY BIKE FOR A LONG RIDE AND IN SANTA FE ON 9/7/09 BIKE STARTED TO GIVE ME PROBLEMS. WHEN PULLING TO STOP BIKE WENT DEAD, PRESS START WOULD NOT START, DID IT NUMBER OF TIMES. FINALLY GOT THE BIKE STARTED IT WOULD HESITATE. WHENEVER RPM'S WENT BELOW 2000 BIKE WOULD DIE. TOOK TO SANTA FE BMW, THEY RESET COMPUTER WENT ON MY WAY. RIDING HOME TO IL BIKE PROBLEM RECURRED. WHENEVER STOPPING BIKE WOULD DIE, IF SLOWING DOWN BIKE WOULD TURN OFF. WAS EXTREMELY TENSE AND DANGEROUS RIDE. TOOK BIKE INTO CYCLE WERKS OF BARRINGTON ON 9/12/09. TOLD THEM OF PROBLEM. THEY SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF THAT. DID RESEARCH AND SAW ON 2 DIFFERENT FORUMS THAT THIS IS A HUGE PROBLEM WITH ALL BMW K BIKES AND THERE IS NO FIX. I GAVE THEM PAGES AND PAGES OF BACKUP WITH SCORES OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY REPLACED AIRBOX AND HOSES, REPLACED COMPUTER, AND DID THE "FIX" BMW TOLD THEM TO DO. TOLD ME I COULD PICK UP THE BIKE BUT IT DOESN'T RUN THE SAME. TOLD THEM I WANT IT TO BE THE SAME AS WHAT I PURCHASED. THEY RESET THE SOFTWARE AGAIN AND DISGUSTEDLY TOLD ME TO PICK UP BIKE. I DID ON 10/21/09. IT RAINED HERE FOR DAYS SO COULDN'T RIDE THE BIKE UNTIL 11/3/09. THIS BIKE IS DANGEROUS! IT IS WORSE THEN WHAT IT WAS. IT CONSTANTLY BUCKS AND SHUTS DOWN AND BLACK SMOKE IS BILLOWING OUT. I WAS ALMOST HIT WHILE RIDING AS IT JUST STOPPED AND A VEHICLE ALMOST RAN INTO ME. IT IS DEFECTIVE AND BMW KNOWS IT AND DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. I CAN NOT RIDE THE BIKE AS IT WON'T STAY RUNNING AND IT IS NOT SAFE. THIS BIKE SHOULD BE RECALLED UNTIL BMW KNOWS HOW TO FIX IT. THERE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS SINCE 2007 ABOUT THIS. IF YOU CAN'T MAKE THE BIKE SAFE THEY SHOULD BUY IT BACK. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS. I CAN DIRECT YOU TO OTHERS THAT HAVE IDENTICAL PROBLEM. DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THIS IS TAKEN SERIOUSLY? HAVE BEEN RIDING BIKES FOR OVER 36 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER BEEN AFRAID FOR MY LIFE ON ANY BIKE UNTIL NOW.

NHTSA complaint #10291081 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BMW K1200 GT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE IDLES HIGHLY. THE RPM'S WILL REMAIN IN A HIGH POSITION FOR A LONG TIME WITHOUT ANY THROTTLE INPUT. THE ENGINE HAS ALSO STALLED AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE TRAVELING BETWEEN 45-65 MPH. THE VEHICLE ALSO ACCELERATES AND DECELERATES VERY RAPIDLY, WHICH CAUSES AN UNSTABLE REAR OR FRONT RIDE, DEPENDING ON THE SPEED AT THE TIME. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED NUMEROUS TIMES BY DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY RESET THE CPU; HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE IS STILL PRESENT AND THE VEHICLE IS NOT BEING USED. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE FAILURE IS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT BECAUSE OTHERS WITH THE SAME VEHICLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,000. UPDATED 2/5/09 *CN THE MOTORCYCLE DROPPED ON RIGHT SIDE FROM THE ENGINE STALLING AT SLOW SPEED TURN. THROTTLE BOGGED ON RIGHT TURN AND THEN STALLED. UPDATED 02/10/09.

NHTSA complaint #10255183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE FAILURE ONLY SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN THE BIKE HAS BEEN RIDDEN FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR. AT THAT POINT THE ENGINE WILL NOT RETURN TO IDLE AFTER THE THROTTLE IS RELEASED (IT FEELS LIKE TURNING ON THE CRUISE CONTROL). THIS FAILURE WILL OCCUR BOTH WITH THE BIKE IN GEAR MOVING AND WHILE STOPPED. ANOTHER ISSUE THAT SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO THE FIRST OCCURS AGAIN AFTER RIDING FOR MORE THAN ONE HOUR. WHEN DOWN SHIFTING WITHOUT ANY APPLICATION OF THROTTLE THE BIKE WILL FIRST ACCELERATE THEN START TO SLOW DOWN. THE BIKE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR TWO ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE ISSUE. THE FIRST REPAIR WAS TO REPLACE THE AIR BOX AND THE SECOND UPDATED THE ENGINE MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE.

NHTSA complaint #10239820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SIR, I PURCHASED A BMW 2007 K1200GT MOTORCYCLE LAST SEPTEMBER--I UNDERSTAND THIS TO BE THE THIRD YEAR OF THIS MODEL'S PRODUCTION. I LEARNED TOO LATE NO SHOP LEVEL MAINTENANCE MANUAL HAS BEEN PUBLISHED FOR THIS VEHICLE, AND EVIDENTLY, NON IS PLANNED...NOT EVEN TO SECONDARY PUBLISHERS SUCH AS "CLYMER." AS AN FAA AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR I WAS SHOCKED TO LEARN SUCH NEGLIGENCE HAS BEEN PERMITTED TO EXIST WITHIN THE US VEHICLE MARKET. (THINK OF YOUR COMMERCIAL AIRLINE BEING SERVICED BY PEOPLE WITHOUT ACCESS TO DETAILED MAINTENANCE DATA.) AFTER 42 YEARS OF MOTORCYCLE EXPERIENCE (OTHER MANUFACTURES) I AM WELL QUALIFIED TO STATE NO SUCH VEHICLE SHOULD BE ALLOWED FOR SALE WITHOUT COMPREHENSIVE MAINTENANCE DATA AVAILABLE AT THE SAME MOMENT IN TIME. LIVES WILL BE LOST BECAUSE OF THIS INCREDIBLE SAFETY BLUNDER. (A BRAKE FAILURE INCIDENT IS SECONDARY TO THIS REPORTED ISSUE.)

NHTSA complaint #10224112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

ENGINE DOES NOT RETURN TO IDLE WHEN THROTTLE IS RELEASED.

NHTSA complaint #10206595 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.