30 of the 61 complaints filed about the BMW K1200 S are about the fuel system — 49% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2008.
30
Complaints
49%
Share of all complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY MOTORCYCLE IS LEAKING GASOLINE SOMEWHERE. I CAN'T LEAVE IT IN THE GARAGE DUE TO THE STRONG GAS SMELL. I'VE REMOVED THE FAIRING, BUT STILL CAN'T FIND WHERE THE LEAK IS COMING FROM.
NHTSA complaint #11222304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
BMW K1200S 2008, ENGINE SHOTS OFF WHEN COMING TO STOP ON LOW SPEEDS. THE BIKE THEN NEEDS TO BE IN A COMPLETE STOP, SWITCH GEAR TO NEUTRAL TO RESTART. IT HAPPENS RANDOM AND COULD HAPPENED ANYWHERE. IN ONE RIDE IT HAPPENED 3 TIMES AND IT HAS HAPPENED EVERY TIME I RIDE IT SO FAR. I NEED HELP TO FIX THE ISSUE! IT FEELS REALLY UNSAFE AS THE ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN ARE CRUCIAL ELEMENTS OF THE TRACTION IN A MOTORCYCLE, IF THIS WERE TO HAPPENED IN A CURVE OR THE FREEWAY...IT COULD BE A DISASTROUS TIME. I HOPE SOMEONE CAN READ THIS AND DO SOMETHING TO HELP FIX THE ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #11133633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL WAS LEAKING EXCESSIVELY AT THE END OF 2.5 HR RIDE. REPAIR WAS COMPLETED BY BMW DEALER 3 DAYS LATER. THEY REPLACED THE PLASTIC PIECE THAT THREADS INTO BOTTOM OF FUEL TANK BECAUSE IT WAS CRACKED. I WAS CHARGED FOR THIS REPAIR BECAUSE IT WASN'T UNDER THE OTHER FUEL SYSTEM RECALL. TO HAVE A PLASTIC PIECE THAT IS PRONE TO BREAKAGE ABOVE SUCH A POWERFUL ENGINE IS NOT SAFE.
NHTSA complaint #10615808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BMW K1200 S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL WAS EMPTY AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATOR BECAME INOPERABLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR STRIP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,500.
NHTSA complaint #10594500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES AFTER STARTING THE BIKE I WAS RIDING WHEN I SMELLED GASOLINE, MY LEFT LEG FELT WET AND I RETURNED TO THE HOUSE. GASOLINE PUDDLED UNDER THE BIKE LEAKING FROM BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES OF THE BIKE. ONLINE RESEARCH INDICATED THIS WAS PROBABLY THE FUEL TANK QUICK DISCONNECT FAILING. IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE BMW BLOGS. I THEN CHECKED SAFECAR.GOV AND FOUND THE RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10594013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW K1200S MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS CONCERNED FOR HIS SAFETY SINCE THE DEALER WAS TAKING A LONG TIME TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIRS FOR NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V617000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE DELAY. THERE WERE NO FAILURES AT THIS TIME. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,200. RK
NHTSA complaint #10593699 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE BIKE REPEATEDLY STALLED DURING DECELERATION WITH A CLOSED THROTTLE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. CLUTCH WAS ENGAGED. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES BEFORE AND I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF IT. I'VE READ THREADS ONLINE ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND BMW DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE AN ANSWER (SEEMS TO DENY THE PROBLEM). THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE ISSUE WHEN ON A MOTORCYCLE.
NHTSA complaint #10585511 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL TANK STARTED LEAKING FUEL ENOUGH TO DRIP ALL OVER ENGINE AND EXHAUST. WAS ABLE TO STOP BIKE BEFORE FIRE STARTED. BROUGHT BIKE TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS ABLE TO REPLACE. DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE FUEL PUMP CRACKED AND WAS LEAKING UNDER PRESSURE. SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUES WITH ALL OF THE 2005-2008 BMW K1200S MOTORCYCLES. BMW DEALERSHIP HAS NOT FILLED FOR A RECALL TO FIX ALL THE AFFECTED MOTORCYCLES YET.
NHTSA complaint #10556753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL FLANGE LEAK...PLEASE SEE COMPLAINT # 10549250 FOR DETAILS. THANK YOU
NHTSA complaint #10549259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I COULD SMELL A VERY SLIGHT HINT OF RAW FUEL, FIRST THOUGHT IT WAS A FOULED SPARK PLUG, SO I DECIDED TO LIMIT USE OF THE BIKE UNTIL I COULD GET THE PLUGS REPLACED. I WAS RIDING THE BIKE TO MY LOCAL STORAGE, LESS THAN 3 MILES WHEN I STOPPED AT THE GATE TO ENTER THE CODE I NOTICED THAT THE SMELL HAD BECOME VERY STRONG, I PULLED UP TO MY UNIT AND NOTICE A LARGE QUANTITY OF FLUID RUNNING OUT FROM INSIDE THE BIKE, AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS COOLANT THEN I REALIZED IT WAS FUEL AND SHUT THE BIKE DOWN. I CALLED THE BMW SERVICE CENTER AND THEY WERE AWARE OF AT LEAST TWO OTHER BIKES WITH A FUEL LEAK ISSUE, I STARTED TO RESEARCH THE ISSUE, I FOUND THAT A FEMALE QUICK DISCONNECT FITTING ONCE INSTALLED STARTS TO CRACK THE FUEL PUMP FLANGE. I HAVE REMOVED THE TANK AND FOUND SEVERE CRACKING AROUND THE QUICK DISCONNECT, AS IT TURNS OUT THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED DEFECT BY OTHER BMW K1200 S&R BIKE OWNERS ALSO IT SEEMS THAT BMW IS POSSIBLY AWARE OF THIS AND HAVE YET TO DO A RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETIN THAT I KNOW OF, MY REASONING FOR THIS IS THAT THEY (BMW) APPARENTLY HAVE STARTED TO REINFORCE THE OPENING FOR THAT FITTING WITH A METAL GUSSET TO PREVENT THE CRACKING AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THAT'S HOW THE REPLACEMENT PART COMES. I FEEL PRETTY LUCKY THAT THE UNIT DID NOT CATCH FIRE. I HAVE ORDERED NEW PARTS, TO THE TUNE OF $800.00 THAT INCLUDES A NEW HEAT SHIELD BECAUSE THE ONE ON THE BIKE IS SATURATED WITH FUEL. THE TANK SITS DIRECTLY ABOVE THE GENERATOR, THIS LEAK IS NOT STATIC IT HAPPENS WHEN THE UNIT IS UNDER POWER.
NHTSA complaint #10543402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MY MOTORCYCLE STARTED LEAKING GAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A DAY RIDE AND PROGRESSIVELY GOT WORSE, SO THAT BY THE END OF THE DAY, GAS WAS POURING OUT ONTO THE SIDE OF MY ENGINE AND ONTO MY BOOT, PANT LEG AND FORMING A GOOD SIZE PUDDLE ON THE ASPHALT WHERE PARKED. I ENDED UP HAVING TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY ($550 FOR THE PART, $850 TOTAL COST INSTALLED). I WANT BMW USA TO RECALL THIS PART AND STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. THERE ARE MULTIPLE INTERNET THREADS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ISSUE. MANY BMW OWNER'S LIVES ARE AT RISK OF CATCHING ON FIRE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH MECHANICS AND THEY AGREE, THIS IS A DEFECT IN MANUFACTURING.
NHTSA complaint #10538000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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 GOOGLE "BMW MOTORCYCLE FUEL GAUGE PROBLEM" AND SEE HOW MANY OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED REPEATED FAILURES.
NHTSA complaint #10537505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL LEAK FROM FUEL TANK FLANGE. THIS COMPLAINT IS THE SAME AS THE OTHERS, NAMELY THE FUEL TANK FLANGE CRACKS AND ALLOWS FUEL LEAKAGE UNDER PRESSURE WHICH ALLOWS A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FUEL TO SPRAY AND SUBSEQUENTLY DRAIN DOWN ONTO THE ALTERNATOR AND THEN DOWN THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE AND OUT THE BOTTOM. THERE IS A HEAT SHIELD GLUED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK WHICH BECOMES UNGLUED WHEN SATURATED WITH GASOLINE. THIS SHIELD THEN FALLS ONTO THE TOP OF THE ALTERNATOR, THEREBY MAKING CONTACT WITH THE FOIL-SIDE OF THE HEAT SHIELD TO THE ALTERNATOR. IN THE EVENT OF A SPARK FROM THE TWO MATERIALS MAKING CONTACT, THERE WOULD BE A HIGH PROBABILITY OF A FIRE STARTING UNDER THE FUEL TANK.
NHTSA complaint #10535433 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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 TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10496593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE GAS TANK STARTED LEAKING FUEL. THERE ARE SMALL CRACKS AROUND A PLASTIC FITTING THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE FUEL TANK. THE FITTING IS ATTACHED TO THE FUEL PUMP THAT SITS DIRECTLY ABOVE THE ALTERNATOR.
NHTSA complaint #10495307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW K1200 S. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, HE NOTICED A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL ODOR AND LEAKING GASOLINE ON THE GROUND. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL ASSEMBLY FACE PLATE WAS FRACTURED AND WAS LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT APPLIED A PLASTIC WELD TO THE FUEL ASSEMBLY FACE PLATE AND AFTER SOME TIME THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FUEL ASSEMBLY FACE PLATE AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
NHTSA complaint #10490868 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
FUEL PUMP HOUSING BEGAN LEAKING AFTER A RIDE. STARTED DRIPPING GASOLINE ON THE LEFT SIDE. I WAS ABLE TO RIDE TO DEALERSHIP, WHERE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. *TR ## VIN FAILED
NHTSA complaint #10485292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
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 THE BIKE WAS TRYING TO SHUT OFF. I SUDDENLY NOTICE THE FUEL GAUGE SPURTING UP AND DOWN FROM FULL TO EMPTY. WHEN I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY THE BIKE SHUT OFF AND THE FUEL GAUGE READ EMPTY. I TRIED TO GO BACK TO THE GAS STATION BUT MY FUEL RANGE INDICATOR WAS EXCESSIVELY DECREASING. THE FUEL RANGE INDICATOR DROPPED FROM 167 MILES TO 120 WITHIN 200 METERS. THEN I NOTICED IT KEPT RUNNING EVEN AT A STOP. THIS BIKE IS SUPER DANGEROUS. IF I WASN'T CAREFUL I WOULD HAD DEFINITELY CRASHED. BMW NEEDS TO GET THIS FIXED ONCE AND FOR ALL AND DEFINITELY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. RIGHT NOW THERE ARE NUMEROUS SIMILAR POST OUTLINING THE SAME ISSUES. SOME OWNERS HAVE REPLACED THEIR FUEL SENSOR OVER THREE TIMES ON NEW BIKES WITH LESS THAN 2000 MILES. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I URGE YOU TO PLEASE TAKE A STAND AND HELP US RIDERS RESOLVE THE SYSTEMATIC PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10466683 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I NOTICED THE SMELL OF FUEL IN MY GARAGE A FEW WEEKS AGO AND THOUGHT IT WAS ONE OF THREE VEHICLES IN IT. I WENT FOR A RIDE THIS PAST WEEK AND AFTER PARKING IT IN THE GARAGE I NOTICE A POOL DO FLUID UNDER THE BIKE. I STOP TO TAKE A LOOK AND IDENTIFY THE FLUID AS GASOLINE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TELL ME IT IS THE FUEL PUMP DISCONNECTS THAT ARE LEAKING. THESE CRACKS ARE LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE MOTOR AND ALTERNATOR CREATING A FIRE HAZARD! I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT THIS WOULD HAVE EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A FIRE THAT MOST LIKELY WOULD OF LEAD TO SEVERE BODILY HARM OR DEATH! I AM SURE BMW IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AS THEY HAVE UPDATED THIS PART ON THEIR NEW BIKES BUT HAVEN'T ISSUED A RECALL. ALL EVIDENCE SHOWS THAT BMW IS AWARE OF THESE INHERENT DESIGN FLAWS IN THIS MODEL MOTORCYCLE BUT REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL PUTTING THE PUBLIC AS RISK! I BELIEVE THE NHTSA NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION FORCING BMW TO PROPERLY ADDRESS THESE KNOWN ISSUES."
NHTSA complaint #10465685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD: THE BIKE STALLS WHEN I AM SLOWING DOWN FOR A STOPLIGHT WITH CLOSED THROTTLE AND THE CLUTCH IN. THIS ISN'T A PROBLEM WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARM. WHEN THE ENGINE IS WARM: 1. THE ENGINE SURGES IN THE FIRST 3 GEARS AT LOWER SPEEDS (UNDER 30MPH) WITH THE THROTTLE BARELY CRACKED OPEN, AND THE ON/OFF IDLE RESPONSE IS ROUGH. THIS REQUIRES DILIGENT CLUTCH WORK TO SMOOTH OUT. 2. IF I REV THE ENGINE FROM IDLE WITH THE CLUTCH IN, THE REVS HANG AND THEN SLOWLY DECREASE BACK TO NORMAL IDLE. 3. REVS HANG ON ACCELERATION AFTER CLOSING THE THROTTLE. 4. INCONSISTENT ENGINE BRAKING. THESE ISSUES WERE FIXED BY REPLACING THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE AND AIRBOX WITH UPDATED MODELS.
NHTSA complaint #10464244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.