NHTSA vehicle safety data

1999 BMW K1200LT Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1999 BMW K1200LT right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 49 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1999 BMW K1200LT.

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1999 BMW K1200LT owner complaints

Owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA about the 1999 BMW K1200LT, describing incidents dated January 23, 1999 to October 18, 2020.

Most-cited components

Power Train 37 complaints
Suspension 4 complaints
Service Brakes 3 complaints
Engine 2 complaints
Visibility/Wiper 2 complaints
Exterior Lighting 1 complaint

Of the 49 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash and 2 a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11365442 · Filed October 20, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW K1200LT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON START UP OF HIS MOTORCYCLE, THE MOTORCYCLE CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE MOTORCYCLE WITH WATER BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE HIS MOTORCYCLE OUT OF HIS BUILDING AND THE FIRE…
ODI #11071616 · Filed February 7, 2018
SPRING OF 2009, THE ABS LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD OF MY TEN YEAR OLD BMW 1999 K1200 LT BEGAN FLASHING. TOOK IT TO A BMW DEALER, BMW DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS ABS MODULE FAILURE, CLAIMED IT WAS DUE TO BRAKE FLUID NOT BEING CHANGED REGULARLY, AS LISTED IN OWNERS MANUAL, SAME AS HARLEY. THIS IS THE SAME…
ODI #10586220 · Filed May 2, 2014
I'VE OWNED THIS BIKE SINCE 2002 AND SILL HAVE IT. DURING THAT TIME I HAVE EXPERIENCE TWO REAR DRIVE FAILURES AS DESCRIBED IN ODI NO. 10439549, AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001. AT THE TIME BMW WAS IN DENIAL ABOUT THE ISSUE OR CLAIMED THAT IT WAS RARE. WELL, I KNOW 6 PEOPLE…

Read all 49 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 1999 BMW K1200LT in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Defect Petition DP12-001: M/C final drive ball bearing failure
Closed June 20, 2013

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1999 BMW K1200LT right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1999 BMW K1200LT. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

49 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1999 BMW K1200LT.

Engine

ODI #11365442

Fire

Incident: October 18, 2020 · Filed: October 20, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW K1200LT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON START UP OF HIS MOTORCYCLE, THE MOTORCYCLE CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO EXTINGUISH THE MOTORCYCLE WITH WATER BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE HIS MOTORCYCLE OUT OF HIS BUILDING AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE INSPECTED OR DIAGNOSED; THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER HAVE YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE REMAINED IN THE POSSESSION OF THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 152,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF*JB

Service Brakes

ODI #11071616

Incident: March 12, 2009 · Filed: February 7, 2018

SPRING OF 2009, THE ABS LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD OF MY TEN YEAR OLD BMW 1999 K1200 LT BEGAN FLASHING. TOOK IT TO A BMW DEALER, BMW DEALER DIAGNOSED IT AS ABS MODULE FAILURE, CLAIMED IT WAS DUE TO BRAKE FLUID NOT BEING CHANGED REGULARLY, AS LISTED IN OWNERS MANUAL, SAME AS HARLEY. THIS IS THE SAME DEAL HARLEY IS DEALING WITH NOW, IN 2018 THE BMW'S NEED INVESTIGATED! HOW HAS BMW GOTTEN AWAY WITHOUT DOING A RECALL AND PAYING FOR THE DEFECTIVE ABS MODULES, DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE AS HARLEY? THIS COULD KILL SOMEONE! THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY BMW, IT IS ALL OVER THE BLOGS, YOU CAN NOT EVEN FIND A USED ABS MODULE TO BUY TO REBUILD, THE ISSUE IS SO BAD. THE ABS MODULE ISSUE, WITH THE BMW'S IS SO BAD, THERE IS A COMPANY, OUT THERE, THAT HAS SET UP A REMANUFACTURING PROCESS TO REBUILD THE ABS MODULES. BMW SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO DO A RECALL AND PAY FOR THIS REPAIR, IT IS A $2,500 + FIX. THE DEALER CLAIMS IT IS DUE TO NOT CHANGING BREAK FLUID REGULARLY, DID THEY PROPERLY INFORM BIKE OWNERS OF THIS ISSUE, NO! BMW IS GETTING AWAY WITH THIS, BECAUSE THERE ARE NOT AS MANY BIKES SOLD, LESS COMPLAINTS, BUT THIS NEEDS INVESTIGATED ALSO, JUST LIKE AS HARLEY HAS BEEN REQUIRED, BMW NEEDS TO BE REQUIRED TO DO A RECALL AND PAY FOR THE FIX!

Power Train; Structure

ODI #10586220

Crash

Incident: June 19, 2002 · Filed: May 2, 2014

I'VE OWNED THIS BIKE SINCE 2002 AND SILL HAVE IT. DURING THAT TIME I HAVE EXPERIENCE TWO REAR DRIVE FAILURES AS DESCRIBED IN ODI NO. 10439549, AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001. AT THE TIME BMW WAS IN DENIAL ABOUT THE ISSUE OR CLAIMED THAT IT WAS RARE. WELL, I KNOW 6 PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME MOTORCYCLE AND WE'VE ALL HAD THE REAR DRIVE FAIL. I AM THE ONLY ONE TO HAVE IT FAIL TWICE. I BELIEVE BMW HAS SUPERSEDED THAT LARGE BEARING IN THE REAR DRIVE WITH A NEW PART NUMBER AND IT'S HOLDING UP BETTER. ANYWAY, THE FROST TIME MY REAR DRIVE FAILED THE BEARING HAD "PAULED" AND AS IT CAUSED [XXX] DRAG THE CAGE AROUND THE BALL BEARINGS CAME APART AND TOOK OUT THE SEAL. ONCE RELIEVED OF IT'S OIL IT'S NOT LONG BEFORE THE BEARING FAILS. THE REAR LOCKED AND I CAME TO A STOP MORE RAPIDLY THAN I WOULD HAVE LIKED. I DROPPED THE BIKE TO THE RIGHT AND DID A LITTLE BODY DAMAGE TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE AND SADDLE BAGS. I WAS OK BUT STRANDED WEST OF FRISCO COLORADO. I WAITED MOST OF THE NIGHT FOR A TOW TRUCK TO COME UP FROM DENVER. I SLEPT ON THE SIDEWALK OF THE BMW DEALER THAT NIGHT AND HAD TO RENT A CAR AND "CAMP" WHILE WAITING FOR REPAIRS. MISSED MOST OF A WEEK OF WORK TOO. ANYWAY, THE SECOND FAILURE I CAUGHT EARLIER AND BOUGHT THE PARTS AND ASSISTED ION THE REPAIR SO IT COST MAYBE $600 COMPARE TO THE BMW REPAIR OF $1700. IN TOTAL THAT AND $100 RENTAL AND $50 CAMPING AND WHO KNOWS WHAT A WEEK OF WORTH COST ME. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10586154

Incident: May 1, 2014 · Filed: May 2, 2014

SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN ODI NO. 10439549, AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001. THIS SAME PART HAS FAILED THREE TIMES DURING THE LAST SIX YEAR, OR APPROXIMATELY EVERY 10,000 MILES. *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10566567

Fire

Incident: December 27, 2013 · Filed: February 28, 2014

STARTED ENGINE, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER VEHICLE, TURNED ENGINE TO OFF, GOT OFF AND SAW FIRE ON LEFT SIDE. GRABBED FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND EXTINGUISHED FIRE. FIRE CAUSED BY PLASTIC FUEL RAIL FAILURE AND SPILLING FUEL ONTO ENGINE HEADER. PROBABLE CAUSE OF FUEL RAIL FAILURE IS ETHANOL FUEL DETERIORATING FUEL RAIL. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10542006

Incident: August 28, 2003 · Filed: September 5, 2013

LEAKING REAR END LUBE STARTED INVESTIGATION. ULTIMATE CAUSE OF LEAK WAS PENDING FAILURE OF CROWN GEAR BEARINGS ON BIKE WITH PARALEVER STYLE FINAL DRIVE. REPLACED BEARINGS AND SEALS AS NO DAMAGE TO GEAR(S) WAS APPARENT. DONE ON TRIP OUT WEST. *JB

Power Train

ODI #10499770

Incident: July 15, 2010 · Filed: February 23, 2013

THE FINAL DRIVE LEAKED FLUID ON THE REAR WHEEL, THE REAR DRIVE BEGAN TO GRIND AND SEIZE. END OF RIDE. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10479832

Incident: May 15, 2012 · Filed: October 11, 2012

REAR DRIVE SEAL AND BEARINGS FAILED, LEAKING OIL, LOOSING BRAKING POWER, WITH TIRE WOBBLE. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10474049

Incident: September 24, 2004 · Filed: September 6, 2012

THIS IS SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN ODI NO. 10439549, AND CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001. MY 1999 K1200LT HAS HAD THE FINAL DRIVE REBUILT TWICE AND REPLACED TOTALLY ONCE AT BMW DEALERSHIPS. THE FIRST TIME WAS A REBUILD ON 9/25/2004 AT 37290 MILES AFTER THE FINAL DRIVE STARTED GRINDING. THE NEXT WAS 9/12/07 AT 54929 MILES WITH THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES. THE MOST RECENT WAS 8/28/2012 AT 73001 MILES AFTER THE FINAL DRIVE FAILED COMPLETELY, LEAKING DRIVE LUBRICATION ALL OVER THE REAR WHEEL AND DISK BRAKE. REAR BRAKES SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED AS WELL. THIS HAPPENED AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS OF 75MPH. COSTS FOR REBUILDS RUN $400-600 AND THE LAST REPAIR/ REPLACEMENT OF FINAL DRIVE AND BRAKES WAS $2023.00. MY EXPERIENCE INDICATES THAT THE DRIVES ONLY LAST 20-30,000 MILES. I BOUGHT THE BIKE WITH 11,000 MILES ON IT AND I DO NOT KNOW IF THE FINAL DRIVE HAD BEEN REPLACED PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE. THESE FAILURES HAVE ALL BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO THE FAULTY ASSEMBLY OF THE FINAL DRIVES, WHICH REQUIRE A VERY CAREFUL MEASUREMENT OF A TAPERED WHEEL BEARING PRELOAD. MOST REBUILDS BLAME THE FAILURE ON TOO MUCH PRELOAD. NEWER DESIGNS BY BMW HAVE REPLACED THE TAPERED BEARING WITH A BETTER DESIGN THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE THE EXACTING STANDARDS FOR PRELOAD. FAILURES ON THESE UNITS HAVE BEEN DRASTICALLY REDUCED. *TR

Power Train; Wheels; Visibility/Wiper

ODI #10463510

Incident: July 17, 2009 · Filed: June 29, 2012

FINAL DRIVE HAVE BEING REBUILT ONE YEAR EARLIER & AGAIN I LOST CONTROL REAR TIRE WHILE RIM START IT WOBBLING OUT CONTROL, BIKE WEIGHT 840 POUNDS VERY DIFFICULT AND WITH MY WIFE ON BOARD THANKS GOD WE ARE ALIVE. GOLD STAR BMW DEALER IN QUEENS DETERMINE THAT I NEED A BRAND NEW FINAL DRIVE,I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO BE ALIVE; FINAL DRIVE IT WAS TOTAL BLOWN AWAY INTO LITTLE PIECES . REPAIR COST AROUND $1500.00 DOLLARS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Check your 1999 BMW K1200LT VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW K1200LT at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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