NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Preliminary Evaluation PE19-002: Steering Oscillation
- Closed
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation opened Preliminary Evaluation PE19-002 on March 25, 2019 and closed it on October 16, 2019. NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2018 BMW K 1600 GT for it.
Updated daily from NHTSA's investigations file
Key facts
- NHTSA number
- PE19-002 (also written PE19002)
- Investigation type
- Preliminary Evaluation The first stage of most defect investigations: NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation gathers basic information about a possible safety defect, including from the manufacturer.
- Status
- Closed October 16, 2019
- Opened
- Closed
- Vehicle or equipment manufacturer
- BMW of North America, LLC
- Components
- Steering; Steering — Steering Wheel/Handle Bar; Suspension; Suspension — Front
- Vehicles and equipment
- 2018 BMW K 1600 GT
A recall appears here only when NHTSA's investigations file links one to the investigation; NHTSA's summary or record can name others.
NHTSA's summary
As NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation wrote it for Preliminary Evaluation PE19-002.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened investigation PE19-002 on March 25, 2019. This investigation was opened based on six consumer complaints alleging 2018 and 2019 BMW K-1600 motorcycles were unstable at highway speeds and that the instability was exacerbated while in traffic.
ODI opened the PE to determine the severity and frequency associated with the alleged defect.
In response to an ODI Information Request (IR) letter, BMW submitted a total of 20 complaints, 15 field reports and 5 warranty claims. Although the subject vehicles of the investigation include 2018 and 2019 model years, all the complaints, warranty and field reports submitted by BMW were on the 2018 MY bikes.
BMW stated in its response that it did not have any complaints, warranty or field reports for the 2019 MY K 1600 series. Since opening the PE, ODI has received an additional six consumer complaints related to this investigation.
In July 2019, ODI met with BMW at its New Jersey facility to see a presentation and then follow (in a trailing vehicle) a BMW rider on a subject bike. The purpose of the trailing exercise was to observe how the motorcycle handled on various road types and traffic conditions. During this demonstration the ODI investigator witnessed some instability or ?wobble? that was aggravated when passing large trucks. There were, however, no lane departures experienced by the subject vehicle?s rider during the trailing event. The ODI investigator was unable to fully determine the safety impact of the observed phenomena.
In addition to witnessing the BMW rider demonstration in New Jersey, ODI interviewed complainants who allege their bikes felt unsafe and were dangerous above 55 mph. To better understand the safety impact described by consumers and quantifiably measure the level of instability experienced, ODI has decided to upgrade the investigation to an Engineering Analysis (EA). As part of the EA, ODI will conduct an analysis of the subject motorcycle?s geometry, suspension and other characteristics as well as conduct stability testing. ODI will have the subject motorcycle tested at NHTSA's Vehicle Research Testing Center (VRTC) under controlled conditions to both quantifiably and subjectively measure the subject motorcycle?s stability. VRTC will obtain the subject vehicle(s) for evaluation and testing.
These tests will be performed by professional riders to learn if they experience riding discomfort they feel is unsafe and gauge if the ?wobble? condition presents a safety concern.
An Engineering Analysis (EA19-003) has been opened to examine and better understand the severity of the alleged defect.
The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID using the following complaint identification numbers: 11098821, 11111044, 11111232, 11128491, 11149745, 11166420, 11191569, 11194573, 11208774, 11219239, 11246011, 11257720
Vehicles and equipment listed for this investigation
NHTSA's investigations file lists these vehicles and equipment for Preliminary Evaluation PE19-002. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to that page's NHTSA investigations section.
BMW
BMW K 1600 GT
What an NHTSA investigation is
NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) looks into possible safety defects in vehicles and equipment, often after owner complaints. An investigation usually starts as a Preliminary Evaluation, or as a Recall Query when it concerns whether an existing recall covers the right vehicles or fixes the problem, and ODI can upgrade it to a more detailed Engineering Analysis. A Defect Petition asks NHTSA to open an investigation, and Audit and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations into whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules.
An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
To see whether a specific vehicle has an open recall, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
BMW VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Sources
NHTSA's investigation record for PE19-002
Investigation details come from NHTSA's investigations file, which try.vin imports once a day. The investigation types are described from the U.S. Department of Transportation Inspector General's May 2023 report on NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation, NHTSA's petition rules (49 CFR Parts 552 and 557) and NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation procedures. How try.vin reads NHTSA investigations.