1999 BMW K1200LT problems
The 1999 BMW K1200LT has 55 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (65%) concerns drivetrain & axles. Next are suspension (7%) and brakes (5%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 55 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Drivetrain & axles 66% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 2 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 37,000 miles 39 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 7 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 15 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 14 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 1 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 1 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 0 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 1 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 39 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 37,000 miles. For drivetrain & axles specifically, the median reported mileage is about 40,000 miles (25 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a crash; 2 complaints mention a fire.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1999 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 5 model years of the BMW K1200LT with enough data (35 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
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.
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.
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.
Rear drive failure causes oil to leaked onto rear tires of motorcycle at speed. Jb ***dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12-12-02 cut over to artemis***761961
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.