Total Complaints
13 filings
BMW BMW MOTORCYCLE · model year
1999 BMW BMW MOTORCYCLE
13 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1999BMWBMW MOTORCYCLE carries 13 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1999 BMW MOTORCYCLE is power train:driveline:differential unit with 3 filings, followed by power train (2) and power train:driveline (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 1999 BMW MOTORCYCLE. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
13
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20091112CrashWHEELS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW K1200LTI. THE REAR WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE MOTORCYCLE WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20-25 MPH. CONSEQUENTLY HE AND THE PASSENGER WERE EJECTED FROM THE MOTORCYCLE . BOTH OCCUPANTS SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE INSURANCE COMPANY NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 18,600.
Mileage: 18,600
20090731POWER TRAIN
THE FINAL DRIVE FAILED DUE TO THE LARGE CROWN GEAR BALL BEARING BREAKING APART LEAVING ME ON THE ROADSIDE,THIS HAPPENS TO ALOT OF BMW K 1200 LT MOTORCYCLES OWNERS AS BMW USED INFERIOR COMPONENTS AND POOR DESIGNING METHODS FOR THIS HEAVY 860 POUND MOTORCYCLE,IT USES THE SAME TYPE OF FINAL THAT IS USED FOR THE LIGHTER MOTORCYCLES ON THIS HEAVIER ONE. *TR
Mileage: 63,000
20071204SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
FINAL DRIVE ON A 1999 BMW (NOT LISTED FOR MOTORCYCLES) K1200LT FAILED WITH UNDER 45,000 MILES. *TR
Mileage: 43,000
20071107POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
FAILURE OF FINAL DRIVE ON BMW MOTORCYCLE. BIKE HAD 50,000 MILES. COST $2,000 TO REPAIR, NOT COVERED! *TR
Mileage: 50,000
20070720POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
I HAD TWO BEARING FAILURES IN THE FINAL DRIVE OF MY BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE. BOTH OF THESE BEARING FAILURES COULD HAVE LED TO A RUPTURE OF THE SEAL WHICH WOULD HAVE LET THE FINAL DRIVE LUBE FLOW OUT OF THE FINAL DRIVE ONTO THE REAR BRAKE AND REAR TIRE WHICH WOULD HAVE MADE THE REAR TIRE LOOSE TRACTION AND THE REAR BRAKE INOPERATIVE. THESE FAILURES CAUSED A COMPLETE FINAL DRIVE REBUILD AND REPLACEMENT OF ALL BEARINGS AND SEALS IN THE FINAL DRIVE AT A COST EXCEEDING $800.00 EACH.*JB
Mileage: 68,000
20041004POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
BEARINGS IN THE FINAL DRIVE FAILED, RESULTING IN A LOSS OF LUBRICATION AND AN UNSTABLE REAR TIRE PREVENTING FURTHER SAFE TRAVEL.*AK
Mileage: 40,810
20040603POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
REAR DRIVE FAILURE ON BMW K1200 LT. MOTORCYCLE STARTED VIBRATING AND REAR END STARTED WOBBLING. *JB
Mileage: 51,865
20040427POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
REAR DRIVE BEARING FAILURE, SECOND ONE IN 13,000 MILES. REAR DRIVE WAS NOTICABLY LOUD. HARMONIC GROWLING NOISE. I DISSASEMBLED IT AND THE LARGE BALL BEARING IS PITTED. THIS TIME I CAUGHT IT BEFORE CATASTOPHIC FAILURE. I PURCHASED A USED REAR DRIVE AND WILL REBUILD MY OLD ONE SO I CAN CARRY A SPARE. (PRETTY SAD WHEN A BMW PILOT HAS TO CARRY A SPARE REAR DRIVE).*AK
Mileage: 30,000
20030929POWER TRAIN
REAR DRIVE OF MOTORCYCLE HAS FAILED AT 31K MILES
Mileage: 31,049
20030903POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
SEVERE VIBRATION, NOISE AND LOSS OF CONTROL DUE TO REAR END DRIVE FAILURE. *AK
Mileage: 41,123
20030716POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
TRANSMISSION SHIFT LINKAGE FAILED.*AK
Mileage: 27,050
20030707POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
REAR DRIVE FAILURE ONA A BMW MOTORCYCLE.*AK
Mileage: 41,050
19990930POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
POSSIBLE DESIGN FLAW OF MOTORCYCLE EXPERINCED FAILURE ON TWO OCCASIONS TO GEAR LEVER WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A SMALL STONE THAT BOUNCED UP ON TOP OF A FLAT PORTION OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM LOCATED UNDER THE ENGINE CLUTCH LEVER ARM AND WEDGED BETWEEN THE ENGINE CLUTCH ARM AND EXHAUST PREVENTING THE CLUTCH ARM FROM RETURNING TO THE ENGAGED POSITION RESULTING IN FAILURE. *YC
Compare 1999BMWBMW MOTORCYCLE to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1999 BMW BMW MOTORCYCLE have?▼
The 1999 BMW BMW MOTORCYCLE has 13 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 BMW BMW MOTORCYCLE?▼
The most-complained component for the 1999 BMW BMW MOTORCYCLE is POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN and POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE.
Is the 1999 BMW BMW MOTORCYCLE safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.