Total Complaints
7 filings
BMW K SERIES · model year
2003 BMW K SERIES
7 NHTSA complaints, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003BMWK SERIES carries 7 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 2003 K SERIES is fuel system, gasoline with 2 filings, followed by power train (2) and fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (1). 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. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2003 K SERIES. 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.
7
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 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 |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 1 |
Recalls (1)
04V02800015/01/2004
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE O-RING IN FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLING COULD BECOME DAMAGED AND LEAD TO A FUEL LEAK. THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM INVOLVING CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A FUEL LEAK.
Recent Complaints
20131005POWER TRAIN
WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, A NOISE STARTED COMING FROM THE DRIVE TRAIN OF THE BIKE. AT THE SAME TIME THERE WAS A SMALL VIBRATION COMING FROM THE SAME LOCATION. IT COULD BE FELT IN THE SEAT AND FOOTPEGS. AS I WAS ONLY A FEW MILES FROM HOME I CHECKED EVERYTHING WHICH COULD BE CHECKED WITHOUT TAKING ANYTHING APART. EVERYTHING THING WAS FINE INCLUDING THE WHEELS AND TIRES. ALL SEEMED TO BE TIGHT. THERE WAS NO FLUID LEAKS COMING FROM THE BIKE. AS I FOUND THIS UNSUA,L AND WAS AWARE OF THE DRIVELINE PROBLEMS WITH THIS MODEL BIKE, I DECIDED TO CONTACT THIS SITE. I REALLY DO NOT WANT TO RIDE THE BIKE ANY FURTHER UNTIL I FIND THE PROBLEM. THE LAST THING I NEED IS TO HAVE A MAJOR MALFUNCTION FAILURE WHILE OPERATING THE BIKE. I HAVE BEEN RIDING BIKES SINCE I WAS 16, AND NOW I'M 63. I RODE MOTORCYCLES FOR THE MANCHESTER, NH POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND I'M FAMILIAR WITH THE MECHANICALS OF THESE UNITS. *TR
Mileage: 49,990
20120208POWER TRAIN
CROWN GEAR FAILURE IN THE PARALEVER FINAL DRIVE. *TR
Mileage: 35,116
20110406FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW K1200 RS MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE DISCOVERED FUEL SPRAYING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT LOCATED A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V028000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE UNDER THE RECALL BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ASSIST BECAUSE THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BUT THE COUPLING WAS ONLY INSPECTED FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Mileage: 80,000
20100915POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW K 1200 LTE . THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE AND THE REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID. THE REAR WHEEL SUDDENLY UNLOCKED AND THE CONTACT GAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED UNDRIVABLE SO THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME. THE NOISE WAS DUE TO A BUSTED RING AND PINION CAUSING GREASE TO SPILL ON TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT HE NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL REGARDING THE RING AND PINION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 01/14/11 *BF THE REAR SEAL FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE REAR DRIVE GEAR TO LOSE LUBRICATION. UPDATED 03/28/11
Mileage: 54,000
20100915SUSPENSION:REAR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW K 1200 LTE . THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE AND THE REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SKID. THE REAR WHEEL SUDDENLY UNLOCKED AND THE CONTACT GAINED CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED UNDRIVABLE SO THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME. THE NOISE WAS DUE TO A BUSTED RING AND PINION CAUSING GREASE TO SPILL ON TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT HE NOTICED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL REGARDING THE RING AND PINION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,000. UPDATED 01/14/11 *BF THE REAR SEAL FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE REAR DRIVE GEAR TO LOSE LUBRICATION. UPDATED 03/28/11
Mileage: 54,000
20090810FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE. QUICK DISCONNECTS (PLASTIC) ON FUEL LINES DETERIORATE AND LEAK FUEL. VERY DANGEROUS. NO FIRE BUT COULD HAVE BEEN ONE. WHEN FUEL LEAKS IT SPRAYS OVER RIGHT LEG AND FOOT. I WILL REPLACE WITH BRASS FITTINGS. *TR
Mileage: 19,900
20040321FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
RECALL # 04V028000 AS OF TODAY 3/21/2004 MY BMW DEALER HAS NO INFORMATION ON THIS RECALL NOR HAVE I RECEIVED ANY NOTICE FROM BMW. MY DEALER WILL NOT PERFORM RECALL. BMW OF SALT LAKE CITY. I HAVE A FUEL SMELL ON COLD START. NO LEAK SEEN. *JB
Mileage: 855
Compare 2003BMWK SERIES to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2003 BMW K SERIES have?▼
The 2003 BMW K SERIES has 7 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2003 BMW K SERIES?▼
Yes, the 2003 BMW K SERIES has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 BMW K SERIES?▼
The most-complained component for the 2003 BMW K SERIES is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS.
Is the 2003 BMW K SERIES 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.