Total Complaints
28 filings
BMW K1200LT · model year
28 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2001BMWK1200LT carries 28 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 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 2001 K1200LT is power train:driveline:differential unit with 5 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (4) and power train:axle assembly:axle shaft:seal (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 2001 K1200LT. 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.
Total Complaints
28 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 4 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL | 2 |
| SUSPENSION | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE) | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 1 |
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 BMW K1200 LT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, HE FELT A SLIGHT VIBRATION. AFTER PULLING OVER HER NOTICED THAT THERE WAS AN OIL LEAK ON THE REAR TIRE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE BEARINGS HAD FAILED AND CAUSED THE SEAL TO FRACTURE, CAUSING THE LEAK. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE BEARINGS AND THE SEAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 45,151. UPDATED 04/10/12*LJ THE DIFFERENTIAL BEARING AND SEAL HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 04/16/12
Mileage: 45,151
I HAD THE SAME FAILURE AS DESCRIBED IN ODI NO. 10439549, AND > CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED UNDER CAMPAIGN DP12001. GEAR OIL LEAKED. THIS FAILURE HAPPENED 850 MILES FROM HOME AND HAD TO BE TOWED HOME. *KB
Mileage: 87,000
2001 BMW K1200LT. REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION INTO BMW MOTORCYCLE FINAL DRIVE FAILURES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO BRING THE MOTORCYCLE TO A SAFE STOP, HE DISCOVERED THE REAR BRAKES DID NOT WORK, WHICH FORCED HIM TO USE THE FRONT BRAKES ONLY, WHICH EXTENDED HIS STOPPING DISTANCE. HE WAS ABLE TO BRING THE BIKE TO A SAFE STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION, HE REALIZED THE REAR BRAKES FAILED BECAUSE THEY WERE SATURATED IN GEAR OIL, THAT LEAKED FROM THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT AFTER THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING SEAL FAILED. THE FINAL GEAR CROWN GEAR BEARING FAILED, CAUSING METAL PARTS TO BE CRUSHED BETWEEN THE SPINNING GEARS, TEARING THE SEAL AND ALLOWING THE OIL TO LEAK. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS THE SECOND TIME THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING FAILED ON HIS BIKE. *JB UPDATED 12/13/11*JB UPDATED 01/05/12.*JB ...UPDATED 01/31/12 *BF UPDATED 02/03/12
Mileage: 59,310
2001 BMW K1200LT. REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION INTO BMW MOTORCYCLE FINAL DRIVE FAILURES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO BRING THE MOTORCYCLE TO A SAFE STOP, HE DISCOVERED THE REAR BRAKES DID NOT WORK, WHICH FORCED HIM TO USE THE FRONT BRAKES ONLY, WHICH EXTENDED HIS STOPPING DISTANCE. HE WAS ABLE TO BRING THE BIKE TO A SAFE STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION, HE REALIZED THE REAR BRAKES FAILED BECAUSE THEY WERE SATURATED IN GEAR OIL, THAT LEAKED FROM THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT AFTER THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING SEAL FAILED. THE FINAL GEAR CROWN GEAR BEARING FAILED, CAUSING METAL PARTS TO BE CRUSHED BETWEEN THE SPINNING GEARS, TEARING THE SEAL AND ALLOWING THE OIL TO LEAK. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS THE SECOND TIME THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING FAILED ON HIS BIKE. *JB UPDATED 12/13/11*JB UPDATED 01/05/12.*JB ...UPDATED 01/31/12 *BF UPDATED 02/03/12
Mileage: 59,310
2001 BMW K1200LT. REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION INTO BMW MOTORCYCLE FINAL DRIVE FAILURES *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO BRING THE MOTORCYCLE TO A SAFE STOP, HE DISCOVERED THE REAR BRAKES DID NOT WORK, WHICH FORCED HIM TO USE THE FRONT BRAKES ONLY, WHICH EXTENDED HIS STOPPING DISTANCE. HE WAS ABLE TO BRING THE BIKE TO A SAFE STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION, HE REALIZED THE REAR BRAKES FAILED BECAUSE THEY WERE SATURATED IN GEAR OIL, THAT LEAKED FROM THE FINAL DRIVE UNIT AFTER THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING SEAL FAILED. THE FINAL GEAR CROWN GEAR BEARING FAILED, CAUSING METAL PARTS TO BE CRUSHED BETWEEN THE SPINNING GEARS, TEARING THE SEAL AND ALLOWING THE OIL TO LEAK. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WAS THE SECOND TIME THE FINAL DRIVE BEARING FAILED ON HIS BIKE. *JB UPDATED 12/13/11*JB UPDATED 01/05/12.*JB ...UPDATED 01/31/12 *BF UPDATED 02/03/12
Mileage: 59,310
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: ANTILOCK ON A 2001 BMW. *TR
Mileage: 44,000
UNEXPECTED FAILURE OF REAR BEARING ON 2001 BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE. REAR BEARING OIL SEAL ALSO FAILED, CAUSING OIL LEAKAGE ONTO TIRES AND BRAKING SURFACES. VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO WAS REMOVED FROM SERVICE IMMEDIATELY AFTER FAILURE, BEFORE OIL IMPAIRED BRAKING ABILITIES. BEARING AND HOUSING WILL BE REPLACED. *TR
Mileage: 91,500
I NOTICED MY BIKE TIRES SEEMED TO BE OUT OF BALANCE, A NOTICEABLE VIBRATION ESPECIALLY AT LOWER SPEEDS. I HAD THE TIRES CHECKED AND ENDED UP REPLACING THEM. THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO MOVE TO THE REAR OF THE BIKE AFTER REPLACING THE TIRES, WITH A VIBRATION IN THE FOOTPEGS AND WHILE ACCELERATING FROM A STOP IT FELT AS IF THE REAR TIRE WAS FLAT. I CHECKED THE SUSPENSION AND SET IT TO THE PROPER PRELOAD ON THE REAR SHOCK BUT THE VIBRATION PERSISTED. I SEARCHED ON THE WEB AND FOUND WHERE OTHER BMW MOTORCYCLE RIDERS WITH SHAFT DRIVE HAD EXPERIENCED SIMILAR PROBLEMS WHEN THEIR REAR DRIVE BEARING WENT OUT. I HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A REAR DRIVE FAILURE. *TR
Mileage: 60,200
BMW MOTORCYCLE K1200LT FINAL DRIVE FAILED 300 MILES FROM HOME. HAD TO RENT A CAR TO GET HOME AND THEN BACK AGAIN TO PICK MOTORCYCLE UP. OUT OF POCKET COST OF REPAIRS AND TRANSPORTATION $700. *TR
Mileage: 30,775
COMPONENT FAILURE, HYDRAULIC BRAKES: ANTILOCK FINAL DRIVE FAILURE BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE
I OWN A 2001 BMW K1200LT MOTORCYCLE. I MAINTAIN IT VERY WELL AND CHANGE LUBRICANTS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. MY WIFE AND I WERE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE NOT FAR FROM OUR HOME WHEN WE FELT A ROUGHNESS AND VIBRATION THAT WORSENED AND WORSENED. HEARING THAT THESE BIKES ARE NOTORIOUS FOR A FAILED BEARING IN THE REAR DRIVE, I STOPPED TO CHECK IT AND THERE WAS GEAR OIL ALL OVER THE REAR WHEEL. EVEN MORE DANGEROUS THAN THE GEAR OIL SPILLING ONTO THE TIRE WAS THE FACT THAT IT RAN DOWN ONTO THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER! THANKFULLY, WE WERE CLOSE TO HOME, SO WE "LIMPED" HOME VERY CAREFULLY BEFORE THE TOTAL FAILURE HAPPENED. NUMBERS OF OWNERS ARE REPORTING THIS SAME FAILURE WHERE THE GEAR OIL IS SPILLING FROM THE REAR DRIVE ONTO THE TIRE AND BRAKES. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
Mileage: 47,314
FAILURE OF REAR DRIVE BEARING ON K1200LT BMW. *AK
Mileage: 28,750
BRAKE HOSE RUPTURED CAUSING FRONT BRAKES TO FAIL AND FLUID TO LEAK ON TIRE. *TR
Mileage: 47,195
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE FUEL LINE FITTING QUICK DISCONNECT CAME LOOSE CAUSING FUEL TO SPILL ON THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED TWICE. BOTH TIMES THE CONTACT REPLACED THE FITTING HIMSELF. THE DEALER HAS BEEN ALERTED.
Mileage: 44,039
VIBRATION IN FOOTPEGS AND RUMBLING NOISE FROM REAR DRIVE UNIT. CROWN WHEEL BEARING FAILED. CAUGHT IN TIME BEFORE SERIOUS DAMAGE WAS DONE. THIS BEARING IS THE MAIN SUPPORT ELEMENT FOR THE REAR WHEEL ON THIS MOTORCYCLE. PARTS FROM DAMAGED BEARING HAVE TAKEN OUT OIL SEAL WHICH LEADS TO REAR BRAKE AND WHEEL BEING COVERED IN GEAR LUBE. BROKEN BEARING COULD LEAD TO LOCK UP OF REAR WHEEL. GEAR LUBE ON THE REAR BRAKE DISC WOULD LEAD TO LOSS OF BRAKING. GEAR LUBE ON REAR WHEEL WOULD LEAD TO LOSS OF TRACTION. ALL COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITH SUBSEQUENT PROPERTY AND BODILY DAMAGE. BEARING AND SEAL WHERE REPLACED. OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *NM
Mileage: 63,781
VIBRATION IN FOOTPEGS AND RUMBLING NOISE FROM REAR DRIVE UNIT. CROWN WHEEL BEARING FAILED. CAUGHT IN TIME BEFORE SERIOUS DAMAGE WAS DONE. THIS BEARING IS THE MAIN SUPPORT ELEMENT FOR THE REAR WHEEL ON THIS MOTORCYCLE. PARTS FROM DAMAGED BEARING HAVE TAKEN OUT OIL SEAL WHICH LEADS TO REAR BRAKE AND WHEEL BEING COVERED IN GEAR LUBE. BROKEN BEARING COULD LEAD TO LOCK UP OF REAR WHEEL. GEAR LUBE ON THE REAR BRAKE DISC WOULD LEAD TO LOSS OF BRAKING. GEAR LUBE ON REAR WHEEL WOULD LEAD TO LOSS OF TRACTION. ALL COULD LEAD TO A CRASH WITH SUBSEQUENT PROPERTY AND BODILY DAMAGE. BEARING AND SEAL WHERE REPLACED. OLD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. *NM
Mileage: 63,781
BMW MOTORCYCLE, MODEL K1200LT. RIDING NORMALLY AT 65 MPH ON FREEWAY, OIL LEAKED OUT OF REAR DRIVE UNIT ONTO BRAKES, WHEEL AND TIRE. LOST ALL REAR BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS, TIRE SLIPPED SLIGHTLY ON ROAD. PULLED ONTO SHOULDER, STOPPED BY USING FRONT BRAKE ONLY. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER WHERE REAR DRIVE UNIT WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. OLD PART IS BEING SHIPPED TO MY OFFICE. *NM
Mileage: 82,400
THERE HAVE BEEN DOZENS OF REPORTS OF BMW K1200 LT MOTORCYCLES ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE AS WELL AS DIRECTLY TO BMW AND AT THE BMW LT OWNERS WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.BMWLT.NET/UBBTHREADS/SHOWFLAT.PHP?CAT=&BOARD=SURVEYS&NUMBER=17109&PAGE=&VIEW=&SB=&O=&FPART=ALL&VC=1 THE COMMON THREAD IS THAT THE BEARING FAILS, THE SEAL LEAKS DUE TO DEBRIS AND THE REAR END DUMPS IT LUBRICATION OIL ALL OVER THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY, TIRE ETC. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION FOR A MOTORCYCLE!!! ONLY TWO WHEELS TO START WITH!!!! IN LIGHT OF THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V297000 FOR LUBE LEAKAGE ON THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLY OF ANOTHER BMW MOTORCYCLE PLEASE REVIEW ANY/ALL COMPLAINTS ALREADY RECEIVED BY NHTSA AND READ THE TEXT TO SEE THAT THIS IS A COMMON AND RECURRING PROBLEM THAT MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY CLASSIFIED BY THE PEOPLE MAKING THE REPORT. BOTTOM LINE, THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHER BMW MOTORCYCLES OUT THERE, HUNDREDS OF WHICH HAVE (NOT THEORETICALLY) DUMPED REAR END LUBE ALL OVER THE REAR BRAKE ASSEMBL
Mileage: 12,000
WIFE AND I GOING HOME FROM WEEKEND TRIP WHEN OUR MOTORCYCLE STARTED MAKING A GRINDING SOUND FROM THE REAR WHEEL. AFTER GETTING BIKE TO SIDE OF THE ROAD I NOTICED OIL COVERING WHEEL, BRAKE AND TIRE. HAD BIKE TOWED TO DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS THE REAR DRIVE BEARING. THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD A FEW OF THEM GO BAD. WITH 37,000 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY. STILL AT DEALER WAITING REPAIR.
Mileage: 37,000
POOR HEADLIGHT -GIVES OUT ABOUT AS MUCH LIGHT AS A CANDLE. *LA
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.