The 1998 BMW K 1200 RS has 4 safety recalls and 6 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is fuel system, gasoline (4 complaints).
Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. A SPRING-LOADED THERMOSTATIC ELEMENT IN THE OIL THERMOSTAT HOUSING IS HELD IN PLACE BY A COVER THAT IS RETAINED BY A SNAP RING. THE SNAP RING MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY INSTALLED DURING PRODUCTION. DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, THE SNAP RING COULD UNSEAT, ALLOWING THE COVER TO LOOSEN OR DETACH, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE ENTIRE OIL VOLUME.
Risk: ENGINE DAMAGE COULD OCCUR IF THE ENGINE IS NOT IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED OFF. IN ADDITION, OIL COULD TRAVEL ALONG THE ENGINE COVER AND ULTIMATELY CONTACT THE REAR TIRE, REDUCING ITS TRACTION AND AFFECTING THE STABILITY OF THE MOTORCYCLE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH AND PERSONAL INJURY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SNAP RING INSTALLATION AND IF THE SNAP RING IS NOT FULLY SEATED, THE COMPLETE OIL PUMP INTERMEDIATE FLANGE WILL BE REPLACED.
Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE CYLINDER HEAD CONTAINS TWO SEALING PLUGS COVERING HOLES IN THE AREA NEAR THE SPARK PLUGS. ONE OR BOTH PLUGS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN FULLY SEATED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. EITHER OR BOTH OF THE SEALING PLUGS COULD LOOSEN OR COMPLETELY DETACH FROM THEIR MOUNTING POINT DURING VEHICLE OPERATION.
Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW COOLANT TO ESCAPE, TRAVEL ALONG THE ENGINE COVER, AND CONTACT THE REAR TIRE, REDUCING ITS TRACTION AND AFFECTING THE STABILITY OF THE MOTORCYCLE. IN ADDITION, THE LOSS OF COOLANT COULD LEAD TO INCREASED ENGINE OPERATING TEMPERATURE AND POSSIBLE OVERHEATING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEALING PLUGS WITH A STAINLESS STEEL PLUG DESIGN.
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
NHTSA recall 98V258000 · Oct 14, 1998 · 1,000 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. DURING EXTENDED OPERATION IN HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS, THE AREA OF THE PUMP MOUNTING SURFACE OF THE FUEL TANK CAN DEFORM, FORMING A GAP BETWEEN THE TANK MOUNTING SURFACE AND THE GASKET, ALLOWING FUEL TO ESCAPE FROM THE TANK AT THAT AREA.
Risk: IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD OCCUR RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP-TO-TANK GASKET.
Service brakes, hydraulic
NHTSA recall 97V134000 · Aug 8, 1997 · 973 vehicles
Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE ADJUSTING SCREW FOR THE PRESSURE POINT OF EITHER THE BRAKE OR CLUTCH LEVERS MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENTLY TIGHT, DUE TO GREASE CONTAMINATION OF THE THREADS.
Risk: THE SCREW(S) CAN BACK OUT OVER TIME WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING OPERATED CAUSING A CHANGE IN THE PRESSURE POINT OF THE MASTER CYLINDER FOR THE CLUTCH AND/OR FRONT BRAKE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL CHECK THE ADJUSTMENT SCREWS OF THE FRONT BRAKE AND CLUTCH LEVERS FOR MOVEMENT. IF THE SCREWS ARE TIGHT, NO FURTHER ACTION WILL BE TAKEN. IF A SCREW IS FOUND TO BE LOOSE, IT WILL BE REMOVED, CLEANED AND REINSTALLED WITH NEW LOCTITE.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Fuel system, gasoline Storage › Tank assembly
4
0
0
0
—
Power train Manual transmission
1
0
0
0
—
Service brakes, hydraulic
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Sep 15, 2010 · 52,000 milesService brakes, hydraulic (NOTE THAT THE INCIDENT DATE AND FAILURE MILEAGE REPORTED ARE APPROXIMATE.) WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE TWO ABS WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH PANEL FLASHED ALTERNATELY AS THEY NORMALLY DO UPON ENGINE START-UP, BUT DID NOT STOP FLASHING ONCE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS UNDERWAY AS THEY NORMALLY SHOULD DO, WHICH INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. AT THE BMW DEALERSHIP WHERE I HAVE MY MOTORCYCLE SERVICED, A TECHNICIAN RAN A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK AND IDENTIFIED THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AS A FAILED ABS MODULATOR. I WAS QUOTED $2200 FOR A REPLACEMENT ABS MODULATOR AND ABOUT $2300 IN LABOR FOR THE REPAIR, TOGETHER TOTALING THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT VALUE OF THE MOTORCYCLE! VIA HARD APPLICATION…
Apr 12, 2012 · 59,000 milesFuel system, gasoline RECALL 14401 FROM OCT. 14, 1988. THIS VEHICLE WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY IN 2001 UNDER THIS RECALL. IT FAILED AGAIN RECENTLY AND FUEL STARTED LEAKING. THE PARTS TO DO THE REMEDY ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE PER MY DEALER. THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE IS TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK AND RELATED COMPONENTS WITH A STYLE THAT BMW DEVELOPED TO SOLVE THIS SAFETY ISSUE. MY DEALER CALLED BMW NA SERVICE TWICE AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO LONGER SUPPORT FOR SOLVING THIS PROBLEM. I CALLED CUSTOMER SERVICE AND GOT THE SAME REPLY...NO CURRENT RECALL. BMW NA IS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST IN ANY WAY TO SOLVE A KNOWN SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
Mar 21, 2000Power train › Manual transmission VEHICLE WAS DELIVERED WITH A TRANSMISSION THAT REFUSED, AT TIMES TO SHIFT UPWARDS TO HIGHER GEARS. USUALLY THIS OCCURED IN COLDER WEATHER AND AFTER BEING RIDDEN FOR SOME DISTANCE BEFORE A BRIEF PERIOD OF COOLING OCCURRED TRIGGERING THE PROBLEM. WARRANTEE REPLACEMENT WAS DENIED BECAUSE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY COULDN'T CAUSE IT TO HAPPEN AS I'VE DESCRIBED. CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER OWNERS CONVINCES ME THIS HAS BEEN COMMON AND LIKEWISE DENIED TO THESE OTHER OWNERS. MOMENTARY LOSS OF ATTENTION DURING A STICKING EPISODE COULD PROVE FATAL, AND I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT FRAN CRANE ANDREWS WHO DIED EARLIER THIS YEAR IN SALT LAKE CITY MAY HAVE EXPERIENCED SUCH A PROBLEM CAUSING HER TO RUN OFF THE ROAD…
Jul 15, 1998Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly MOTORCYCLE PARKED IN 90 DEGREE GARARE AFTER RIDE. ONE HALF HOUR LATER GAS PUDDLE 3' IN DIAMETER UNDER BIKE DRIPPING FROM TANK ONTO HOT ENGINE THEN HOT EXHAUST AND GARAGE FILLED WITH VAPORS. NO SMELL OF FUEL WHEN PARKING, SUDDEN FAILURE.
Jul 13, 1998Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly MASSIVE LEAKING OF GASOLINE FROM TANK APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO HOT WEATHER AND EXPANSION OF GASKET INTERFACE BETWEEN TANK BLADDER AND FUEL PUMP, REPAIR WORK ON TANK
Jul 19, 1998Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly MOTORCYCLE HAD THE ORIGINAL AND REPLACED GAS TANKS DEVELOP LEAKS. ABOUT ONE GALLON PER HOUR. NO ACCIDENT, BUT CLOSE. ALMOST CAUGHT FIRE.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
PE98047 · opened Aug 27, 1998 · closed Oct 15, 1998 · led to recall 98V258000FUEL TANK LEAK ALLEGED THAT THE FUEL LEAKS AT THE INTERFACE BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY
SQ97023 · opened Nov 14, 1997 · closed Dec 22, 1997REDUCED CLUTCH AND BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS IN AUGUST 1997, BMW CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL TO CORRECT A CONDITION OF THREAD CONTAMINATION ON THE BRAKE AND CLUTCH LEVERS ADJUSTING SCREWS.THIS GREASE CONTAMINATION NEGATES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LOCTITE AND THIS CAN SEGNIFICANTLY REDUCE BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS.DUE TO THIS INVESTIGATION, BMW HAS INCREASED THE POPULATION TO INCLUDE ALL THE 1988 MOTORCYCLES.NO FURTHER ACTION IS NECESARY.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.RECALL NUMBER ASSIGNED IS 97V-134.02.