Model year record

1998 BMW K1200RS

4 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 6 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 00V266000

Engine and engine cooling: engine

Component
Engine and engine cooling: engine
Manufacturer
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
Vehicles affected
188
Reported to NHTSA
2000-09-12
Owners notified
2000-10-12

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEALING PLUGS WITH A STAINLESS STEEL PLUG DESIGN.

Recall campaignNHTSA 00V264000

Engine and engine cooling: engine

Component
Engine and engine cooling: engine
Manufacturer
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
Vehicles affected
2,368
Reported to NHTSA
2000-09-12
Owners notified
2000-10-13

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 98V258000

Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly
Manufacturer
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
Vehicles affected
1,000
Reported to NHTSA
1998-10-14
Owners notified
1998-12-30

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD OCCUR RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP-TO-TANK GASKET.

Recall campaignNHTSA 97V134000

Service brakes, hydraulic

Component
Service brakes, hydraulic
Manufacturer
BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE
Vehicles affected
973
Reported to NHTSA
1997-08-08
Owners notified
1997-08-11

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly3
Fuel system, gasoline159,000 mi
Power train: manual transmission1
Service brakes, hydraulic152,000 mi

The 1997 model has 6 times as many complaints as this one. The 1999 model has 3 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.