AI Damage2004 BMW K Series: common problems
Owners of the 2004 BMW K Series filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 60% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 20% of all complaints
- 3 Vehicle speed control 20% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 3 complaints (60% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 5 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The brake failure light lit up and I lost power brakes and even at 10 mph it was extremely difficult to stop the bike. The module controls the servo linkage also. This is a know problem with bmw k bikes with abs and bmw refuses to recall the bikes.
The mc was not drivable due to the obvious fire hazard. Checked the internet. Found nhtsa campaign id number 04v028000. Went to my local bmw dealer where I bought the bike and have had it serviced. Was told that my mc was not covered by the recall.
Since the fuel pump was off, the fuel was not leaking very badly. I attempted to press the quick disconnect coupling together to insure that it was fully seated. When I did that, the end of the male connector, which was cracked and leaking, snapped off rendering the coupling useless.
Notice of gasoline smell coming from right side. When examined, gas was dangerously spraying the entire valve cover, gear housing, bottom of transmission housing, and my right leg. The entire plastic quick disconnect of the return line sheared apart, causing the leak.
Car gas pedal sticks and then lunges forward, causing the car to be hard to control and unpredictable. Bmw dealer refuses to service car.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 14,282 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the K Series has 3 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 5, above average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2004 BMW K Series?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, service brakes, vehicle speed control. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (40%), brake failure (20%), fuel system, fuel smell (20%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 BMW K Series?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2004 BMW K Series from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2004 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.