AI Damage2006 BMW K1200 GT: common problems
Owners of the 2006 BMW K1200 GT filed 11 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and vehicle speed control. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 11
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 36% of all complaints
- 2 Vehicle speed control 27% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 18% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 18% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 9% of all complaints
- 6 Engine and cooling 9% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel/propulsion system 9% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 9% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 4 complaints (36% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 3 complaints (27% of all).
- Engine: 2 complaints (18% of all).
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (18% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (9% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 11 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 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 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.
Fuel gauge showed half a tank full, but it was actually empty. The engine stalled. Brakes do not work with engine stalled. [dealer] dealer confirmed the malfunction and said it was a common failure. There were not previous instances of this same problem with my motorcycle. No warnings of any kind.
This is a safety issue as my fuel gauge does not work and running out of gas on the highway or when crossing an intersection could easily result in a fatal accident. Bmw extended their coverage on this known defective part for 12-years and my coverage ran out in august 2018
I have experienced a recurring problem with high engine idle speed, unresponsive decelaeration when the throttle is closed and rough or "bucking" at constant cruising speeds of approximately 60 mph. I have learned from multiple independent forums that this is a common problem among owners of this model.
This k1200gt, 2006 model year, has been stalling at speeds >50mph. Many times, the stalls occur at highway speeds 70-80mph with sudden, unexpected deceleration, and loss of brakes (they are power assisted by the motor). Many occurrences have resulted in near misses in regards to accidents.
The contact stated that when the throttle was held at a constant speed, the engine often surged. The dealer was aware of the failure, but had not inspected the vehicle. The vin was unknown. The current mileage was 7,400 and failure mileage was 5,600. Updated 09/26/07
Idle is erratic. Bikes idle jumps randomly and hangs up at a high rpm at idle or when shifting between gears. Bike has been in for repair five times now. Dealer has replaced the airbox and updated software to no avail. Bike is unsafe to ride in this condition. Problem is more pronounced at higher ambient temps.
Random high idle condition. Engine rpms randomly increase for no reason to as high as 2500 at a stop and during decel conditions. Must pull in clutch to keep from accelerating during decel. Unsafe condition. Internet forums reveal this is a common condition to late model bmw motorcycles.
Brake warning light constantly illuminated. Bmw dealer cannot turn it off or reset it. Internet chat rooms reveal this is a very common problem with the late model bmw motorcycle line.
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 10,521 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 29% most complained about).
On average one model year of the K1200 GT has 14 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 11, below average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2006 BMW K1200 GT?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, vehicle speed control, engine. Total complaints: 11. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (18%), stalls while driving (18%), brake failure (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2006 BMW K1200 GT?
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 2006 BMW K1200 GT 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 2006 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 2026-11-06.