AI Damage2006 BMW K1200 S: common problems
Owners of the 2006 BMW K1200 S filed 15 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel/propulsion system and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 15
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel/propulsion system 40% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 33% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel system 13% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 13% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 7% of all complaints
- 6 Engine 7% of all complaints
- 7 Equipment 7% of all complaints
- Fuel/propulsion system: 6 complaints (40% of all).
- Service brakes: 5 complaints (33% of all).
- Fuel system: 2 complaints (13% of all).
- Suspension: 2 complaints (13% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (7% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 15 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/propulsion system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 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.
ABS computer housing has faulty seal allowing water to enter ,causing abs and speedometer failure,and electronic suspension failure. Its apparently happened to quite a few people in the forums.
While traveling at approximately 85 mph on my 2006 bmw motorcycle and on I-75 sb around the florida town of weston, the rightmost cylinder broke thru the upper crankcase causing an engine fire and a very sudden deceleration. My lower right leg was temporarily engulfed in flames
The abs system is unsafe by design for 2005 and 2006 k1200s bikes, because when the abs system fails the braking system performance diminishes to the point of practically no brakes. I'm lucky this did not happened while doing highway speeds. With 167 hp, this bike can be deadly when the abs fails.
When I finally stopped the motorcycle I noticed that the the brake failure light was flashing. Later I learned that the anti lock brake (abs) unit had failed on the motorcycle and that the abs failure is a common occurrence on the 2005 and 2006 bmw motorcycles.
I ended up having to replace the entire fuel pump assembly ($550 for the part, $850 total cost installed). I want bmw usa to recall this part and stand behind their product. There are multiple internet threads of people complaining about this issue. Many bmw owner's lives are at risk of catching on fire.
Fuel leak from fuel tank flange. This complaint is the same as the others, namely the fuel tank flange cracks and allows fuel leakage under pressure which allows a significant amount of fuel to spray and subsequently drain down onto the alternator and then down the side of the engine and out the bottom.
Fuel pump housing began leaking after a ride. Started dripping gasoline on the left side. I was able to ride to dealership, where fuel pump was replaced. ## vin failed
On inspection of my motorcycle (2006, bmw k1200s) it was found that the gasoline was leaking from cracks in the plastic (at the attachment point surrounding the female quick disconnect) of the fuel pump housing. The fuel pump housing is a separate part that is attached to the fuel tank.
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 9,288 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 25% most complained about).
On average one model year of the K1200 S has 8 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 15, above average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2006 BMW K1200 S?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel/propulsion system, service brakes, fuel system. Total complaints: 15. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (40%), smoke, burning smell, fire (27%), brake failure (13%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2006 BMW K1200 S?
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 S 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.