AI Damage2012 BMW K1300 S: common problems
Owners of the 2012 BMW K1300 S filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 75% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 25% of all complaints
- Engine: 3 complaints (75% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (25% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 4 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 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 bike stalls while in motion. Feels like the kill switch has been used but it has not. No pattern to speed, gear, or anything else. All power is gone but if you turn the key off and back on it will start and keep going until it happens again. Very dangerous on the freeway. Turning has nothing to do with it.
Less than one week after taking ownership of the brand new motorcycle (august 2012) I experienced the first occurrence of the engine stalling when the vehicle slowed to a stop. Since then the machine has been returned to the dealership four times specifically to address this issue.
Vehicle stalls when slowing to a stop. Happens at random times. Does not matter about the weather or the temperature, issue has occurred many times dealer is unable to fix the issue. Almost struck from behind when bike did not move from changing traffic signal.
The contact stated that while driving 10 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnosis where the contact was informed that the engine failed and self destructed internally. The manufacturer was notified and advised that the vehicle would be rebuilt and returned to him.
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 15,521 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the K1300 S has 12 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 4, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2012 BMW K1300 S?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, electrical system. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (100%), engine failure or replacement (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2012 BMW K1300 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 2012 BMW K1300 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 2012 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.