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BMW K SeriesYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 17 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on record for the BMW K Series.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints17Top: Fuel system, gasolineSafety recalls11987–2004 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

BMW K Series years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the K Series median. Tap a year for its full report.

'87'94'01'02'03'04
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2004Not rated–/1005 complaints · 1 recall2003Not rated–/1006 complaints · 1 recall2002Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall2001Not rated–/1001 complaint · 1 recall1994Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1987Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common BMW K Series problems

All model years combined: 17 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Fuel system, gasoline90
Power train40
Vehicle speed control20
Fuel/propulsion system11
Engine11
Service brakes10
Suspension10
1 recall

BMW K Series recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings04V-028 · 2001–2004 · Jan 15, 2004 · 39,000 vehicles
2 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the K Series

  1. FUEL LINE LEAKAGEPE03054 · 2000–2004 · closed Jan 23, 2004
    Led to recall 04V-028
  2. BRAKE LIGHT FAILUREPE88057 · 1981–1988 · closed Jul 22, 1988
    No recall