BMW K 1300 S Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used BMW K 1300 S options? We analyzed 10 model years (2012–2021) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the BMW K 1300 S has 4 owner complaints and 4 safety recalls across model years 2012–2021. The most reported issue area is ENGINE.
- Make
- BMW
- Model
- K 1300 S
- Model years analyzed
- 2012–2021 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 4
- Safety recall campaigns
- 4
- Crash-related complaints
- 0
- Fire-related complaints
- 0
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2012 (4 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ENGINE
- Reliability signal
- Excellent
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.
What the complaint data suggests
ExcellentThe BMW K 1300 S has 4 NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls on record. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 4 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 4 federal recall campaigns
- No crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
4 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2012–2021. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 4 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
4 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
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. IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME, IN ANY GEAR, AT ANY RPM. IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A YEAR AND DEALERS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO.
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. WHILE SERVICING SOMETIMES APPEARED TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION TEMPORARILY, IN SOME CASES THE PROBLEM RECURRED WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF THE SERVICE, AND NO PERMANENT SOLUTION HAS EVER RESULTED. AT THIS TIME (MARCH 2015, WITH ABOUT 27,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE) THE PROBLEM IS WORSE THAN EVER. THE STALLING MOST OFTEN OCCURS IN COOL/COLD WEATHER, BUT HAS SOMETIMES OCCURRED IN MIDSUMMER. IT MOST OFTEN OCCURS WITHIN THE FIRST FEW MILES AFTER STARTING A MORNING RIDE, BUT HAS SOMETIMES OCCURRED AFTER MORE THAN AN HOUR OF CONTINUOUS OPERATION. IT OFTEN OCCURS EXACTLY ONE TIME DURING A SINGLE RIDE, AND SOMETIMES DOES NOT OCCUR AT ALL DURING A SINGLE RIDE, BUT RECENTLY HAS OCCURRED 7 TIMES DURING A 50 MILE RIDE AND 12 TIMES DURING A 76 MILE RIDE. ONE INCIDENT OCCURRED DURING EXECUTION OF A LEFT TURN IN TRAFFIC, WHICH RESULTED IN AN UNPLANNED AND VERY DANGEROUS ABORT OF THE INTENDED TURN AND NEARLY CAUSED A COLLISION. BMW'S SERVICE ORGANIZATION IS APPARENTLY EITHER UNWILLING TO, OR INCAPABLE OF, SOLVING THIS ISSUE, WHICH I CONSIDER TO BE A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT. *TR
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. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 BMW K1300S MOTORCYCLE. 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. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 300. ## VIN PASSED ## 2012 BMW K1300S ## UPDATED 12/28/12 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER FEELS THE VEHICLEOR ENGINE SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED.
Showing 4 of 4 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact BMW K 1300 S
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used BMW K 1300 S, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The BMW K 1300 S has 4 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The BMW K 1300 S has 4 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 0 of the BMW K 1300 S's 4 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Excellent) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all BMW K 1300 S vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two BMW K 1300 S vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The BMW K 1300 S has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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By state
Check a BMW K 1300 S by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used BMW K 1300 S.
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Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
BMW K 1300 S reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the BMW K 1300 S reliable?
Excellent. The BMW K 1300 S has 4 NHTSA owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ENGINE. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which BMW K 1300 S years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2012 (4 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common BMW K 1300 S problems?
Top reported issues: ENGINE (3 complaints); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (1 complaints); UNKNOWN OR OTHER (1 complaints).
Does the BMW K 1300 S have recalls?
Yes — 4 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the BMW K 1300 S. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.