2003 BMW K 1200 Rs

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW K1200RS MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER SMELLING FUEL AROUND THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE FUEL QUICK DISCONNECT SPRAYED FUEL ALL OVER THE MOTORCYCLE AND HIS GARMENTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INSTALLED A PLUG AND A HOSE ON THE QUICK DISCONNECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL AND REFERRED HIM TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,920.

WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE, FUEL BEGAN FORCEFULLY SPRAYING OUT OF THE RIGHT SIDE ENGINE AREA ON TO MY LEG. I STOPPED THE ENGINE AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS CLEAR THAT LEAK WAS COMING FROM A FUEL QUICK DISCONNECT ON LINE RUNNING ALONG RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE. THE DISCONNECT WAS LEAKING BECAUSE A PLASTIC INTERNAL PART HAD BROKEN. CALLED UP THE LOCAL BMW DEALERSHIP AND DESCRIBED THE QUICK DISCONNECT LEAK AND THEY IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND COMMENTED THAT "IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME" THAT "THE PLASTIC PART BREAKS AND IS NOW DESIGNED USING A METAL PART". THERE WAS A RECALL (52513) THAT WAS ISSUED IN JANUARY 2004 CONCERNING INSPECTING THE QUICK DISCONNECT FOR LEAKAGE, AND REPLACE AS NEEDED, BUT THAT RECALL WAS NEVER PERFORMED ON MY BIKE AND ACCORDING TO BMW WAS SOMEHOW NOT APPLICABLE TO MY BIKE. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT SHOULD NEVER HAPPEN ON A BIKE (OR CAR FOR THAT MATTER) YET ACCORDING TO THE DEALER IS PRETTY PREVALENT AND THERE IS APPARENTLY A FIX TO THE DEFECT THAT I WAS NOT INFORMED ABOUT AND AS FAR AS I KNOW IS NOT EVEN THE SUBJECT OF ANY OTHER RECALL. IF THIS IS THE CASE, I THINK THERE SHOULD BE AN IMMEDIATE RECALL OF ALL AFFECTED BIKES AND THIS DANGEROUS DEFECT ADDRESSED. *TR

WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE DRIVER NEXT TO ME ASKED WHAT WAS LEAKING FROM MY MOTORCYCLES. ON FURTHER INSPECTION I FOUND IT TO VE FUEL FROM BROKEN FUEL LINE CONNECTOR WHICH WAS LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE AND WHILE RIDING WAS BEING BLOWN ONTO MY PANTS. ON CHECKING ONLINE AND WITH LOCAL DEALER I WAS TOLD THAT THIS HAPPENS OFTEN ON THIS AND OTHER MODEL BMW MOTORCYCLES. I KNOW THAT I DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH RAW GASOLINE BEING PUMPED ONTO A HOT ENGINE JUST WAITING FOR A SPARK TO IGNITE IT YET I CAN'T FIND A RECALL ON THIS CONNECTOR TO REPLACE IT WITH A METAL ONE WHICH IS AVAILABLE.

QUICK DISCONNECT FITTING BETWEEN FUEL TANK AND INJECTOR SYSTEM FAILED ...DIFFERENT THAN PE03054 ... MALE COUPLING IS PLASTIC AND CRACKS. LEAK OCCURRED AT 65MPH, SPAY GAS ON HOT MOTOR AND LEG. STOPPED BIKE , TOUCHED FITTING, IT BROKE IN HALF, SPRAYING ME WITH MORE GAS. DEALER KNEW OF PROBLEM, RECOMMENDED REPLACING UNBROKEN QUICK DISCONNECT. BELIEVE THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD ... SURPRISED THAT NO RECALL RECEIVED SINCE THEY ALSO HAD PE03054. DEALER INDICATED THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM ...NEW FITTING IS AVAILABLE MADE OF METAL WHICH IMPLIES BMW KNEW OF PROBLEM. *TR