NHTSA Complaint #10439842 — 2006 BMW K1200 R

WHILE RIDING THE VEHICLE, A STRONG FUEL SMELL WAS DETECTED. WHILE STOPPING TO INVESTIGATE, THE REAR TIRE LOCKED UP, BUT A CRASH WAS AVOIDED. I FOUND A LARGE VOLUME OF FUEL SPRAYING FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE FUEL CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE ALTERNATOR, THE HOT EXHAUST, AND THE REAR TIRE. BY THE TIME THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF TO TURN OFF THE FUEL PUMP, MY PANTS AND BOOTS HAD BEEN SATURATED WITH FUEL. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE QUICK DISCONNECT COUPLER FROM THE FUEL PUMP TO THE INJECTOR SUPPLY LINE HAD CRACKED AND SEPARATED INTO TWO PIECES. THIS ITEM IS LOCATED BETWEEN THE FUEL TANK AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THERE IS NO POSSIBILITY THAT AN OUTSIDE FORCE, I.E. ROAD DEBRIS, COULD HAVE COME IN CONTACT WITH THIS PART TO HAVE BROKEN IT. I CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS PART BREAK WITHOUT ANY OUTSIDE INFLUENCE AS WELL. THIS SORT OF FAILURE COULD EASILY RESULT IN FIRE AND/OR CRASH. THE PART NEEDS TO BE UPDATED TO A METAL CONNECTION THAT CAN WITHSTAND HEAT, VIBRATION, AND AGE TO BE SAFELY INSTALLED IN A TWO WHEELED APPLICATION. *TR