NHTSA Complaint #10446763 — 2005 BMW K1200 LT

THE UPPER THREADED PORTION OF THE SHAFT OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION BALL JOINT BROKE OFF, WHICH IS THE CONNECTION POINT FROM THE LEADING LINK TO THE FRONT FORK BRIDGE, AN INTEGRAL PART OF BMW'S TELELEVER FRONT SUSPENSION. LOSS OF THIS CONNECTION POINT ALLOWS THE FRONT FORKS TO MOVE FRONT TO REAR CAUSING DANGEROUS LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. NORMAL OPERATION OF THE TELELEVER SUSPENSION EXERTS FORCES WHICH ARE LONGITUDINAL ALONG THE BALL JOINT SHAFT. THE BALL JOINT SHAFT IS NOT SUBJECT TO SIDEWAYS SHEAR FORCE, SO THE SHAFT SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN UNDER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. THE METAL IN THE SHAFT MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE AT MANUFACTURE IN ORDER FOR THE LONGITUDINAL FORCE ALONG THE SHAFT AXIS TO HAVE BROKEN OFF THE THREADED PORTION OF THE BALL JOINT SHAFT. *TR