NHTSA Complaint #10522729 — 2004 BMW K1200LT

FUEL LINE QUICK DISCONNECT FAILED AS VEHICLE SLOWED FOR STOPPING AT INTERSECTION. FUEL UNDER PRESSURE FROM RUNNING ENGINE WAS RELEASED ONTO THE ENGINE, THE ROAD SURFACE AND DRIVER'S RIGHT LEG. NO WARNING, SOUND OR LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, JUST STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE UNTIL I LOOKED DOWN AND SAW THE FUEL WETTING EVERYTHING. THIS IS APPARENTLY A COMMON FAILURE AND IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE BMWLT.COM FORUM, INVOLVING HUNDREDS OF THESE AND SIMILAR MODEL BMW MOTORCYCLES. THESE OEM QUICK DISCONNECTS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC AND CANNOT WITHSTAND COMMON USAGE. REPAIR IS COMMONLY MADE WITH ALL METAL PARTS OF THE SAME DESIGN. FIRES HAVE BEEN REPORTED FROM THIS FAILURE, WITH TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE REPORTED. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A LIFE-SAFETY ISSUE WHICH THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF, BUT IS NOT ACKNOWLEDGING, AND A RECALL OF THIS PART IS ADVISABLE. *TR