2013-2015 BMW C600 Sport and C650GT Scooters Recalled for Brake Fluid Leak

BMW is recalling its C600 Sport and C650GT scooters from model years 2013-2015 because their front brake hoses may get damaged.

According to documents released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the front brake hose may kink, damaging the outer hose cover and the inner protective reinforcing steel mesh. If left untouched, the hose may crack, potentially leading the brake fluid to leak. A leaking front brake hose will cause a reduction in brake pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.

The problem occurs gradually from turning the handlebars all the way to the left, as in for tight maneuvering or locking the handlebars while parked. This can cause the front brake hose to kink. Eventually, the kink can wear away the hose, causing the leak.

BMW was first alerted to a potential problem in late March after receiving a failure report from South Korea for a 2014 C600 Sport. The faulty parts were sent to German where BMW conducted an inspection. From June to September, BMW conducted durability bench tests on production parts and determined there was a chance of brake hoses getting damaged through long term use. In October, BMW’s development department determined the PVC hose covering was too stiff, causing bending stress to concentrate on one location, creating a kink in the hose. Further testing determined that replacing the PVC hose covering with ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) rubber would avoid the problem.

By the time BMW decided to initiate recall proceedings, the company had received 11 reports from around the world (no reports came from the U.S.).

BMW dealers will replace the front brake hose on affected units with a new hose with an EPDM protective cover.

[Source: NHTSA]