NHTSA vehicle safety data

2018 BMW K 1600 GT Recalls & Complaints

The 2018 BMW K 1600 GT has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 5 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2018 BMW K 1600 GT. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2018 BMW K 1600 GT owner complaints

Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 BMW K 1600 GT, describing incidents dated November 5, 2018 to December 11, 2019.

Most-cited components

Power Train 3 complaints
Unknown or Other 2 complaints
Steering 1 complaint

Together, the 5 complaints on file report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11343158 · Filed August 4, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BMW K-1600 GT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V692000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR…
ODI #11310055 · Filed February 19, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BMW K 1600 GT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V692000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR…
ODI #11286305 · Filed December 2, 2019
THIS MOTORCYCLE HAS A RECALL THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR OVER TWO MONTHS WITHOUT REPAIRS IDENTIFIED. IT IS RELATED WITH PARTS IN THE TRANSMISSION NOT BUILD TO THE RIGHT SPECIFICATIONS. POTENTIAL OUTCOME WOULD BE A LOCKED REAR WHEEL WHILE TRAVELING

Read all 5 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2018 BMW K 1600 GT in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE19-002: Steering Oscillation
Closed October 16, 2019

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Reverse Gear Control Unit May Overheat

NHTSA #26V214000 · Power Train — Manual Transmission — Seals/Gaskets · NHTSA notice

Reported April 2, 2026 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 9,160 vehicles

Completion not yet reported (dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Defect description

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2017-2025 K 1600 GT, GTL, B and 2018-2025 Grand America vehicles. The seal for the reverse gear control unit may deteriorate and allow moisture inside the control unit, which can result in the unit overheating.

Safety consequence

An overheated reverse gear control unit increases the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the reverse gear control unit, free of charge. Letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed May 28, 2026. A second letter will be mailed once the remedy is available, anticipated late October 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 25, 2026.

Transmission may Cause Rear Wheel to Lock up

NHTSA #19V692000 · Power Train — Manual Transmission · NHTSA notice

Reported October 1, 2019 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 4,672 vehicles

Repair completion: 88.08% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified March 11, 2020 · Vehicles built October 11, 2016 – September 26, 2019 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2017-2020 K 1600 GT and 2018-2020 K 1600 GTL and K 1600 B motorcycles. Certain transmission parts may not have been produced to the appropriate hardness level. This could affect the function of the transmission, possibly causing double engagement of two gears and/or the damage of transmission parts.

Safety consequence

Double gear engagement or transmission damage can cause the rear wheel to lock up, affecting the vehicle stability and increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shift forks, the selector sleeve of 5th/6th gear and the gear wheel of 6th gear, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk was mailed November 1, 2019. A second letter will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2018 BMW K 1600 GT. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

5 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2018 BMW K 1600 GT.

Power Train

ODI #11343158

2 injuries

Incident: October 1, 2019 · Filed: August 4, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BMW K-1600 GT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V692000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. WOODLANDS PREMIUM MOTORCYCLES (198 ED ENGLISH DR, SHENANDOAH, TX 77385) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF*JB

Power Train

ODI #11310055

Incident: December 11, 2019 · Filed: February 19, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BMW K 1600 GT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V692000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED BLOODWORTH MOTORCYCLE DEALER, (288 WHITE BRIDGE PIKE, NASHVILLE, TN 37209) AND WAS INFORMED PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOLS CONFORMED PART NOT AVAILABLE.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11286305

Incident: October 31, 2019 · Filed: December 2, 2019

THIS MOTORCYCLE HAS A RECALL THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE FOR OVER TWO MONTHS WITHOUT REPAIRS IDENTIFIED. IT IS RELATED WITH PARTS IN THE TRANSMISSION NOT BUILD TO THE RIGHT SPECIFICATIONS. POTENTIAL OUTCOME WOULD BE A LOCKED REAR WHEEL WHILE TRAVELING

Steering; Power Train

ODI #11278237

Incident: November 5, 2018 · Filed: November 5, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BMW K 1600 GT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR DID NOT SHIFT WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE STEERING DID NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE VEHICLE VEERED LEFT WHEN IT WAS TURNED RIGHT. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BMW MOTORCYCLES OF CONCORD (925-954-4121, LOCATED AT 1240 WILLOW PASS RD, CONCORD, CA 94520) WHERE A SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS PERFORMED ON THE GEAR SYSTEM. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING PERFORMED AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS NOT CALLED BACK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,500. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

Unknown or Other

ODI #11217292

Incident: June 1, 2019 · Filed: June 1, 2019

WHEN STARTING ENGINE FROM A STATIONARY POSITION, WHILE IN NEUTRAL, THE THROTTLE GETS STUCK REVVING AT APPROXIMATELY 2000 RPM. CANT SHIFT OUT OF NEUTRAL OR DECELERATE/ACELERATE THROTTLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS OF TURNING ON/OFF THE MAIN SWITCH,AND ROCKINING THE BIKE BACK AND FORTH THE ISSUE SOMETIME GOES AWAY ...BIKE HAS 3100 MILES ON IT

Other BMW K 1600 GT model years

Check your 2018 BMW K 1600 GT VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW K 1600 GT at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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