2018 BMW K 1600 GTL Recalls & Complaints

Incident: April 29, 2026 · Filed: June 4, 2026

At the end of April, 2026, I was using the 'Reverse Gear' function to assist with parking the motorcycle. I needed to move back about 15 feet into the parking spot. As I was moving backward, at approximately 3 to 5 feet, the reverse function suddenly stopped propelling the motorcycle backward causing me to loose balance. I tipped and had to lay the bike down to prevent injury. The lay down caused minor scratching and indentations to the motorcycle. At the time I thought I smelled a burning electronics smell - but can't be certain. Since this incident occurred, the Reverse Gear has not been operational at all. I have contacted my local dealer to facilitate the 26V-214 recall repair.

Incident: May 13, 2022 · Filed: May 13, 2022

The contact owns a 2018 BMW K1600 GTL motorcycle. The contact stated that while riding at an undisclosed speed, the motorcycle inadvertently shifted into limp mode. The motorcycle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with throttle body failure. The dealer informed the contact that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The motorcycle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.

Incident: October 25, 2021 · Filed: October 28, 2021

The contact owns a 2018 BMW K 1600 GTL Motorcycle. The contact stated fuel was leaking from intake. There was an abnormal odor of fuel detected. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted who referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000. The contact stated the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V060000 (Fuel System, Gasoline).

Incident: June 20, 2020 · Filed: April 28, 2021

WHILE RIDING THIS MOTORCYCLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (60+MPH) NEAR SEMI TRUCK TRAFFIC. THE AIR FLOW COMING OFF OF THE TRUCK WOULD IMPACT THE MOTORCYCLE, THE BIKE WOULD WOBBLE SIGNIFICANTLY MAKING IT VERY HARD TO CONTROL AND ON THE CUSP OF LOSING CONTROL. THE SAME WOULD HAPPEN WHEN THERE WERE CROSS WINDS OF 30+MPH. IN BOTH OF THESE CONDITIONS THE BIKE BECAME DANGEROUS TO RIDE. THIS WOBBLE HAPPENED EACH TIME I WAS NEAR A TRUCK ON A HIGHWAY AND IN SIGNIFICANT CROSS WINDS.

Incident: September 1, 2019 · Filed: September 22, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BMW K-1600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ENGINE FAULT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE MOTORCYCLE IMMEDIATELY STALLED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE MOTORCYCLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, RESTARTED THE MOTORCYCLE WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENCE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO BIG SKY MOTORSPORTS (2315 SOUTH AVE W, MISSOULA, MT 59801) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE NEEDED A SOFTWARE UPDATE. THE SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS PERFORMED AND RETURNED TO THE CONTACT. RECENTLY, WHILE DRIVING 72 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE ENGINE FAULT LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED AGAIN. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO ABLE TO RESTART THE MOTORCYCLE SOON AFTER FAILURE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE SAME DEALER AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE MOTORCYCLE TO BE INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT HE WOULD RECEIVE A CALLBACK FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE FAILURE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,500.

Incident: October 1, 2019 · Filed: August 26, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BMW K 1600 GTL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED ENGINE PROBLEM WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK ON THE SIDE OF ROAD AND AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. THE CONTACT STATED HE HAD EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS INDETERMINATELY AND FELT UNSAFE TO DRIVE TO THE DEALER. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL (DEALER MOTORCYCLES OF CHARLOTTE LOCATED AT 731 WESTINGHOUSE BLVD, CHARLOTTE, NC 28273, (704) 882-6106) BUT WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,755. *BF *AS

Incident: October 9, 2019 · Filed: February 26, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BMW K1600 GTL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF 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. BMW MOTORCYCLES FORT LAUDERDALE (4201 PETERS ROAD, PLANTATION, FL 33317) WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REMEDY PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE MOTORCYCLE WAS SAFE TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Incident: January 23, 2020 · Filed: January 23, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A BMW K1600. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V-692000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE VIN TOOL CONFIRMED THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.

Incident: July 1, 2018 · Filed: September 5, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BMW K 1600 GTL. WHILE RIDING AT APPROXIMATELY 50-60 MPH, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED TO VIBRATE ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WOBBLING IN THE STEERING AND SUSPENSION WAS MORE NOTICEABLE WHILE RIDING BEHIND A HIGH PROFILE VEHICLE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO GRAND JUNCTION BMW (LOCATED AT 2747 CROSSROADS BLVD, GRAND JUNCTION, CO 81506, (970) 245-0812) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT IT WAS UNSAFE TO OPERATE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 2018 BMW GRAND AMERICA THAT EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER AUTHORIZED THE GRAND AMERICA BE REPLACED WITH THE CURRENT VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2.

Incident: April 6, 2019 · Filed: April 17, 2019

THIS IS A NEW, 2018 MOTORCYCLE PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER ON 4/6/2019 WITH 6 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AFTER A SHORT TEST RIDE THROUGH SEVERAL SHORT BACK-ROADS AROUND THE DEALERSHIP I DECIDED TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. UPON LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP AND HEADING HOME ON THE INTERSTATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE ISSUE REVEALED ITSELF. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS A DANGEROUSLY AGGRESSIVE LEFT PULL. CONSTANT PULLING OF THE LEFT BAR AND/OR PUSHING OF THE RIGHT BAR IS REQUIRED FOR THE VEHICLE TO TRACK PROPERLY. EASING OFF OF THE PRESSURE WILL RESULT IN THE MOTORCYCLE INITIALLY LEANING AND TURNING LEFT. IF NOT CORRECTED BY REAPPLYING THE PULLING/PUSHING OF THE HANDLEBARS THE BIKE WILL AGGRESSIVELY PULL LEFT ACROSS LANES OR INTO ONCOMING LANES. I NOTIFIED THE SALES PERSON OF THE ISSUE AND WAS ADVISED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN THE FOLLOWING FRIDAY (4/12/19) TO BE CHECKED. UPON ARRIVAL THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED HE DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND SCHEDULED ANOTHER DATE (4/17/19) TO BRING THE BIKE IN. UPON INSPECTION AND A TEST RIDE THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT HE COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE BUT HE SAID THE WIND WAS BLOWING STRONGLY AT THE TIME OF HIS RIDE. HIS SOLUTION WAS TO ADJUST THE FRONT TIRE AIR PRESSURE AND SEND ME ON MY WAY. THIS PULLING IS DANGEROUS NOT TO MENTION EXTREMELY FATIGUING BY CONSTANTLY HAVING TO CORRECT THE TRACKING OF THE BIKE. BECAUSE OF THE CONSTANT EFFORT INVOLVED TO CORRECT THE TRACKING OF THE BIKE I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE MORE THAN A FEW MILES AT A TIME. I HAVE TRIED RIDING IN DIFFERENT LANES AND IN DIFFERENT POSITIONS IN THOSE LANES ALL WITH THE SAME RESULTS SO THE CROWN/GRADE OF THE ROAD IS NOT CAUSING THE ISSUE.