The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021-2024 BMW R18 motorcycles. The seal for the reverse gear control unit may deteriorate and allow moisture inside the control unit, which can result in the unit overheating.
The risk
An overheated reverse gear control unit increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy
As an interim remedy, the reverse gear control unit will be disconnected from the electrical system of the motorcycle, free of charge. Dealers will install an electrical relay between the battery and the reverse gear control unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 7, 2025 Owners may contact BMW Customer Service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| BMW R 18 | 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 |
Components: POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:SEALS/GASKETS
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| BMW R 18 | 2021 | 1 | 2 |
| BMW R 18 | 2022 | 9 | 2 |
| BMW R 18 | 2023 | 0 | 2 |
| BMW R 18 | 2024 | 0 | 2 |
Other power train recalls in 2024
41 of the 950 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2024 concerned the power train; BMW of North America, LLC filed 347 campaigns in all.
| 24V941000 18 Dec 2024 | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC |
| 24V903000 2 Dec 2024 | PACCAR Incorporated |
| 24V862000 15 Nov 2024 | Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC |
| 24V853000 8 Nov 2024 | Diamond C Trailer MFG |
| 24V839000 7 Nov 2024 | General Motors, LLC |
| 24V830000 4 Nov 2024 | International Motors, LLC |
| 24V825000 1 Nov 2024 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| 24V815000 31 Oct 2024 | Mazda North American Operations |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2024