The defect
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.
The risk
An overheated reverse gear control unit increases the risk of a fire.
The 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. 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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| BMW K 1600 B | 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 |
| BMW K 1600 Grand America | 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 |
| BMW K 1600 GT | 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 |
| BMW K 1600 GTL | 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 |
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 K 1600 B | 2017 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW K 1600 B | 2018 | 7 | 1 |
| BMW K 1600 B | 2019 | 4 | 2 |
| BMW K 1600 B | 2020 | 1 | 2 |
| BMW K 1600 B | 2021 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW K 1600 B | 2022 | 3 | 1 |
| BMW K 1600 B | 2023 | 2 | 1 |
| BMW K 1600 B | 2024 | 1 | 2 |
| BMW K 1600 B | 2025 | 1 | 1 |
| BMW K 1600 GT | 2017 | 0 | 2 |
| BMW K 1600 GT | 2018 | 5 | 2 |
| BMW K 1600 GT | 2019 | 2 | 3 |
| BMW K 1600 GT | 2020 | 0 | 3 |
| BMW K 1600 GT | 2021 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW K 1600 GT | 2022 | 1 | 1 |
| BMW K 1600 GT | 2023 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW K 1600 GT | 2024 | 0 | 2 |
| BMW K 1600 GT | 2025 | 0 | 2 |
| BMW K 1600 GTL | 2017 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW K 1600 GTL | 2018 | 16 | 2 |
| BMW K 1600 GTL | 2019 | 3 | 3 |
| BMW K 1600 GTL | 2020 | 0 | 3 |
| BMW K 1600 Grand America | 2018 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW K 1600 Grand America | 2019 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW K 1600 Grand America | 2020 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW K 1600 Grand America | 2021 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW K 1600 Grand America | 2022 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW K 1600 Grand America | 2023 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW K 1600 Grand America | 2024 | 0 | 1 |
| BMW K 1600 Grand America | 2025 | 0 | 1 |
Other power train recalls in 2026
30 of the 666 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2026 concerned the power train; BMW of North America, LLC filed 347 campaigns in all.
| 26V658000 7 Oct 2026 | BMW of North America, LLC |
| 26V607000 23 Sept 2026 | Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC |
| 26V576000 9 Sept 2026 | Ford Motor Company |
| 26V525000 12 Aug 2026 | BMW of North America, LLC |
| 26V454000 15 Jul 2026 | E-One Incorporated |
| 26V437000 8 Jul 2026 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing |
| 26V417000 30 Jun 2026 | Ford Motor Company |
| 26V413000 30 Jun 2026 | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2026