2018 BMW K 1600 Gtl Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 2018 BMW K 1600 Gtl, and owners have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 2018 BMW K 1600 Gtl
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Seals/gaskets (power train)
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.
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…
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Manual transmission (power train)
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…
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…
16 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2018 BMW K 1600 Gtl have filed 16 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 6,719 miles. Complaints peaked in 2018 with 6 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 approx”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 4, 2026 · Electrical system
“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 dea”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 13, 2022 · Vehicle speed control
Compare BMW K 1600 Gtl model years
Recall and complaint counts for every BMW K 1600 Gtl model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 BMW K 1600 Gtl | 1 | 0 |
| 2012 BMW K 1600 Gtl | 4 | 33 |
| 2013 BMW K 1600 Gtl | 1 | 7 |
| 2014 BMW K 1600 Gtl | 1 | 7 |
| 2015 BMW K 1600 Gtl | 0 | 1 |
| 2016 BMW K 1600 Gtl | 0 | 3 |
| 2017 BMW K 1600 Gtl | 1 | 0 |
| 2018 BMW K 1600 Gtl | 2 | 16 |
| 2019 BMW K 1600 Gtl | 3 | 3 |
| 2020 BMW K 1600 Gtl | 3 | 0 |
| 2021 BMW K 1600 Gtl | 1 | 1 |
| 2022 BMW K 1600 Gtl | 1 | 1 |
| 2023 BMW K 1600 Gtl | 1 | 0 |
| 2024 BMW K 1600 Gtl | 2 | 0 |
| 2025 BMW K 1600 Gtl | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2018 BMW K 1600 Gtl
How do I know if my 2018 BMW K 1600 Gtl has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2018 BMW K 1600 Gtl; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised BMW dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 19V692000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other BMW models
- X53,154 complaints
- 328I2,578 complaints
- X32,004 complaints
- 325I1,386 complaints
- Z41,281 complaints
- 3 Series843 complaints
- 528I835 complaints
- 330I815 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.