The seal in your manual transmission's reverse gear control unit is like a gasket that keeps moisture out. In some 2017-2025 K 1600 GT and 2018-2025 Grand America models, this seal can break down, allowing water inside the control unit.
Risk if Unfixed
If the control unit overheats, it could catch fire, which could cause serious damage to your vehicle.
Free Fix
Your BMW dealer will replace the reverse gear control unit with a new one, at no cost to you. You'll receive two letters: one warning of the issue and a second when the repair is ready, so schedule it as soon as you get the notice.
Show original NHTSA language
Original — What Happened
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.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
An overheated reverse gear control unit increases the risk of a fire.
Original — 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.
The transmission gear components in your motorcycle are designed to slide smoothly into place. In some 2017-2020 K 1600 GT and 2018-2020 K 1600 GTL and K 1600 B models, these parts might not be strong enough, which can cause them to stick or break.
Risk if Unfixed
If the gears get stuck or break, your rear wheel could lock up, making it hard to control your bike. This increases the risk of a crash.
Free Fix
Your BMW dealer will replace the affected transmission parts with new, stronger ones – at no cost to you. You'll get a notification when the repair is available, and you can schedule it with the dealer.
Show original NHTSA language
Original — What Happened
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.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
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.
Original — 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.
The link strut in your motorcycle's rear suspension is the part that connects the suspension to the frame. It helps keep your bike stable and in control. In some 2019-2020 K1600 GT, GTL, and B models, this strut might not be strong enough.
Risk if Unfixed
If the strut gets damaged, the rear of your motorcycle could hit the rear wheel, making it harder to control your bike. This could lead to a loss of stability and increase the risk of a crash.
Free Fix
Your BMW dealer will replace the link strut with a stronger one, at no cost to you. You should schedule the repair as soon as you get the recall notice.
Show original NHTSA language
Original — What Happened
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2019-2020 K1600 GT, K1600 GTL, and K1600 B motorcycles. The link strut connecting the rear suspension to the frame may have insufficient strength, which can cause the link strut to become damaged.
Original — Risk if Unfixed
A damaged link strut can cause the rear of the motorcycle to contact the rear wheel, affecting riding stability and control, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Original — Remedy
Dealers will replace the rear link strut, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters to inform owners of the safety risk were mailed on March 11, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed June 21, 2022. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
