2018 BMW K1600b

Routine

Owners filed 44 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train. It has been recalled 2 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

25 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 010,000 miles; the median is 4,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train18
000
Steering8
000
Unknown or Other4
000
Suspension3
000
Electrical System3
000
Fuel System, Gasoline2
000
Engine2
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Structure › Body1
000
Fuel/Propulsion System1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Power Train › Manual Transmission › Seals/Gaskets26V214000
Filed Apr 2, 20269,160 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

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.

Risk. An overheated reverse gear control unit increases the risk of a fire.

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.

Power Train › Manual Transmission19V692000
Filed Oct 1, 20194,672 vehiclesBmw Of North America, Llc

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 12, 2026FL

I own a 2018 BMW K1600B motorcycle. At highway speeds above approximately 65 mph, the rear of the motorcycle feels unstable and moves side to side, creating an unsafe riding condition. The motorcycle does not feel planted on the road and requires constant rider correction to maintain a straight path. I have verified tire pressures are correct and have tested different suspension settings, rider and luggage preload settings, windshield positions, and riding modes including Dynamic mode. The condition remains present regardless of these adjustments. The instability becomes more noticeable at higher highway speeds and creates a feeling that the rear of the motorcycle is moving away from the rider. This affects rider confidence and appears to be a potential safety issue because it can make the motorcycle difficult to control. I am submitting this complaint because the condition appears abnormal and may be related to known stability concerns reported by other owners of similar BMW K1600 motorcycles.

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Apr 30, 202616,000 milesWI

He contact owns a 2018 BMW K 1600 B. The contact stated while having his vehicle running on the driveway, he noticed a pool of gas accumulating. The contact turned the vehicle off had the vehicle towed to a local dealer where a fuel leakage from the fuel pump. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 16,000.

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Feb 4, 20268,600 milesFL

The contact owns a 2018 BMW K-1600 B Motorcycle. The contact stated that the fuel pump was leaking. The motorcycle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the failure was related to the fuel pump. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V060000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The local dealer was contacted, who confirmed there was no open recall associated with the VIN. The motorcycle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 8,600.

Unknown or Other
Filed Nov 30, 2025FL

2018 BMW K1600** To whom it may concern My name is [XXX] and I am filing a safety complaint regarding my 2018 BMW K1600 motorcycle VIN [XXX] . My motorcycle has a serious and dangerous stability problem that happens at normal highway speeds. While riding at about sixty miles per hour and higher the motorcycle begins to wobble and feel unstable. The front end becomes light and the handlebars feel like they want to move on their own. The back of the motorcycle moves from side to side as if the rear is shifting under me. At times it feels like the bike is sliding or going out from underneath me even though the road is straight and smooth. This is a very unsafe feeling and it can happen at any time on the highway. This instability becomes worse when passing large trucks or riding in crosswind. The movement is not caused by rider input. The bike has correct tire pressure and has no suspension or frame modifications. This issue appears linked to the design or mechanical components of the motorcycle. The wobble is strong enough that it feels like a loss of control could happen without warning. This puts the rider at risk of a serious accident or injury. I am aware that similar complaints have been reported by many other BMW K1600 owners in these model years and that NHTSA has previously reviewed this issue. I respectfully request that NHTSA reopen and fully investigate this wobble and stability problem for the 2018 BMW K1600 motorcycle line and determine whether a recall or correcti

Unknown or Other
Filed Nov 14, 2024WI

When I drive my motorcycle on the highway with 70 mph +/- 5 miles, the bike is unstable, the steering bar is shaking, and it is hard to keep the bike in the lane. I complained to the dealer, they balanced the wheel, tested the bike, but the problem has not been solved.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Sep 21, 2021TX

The motorcycle (BMW K1600 Grand America) goes into "Limp Mode" with the engine warning light where the motorcycle has no power until stopped, shutdown, and restarted. This happened to my motorcycle 4 times. Each time the BMW service cannot find any indication stored in the onboard computer. Also, there have been many reported issues of this in the BMW motorcycle forums. This issue is extremely dangerous because the last time this issue occurred, I was on a highway traveling at 70MPH in the left lane and suddenly lost power. Another time this occurred was during rush hour traffic. Both occurrences are very troubling.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 13, 20217,500 milesIL

THE MOTORCYCLE WILL RANDOMLY GO INTO WHAT BMW CALLS "LIMP MODE" AND THE OPERATOR WILL LOSE ALL THROTTLE CONTROL. POTENTIALLY FATAL IF IT HAPPENS IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE HEAVY TRAFFIC ON AN INTERSTATE, AT NIGHT WITH NOWHERE TO PULL OVER LIKE IT DID WITH ME. THIS HA HAPPENED TWICE SO FAR WITH NO FIX IN SIGHT

Electrical System
Filed Nov 24, 2020NM

THE BIKE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER NOW MORE TIMES THAN I CAN COUNT, THE SPEEDO IS STILL OFF TO THIS DAY BY 4 MILES AN HOUR, THE BIKE A PULL TO THE LEFT THAT HAS NEVER BEEN FIXED YET. ON OCCASION THE BIKE WILL GET A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND JUST LOOSE ALL POWER AND THROTTLE RESPONSE. WHY IN TRAFFIC. AND NOW EVER SINCE THE POWER TRAIN RECALL AND REPLACEMENT, THE BIKE HAS AN UNREPAIRABLE OIL LEAK. IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER NOW FOR OVER 3 MONTHS ALMOST 4 MONTHS, AUGUST 6TH TILL PRESENT.

Power Train
Filed May 2, 2020MI

NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 19V692 HAS BEEN OPEN SINCE 10/1/19. MANUFACTURER HAS FAILED TO REMEDY THE ISSUE.

Suspension
Filed Apr 22, 202075,000 milesNC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BMW K 1600B. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE BECAME UNSTABLE WHILE DRIVING BEHIND A SEMI TRUCK OR WHEN WIND TURBULENCE WAS PRESENT. THE MOTORCYCLE OPERATED AS INTENDED AFTER THE SPEED WAS REDUCED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOCAL DEALER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,500. *BF*JB

Unknown or Other
Filed Apr 4, 2020100 milesNY

SIDE TO SIDE OSCILLATION WHEN RIDING THE BIKE, WORSENED BY INCREASING SPEED AND ESPECIALLY WHEN TRAVELING BEHIND OR NEXT TO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE LARGER THE VEHICLE THE WORSE THE MOVEMENT. THIS OSCILLATION CAN OCCUR TO THE EXTENT THAT IT CAUSES THE BIKE TO MOVE FROM THE 8NTENDED LINE OF TRAVEL.

Power Train
Filed Mar 26, 2020AR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BMW K1600B. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V692000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT REACHED OUT TO INDIAN AND BMW MOTORCYCLES OF TULSA LOCATED AT (1200 W SW EXPY DR, BROKEN ARROW, OK 74012), WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Power Train
Filed Mar 3, 20204,990 milesMN

SEE ATTACHED PDF, ALTHOUGH I DID RETURN THE MOTOR CYCLE TO THE DEALER COMPLAINING ABOUT INSTABILITY WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEED ESPECIALLY IN TURBULENT AIR, SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE IN THIRTY YEARS OF RIDING, THAT ISSUE IS STILL PENDING, BUT FOR NOW THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT COMMUNICATING ANY INTENTIONS RELATED TO THEIR RECALL, VERY FRUSTRATED !!!

Power Train
Filed Mar 2, 202015,000 milesCT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BMW K1600B. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE MOTORCYCLE, THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED WHILE IN NEUTRAL. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER MAX BMW (1535 JOHN FITCH BLVD, SOUTH WINDSOR CT.) WHO REPLACED THE NEUTRAL POSITION SENSOR HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V692000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE LOCAL DEALER THAT THE FAILURES WERE RELATED TO THE RECALL. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

Power Train
Filed Feb 28, 2020FL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BMW K-1600B. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUBER: 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. THE CONTACT CALLED EURO CYCLES OF DAYTONA DEALER, (118 E FAIRVIEW AVE, DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32114) AND WAS INFORMED PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Power Train
Filed Feb 17, 2020CA

BMW ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE TRANSMISSION ON MY K 1600 B MOTORCYCLE ON OCTOBER 17, 2019. AS OF TODAY (FOUR MONTHS LATER) THE COMPANY HAS YET TO DEVELOP A FIX OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.

Power Train
Filed Feb 12, 20205,000 milesCO

FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS OF BMW RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. 19V-692: TRANSMISSION THAT WAS MAILED TO ME, I CALLED BMW MOTORCYCLE ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE AND THE MOTORCYCLE WAS PICKED UP AT MY HOME AND TAKEN TO DEALER PIKES PEAK MOTORSPORTS. THAT WAS NOVEMBER 14, 2019. IT HAS NOW BEEN OVER 90 DAYS. STATUS IS STILL "REMEDY UNAVAILABLE". THE MOTORCYCLE IS STILL AT THEIR DEALER. I HAVE CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE (MARK, 800-831-1117, EXT 5811) BY E-MAIL AND PHONE. NO ACTION. I BOUGHT THE MOTORCYCLE ON MAY 18, 2019. IT IS ONLY 9 MONTHS OLD AND OVER 3 OF THOSE MONTHS IT HAS BEEN RECALLED AT THE DEALER DUE TO THE NOTICE OF "INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH". THE MOTORCYCLE IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE AND UNUSABLE. PLEASE HELP ME UNWIND THIS TRANSACTION. BMW NEEDS TO TAKE THEIR UNSAFE MOTORCYCLE THAT THEY CANNOT FIX BACK, AND GIVE ME BACK MY MONEY. THANK YOU

Power Train
Filed Feb 4, 2020AZ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BMW K 1600B. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V692000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. (AZ MOTORCYCLES IN PEORIA 16844 NORTH ARROWHEAD FOUNTAIN CENTER DRIVE, PEORIA, AZ 85382) WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Power Train
Filed Feb 3, 2020FL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BMW K1600 B. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V692000 (POWER TRAIN). THE CONTACT STATED THAT POWER BMW MOTORCYCLES OF PALM BAY (LOCATED AT 190 INTERSTATE CT SE, PALM BAY, FL 32909) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Power Train
Filed Jan 29, 2020SC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BMW K16000B. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V692000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PARTS FOR THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. (TOURING SPORTS LOCATED AT 1431 LAURENS RD, GREENVALE SC) WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

20 of 44 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2018
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20251100Routine
20241200Routine
20232100Routine
20223100Routine
20210100Routine
20201300Routine
20197300Routine
2018 — this page44200Routine
20170100Routine

Compare every K1600b year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Apr 2, 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.