BMW of North America, LLC: Power Train › Manual Transmission › Seals/Gaskets
BMW of North America, LLC reported this defect to federal regulators on Oct 7, 2026 and put the number of vehicles at risk at 4,630. The repair is free for as long as the recall stands.
The defect
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021-2024 R 18 motorcycles equipped with the optional reverse gear. 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. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 27, 2026. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Motorcycles in this recall were previously recalled under 24V716. Motorcycles previously repaired under the prior recall will need the new repair completed.
4 model years covered
Newest first| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 BMW R 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 BMW R 18 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 BMW R 18 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 BMW R 18 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What this page is, and what to do next
A recall is not an opinion. It is a Part 573 report a manufacturer is required by federal law to file once it decides a defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety, and it commits them to repairing the vehicle at no cost to the owner. The three passages above are the manufacturer’s own wording as published by NHTSA.
This page describes the campaign. It cannot tell you whether one particular car has already been through the shop — that is tracked by VIN, and only the manufacturer knows it. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a franchised dealer, quoting campaign number 26V658000.
Full record for the 2024 BMW R 18 → · Recalls carrying a do-not-drive advisory → · Where this data comes from →