Do you own a 2017 through 2025 BMW K 1600 GT, K1600 GTL, K1600 B, or K1600 Grand America? If that's you, then you'll want to know about BMW of North America's latest safety recall. Certain units produced between November 28, 2016 and January 23, 2025 were fitted with a reverse gear control unit that may have a sealing issue that could result in a potential thermal event, or even a fire.

Approximately 9,160 different K1600s across all model years and variants described here may be involved, which represents around 1 percent of the population according to BMW of North America's records. However, it's worth noting that the first instance of this issue that appears in BMW's chronology of events occurred in a non-US-market K1600.

Since that's the case, even though the specific recall that I'm talking about here is for the US market, we'd suggest that you check with the local recall authority in your geographic area if you own a K1600 within the model years listed above, as there may be a similar recall in your region.

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The issue relates to a seal on this unit that could deteriorate over time and allow humidity to enter the unit, particularly in tropical geographic areas that are hot and humid for large portions of the year. This, in turn, could lead the electrical contacts inside the reverse gear control unit to corrode. In some cases, this could lead to what BMW describes as a thermal event, or possibly even a fire.

As for warning signs that the rider might notice, the main one is that the reverse gear unit is suddenly not functioning. On BMW's K1600 line, the reverse gear was an available option through the 2020 model year, and became standard on the entire lineup from 2021 forward. 

BMW of North America notified its dealer network about this recall on April 2, 2026. It plans to send owner notification letters via postal mail on or about May 25, 2026. Incidentally, VIN numbers will also be searchable in the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration database on May 25, 2026.

The recall service will involve replacement of the reverse gear control unit. Owners who paid to have this service performed prior to the issuance of this recall may be eligible for reimbursement, provided they have evidence (such as service receipts) to back their claims.

Owners may contact BMW of North America's customer service hotline at 1-800-525-7417. Additionally, owners may contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-888-275-9171) or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

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- The RideApart Team