Home › Guides › BMW › Power Train
BMW Power Train Recalls Involve Transmission and Motorcycle Drive Failures
BMW motorcycle defects recur prominently, especially reverse gear control units and drivetrain components. The September 2024 and October 2026 R 18 notices cover certain 2021-2024 motorcycles, with the latter specifying optional reverse gear. Both describe seal deterioration, moisture entry, and overheating. The April 2026 notice identifies that same defect in certain 2017-2025 K 1600 GT, GTL, B and 2018-2025 Grand America motorcycles. Separate K 1600 and R1250 notices concern transmission damage or blocked rear wheels. Passenger-vehicle notices include transmission wiring damage in 2019-2020 M5 and 2020 M8 vehicles, internal transmission leakage in certain 2022 models, and transmission control unit oil leakage in certain 2023 vehicles.
Warning signs to watch for
- 2019-10-01 BMW K 1600 Motorcycles Face Transmission Gear Risk — the rear wheel may lock up.
- 2019-12-11 BMW M5 And M8 Transmission Wiring May Short — the transmission may shift to neutral, causing loss of propulsion.
- 2020-08-07 BMW X5, X7 Starter Bolt May Cause Stall — the engine may stall.
- 2022-02-09 BMW X3, X4 Transmission Leak May Cause Rollaway — the vehicle may roll away.
- 2023-12-06 BMW, Toyota Supra Transmission Control Units May Leak Oil — transmission seizure may cause sudden loss of drive power.
Can you keep driving? What the notices say
None of the supplied BMW power train notices tells owners to stop driving or park outside. This includes the clutch cover, R 18 reverse gear, K 1600 reverse gear, and K 1600 transmission notices. The M5/M8 wiring, R1250 pivot pin, X5/X7 starter bolt, and 2022 mechatronics notices do not tell owners to stop driving. Neither do the R1250 gearbox shaft, 2023 transmission control unit, or R 1300 RT cardan shaft notices. Both supplied R 18 reverse gear notices carry no stop-driving instruction.
What the free repair involves
Specified free remedies include clutch cover bolt replacement, reverse gear control unit replacement, and K 1600 transmission component replacement. The 2024 R 18 notice also specifies free interim electrical disconnection. R1250 gearbox shaft repairs use free engine control software updates. Other free remedies include M5/M8 harness repairs, R1250 pivot pin replacement, and R 1300 RT cardan shaft replacement.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| critical | 4 |
| high | 9 |
Models affected most
Where owners report power train problems most
NHTSA owner complaints filed under power train for the BMW models and years in this guide. Complaints are unverified reports and are not limited to the recalled defects.
| Vehicle | Power train complaints |
|---|---|
| 2018 BMW K1600B | 20 |
| 2020 BMW X5 | 17 |
| 2020 BMW X7 | 14 |
| 2023 BMW X5 | 9 |
| 2022 BMW X3 | 7 |
| 2019 BMW K 1600 GTL | 3 |
| 2018 BMW K 1600 GTL | 3 |
| 2018 BMW K 1600 GT | 3 |
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 7, 2026 | BMW R 18 Reverse Gear Unit May Overheat | critical |
| Aug 12, 2026 | BMW M550i Driveshaft Connection May Fail | high |
| Apr 2, 2026 | BMW K 1600 Motorcycles Reverse Gear Overheating Risk | critical |
| Oct 8, 2025 | BMW R 1300 RT Motorcycles May Lose Drive Power | high |
| Sep 27, 2024 | BMW R18 Reverse Gear Control Unit May Overheat | critical |
| Dec 6, 2023 | BMW, Toyota Supra Transmission Control Units May Leak Oil | high |
| Jan 18, 2023 | BMW Motorcycle Gearbox Shaft May Break | high |
| Oct 7, 2022 | BMW Motorcycle Clutch Cover Bolts May Loosen | critical |
| Feb 9, 2022 | BMW X3, X4 Transmission Leak May Cause Rollaway | high |
| Aug 7, 2020 | BMW X5, X7 Starter Bolt May Cause Stall | high |
| Mar 19, 2020 | BMW R1250GS/RT Final Drive Pivot Pin May Loosen | high |
| Dec 11, 2019 | BMW M5 And M8 Transmission Wiring May Short | high |
| Oct 1, 2019 | BMW K 1600 Motorcycles Face Transmission Gear Risk | high |
Common questions
Which BMW reverse gear recalls describe overheating?
The September 2024 and October 2026 R 18 notices describe moisture entering through a deteriorating control unit seal. The April 2026 K 1600 and Grand America notice describes the same mechanism. Each identifies overheating and increased fire risk.
Which motorcycle gearbox recall uses a software update?
The January 2023 notice covers certain 2019-2023 R1250GS, R1250GS Adventure, and R1250RTP motorcycles. It describes possible gearbox input shaft damage or breakage under certain operating and riding conditions. Dealers update the engine control unit software free of charge.
What repairs address the M5 and M8 transmission wiring issue?
For certain 2019-2020 M5 and 2020 M8 vehicles, the December 2019 notice specifies replacement of damaged transmission harnesses. Dealers also reroute and secure the harnesses. The notice says these repairs are free and identifies possible loss of propulsion.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.