BMW R18 Reverse Gear Control Unit May Overheat
critical How serious is it? About this label
An overheated control unit increases the risk of a fire. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.
Key facts
| NHTSA campaign number | 24V716000 |
|---|---|
| Reported to NHTSA | Sep 27, 2024 |
| Manufacturer | BMW of North America, LLC |
| Part affected | Power Train:manual Transmission:seals/gaskets |
| Vehicles covered | 2 model/year combinations, model years 2021–2022 |
| Do-not-drive advisory | No |
| Park-outside advisory | No |
| Repair | Free at any franchised dealer |
What's wrong, in plain English
On some BMW R18 motorcycles, the seal on the reverse gear control unit may deteriorate over time, allowing moisture to get inside the unit. Once moisture gets inside, it can cause the control unit to overheat. This overheating is the safety problem this recall is meant to fix.
What you should do
2. Contact a BMW dealer, or call BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417, to schedule service.
3. As an interim step, the dealer will first disconnect the control unit from the motorcycle's electrical system at no cost, and will later replace the unit; both steps are free.
Where do I find my VIN, and what do I tell the dealer?
Your VIN is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield, on your registration and usually on your insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether this recall is still open on your car. When you call the dealer, say you have an open safety recall and give them NHTSA campaign number 24V716000. More in how recalls work.
Affected vehicles (2)
Who to contact
BMW — official BMW recall lookup
Customer service: 1-800-525-7417
The bigger picture
- BMW Power Train Recalls Involve Transmission and Motorcycle Drive Failures · all 13 BMW recalls in this area
Other BMW R 18 recalls
- Oct 7, 2026BMW R 18 Reverse Gear Unit May Overheatcritical
Official notice
- Component
- POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:SEALS/GASKETS
- Summary
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2021-2024 BMW R18 motorcycles. The seal for the reverse gear control unit may deteriorate and allow moisture inside the control unit, which can result in the unit overheating.
- Safety risk
- An overheated reverse gear control unit increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- As an interim remedy, the reverse gear control unit will be disconnected from the electrical system of the motorcycle, free of charge. Dealers will replace the reverse gear control unit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 7, 2025 Owners may contact BMW Customer Service at 1-800-525-7417.
Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.