RecallScanner Severity Profile

BMW R 18

Routine recalls2 campaigns, none flagged critical.

RecallScore

Critical

Fire risk

Crash risk

Injuries

Deaths

Check your specific R 18

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All Recalls

2 campaigns, model years 2024

2 recalls🔥 2 fire risk

Model year

Engine

Oct 7, 2026

28 days ago

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

Affected: POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:SEALS/GASKETS · 2024

FIRE RISK

NHTSA

Summary

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.

Consequence

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

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.

Engine

Sep 26, 2024

769 days ago

Your reverse gear control unit can overheat and catch fire while you ride.

Affected: POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:SEALS/GASKETS · 2024

FIRE RISK

NHTSA

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.

Consequence

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 install an electrical relay between the battery and 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.

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Full analysis: how to read the BMW R 18 recall history

Year range, common components, complaint patterns, and how to use this page.

Understanding the BMW R 18 recall history

The BMW R 18 currently has 2 recall campaigns indexed from the NHTSA public database. Each recall represents a formal campaign to fix a defect at no cost to the current owner. Owner complaints are self-reported incidents that haven't (yet) resulted in a recall but can indicate emerging patterns worth watching.

The tracked recalls span model years 2024, with campaigns reported to NHTSA between 2024 and 2026. Not every model year carries every recall. Each campaign is scoped to a specific year range and often a specific build window, which is why a VIN lookup is the only way to know whether a particular R 18 is actually affected by any of these campaigns.

How to use this page

The safest path for an owner is to run your VIN through the checker above. A VIN query hits NHTSA's live API and tells you whether your specific R 18 has an open, unresolved recall. If you're researching a used R 18before buying, use the recall list below to understand the model's full history, then check the seller's VIN to see whether prior owners actually completed the free repairs. Many don't, and unresolved recalls can linger for years.

Figures are generated live from the RecallScanner dataset, which is sourced from NHTSA's public recall and complaint APIs and refreshed daily. RecallScanner is independent and not affiliated with BMW or any U.S. government agency.

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