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BMW K 1600 GTLModel year report

2018 BMW K 1600 GTL Problems

Complaints
16filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
2,500miles, 13 complaints with mileage
Recalls
2campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2018 BMW K 1600 GTL (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 2018 BMW K 1600 GTL. The part named most often is steering, with 5 complaints (31% of the total), followed by other or unknown (4) and transmission and drivetrain (3). 13 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 2,500 miles. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns and 21 technical service bulletins for this model year.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Steering: “I owned a 2012 model of this bike few years back and I had the same symptoms only apparent in this model of Bmw brand bikes. This problem well known in the Bmw riders community as pulling tothe left issue only on k1600gtl model bikes since years. Some pulls extremely aggressive in nature and some milder. Bmw ignores it yet all service centers around the country are aware of the issue. At least half of the bikes of this models on the roads are effected. Bike requires constant pressure applied to the right in order to track a straight line on a straight away road. …”

NHTSA complaint #11082379, filed 2018-04, 100 miles

Other or unknown: “Vehicle unstable at highway speed. Reported to manufacturer,. Dealer made attempts to fix by balancing wheels that did not help. Then replaced tires and that also did not help. This is a safety concern and not getting proper response from Bmw to rectify the problem. Attached invoice for work done.”

NHTSA complaint #11113682, filed 2018-07, 700 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “At the end of April, 2026, I was using the 'Reverse Gear' function to assist with parking the motorcycle. I needed to move back about 15 feet into the parking spot. As I was moving backward, at approximately 3 to 5 feet, the reverse function suddenly stopped propelling the motorcycle backward causing me to loose balance. I tipped and had to lay the bike down to prevent injury. The lay down caused minor scratching and indentations to the motorcycle. At the time I thought I smelled a burning electronics smell - but can't be certain. …”

NHTSA complaint #11742011, filed 2026-06

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 13 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 100 and 8,000 miles.

85%0–108%10–258%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (13 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 2,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

2018620192020202120222026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2018 BMW K 1600 GTL → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 21 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 21 bulletins →

Other model years of the BMW K 1600 GTL

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2018162,5002———Falling
201477,4841———Not enough data
201377,0251———Not enough data
2012334,5004——Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling

All BMW K 1600 GTL model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2018 BMW K 1600 GTL have?

NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 2018 BMW K 1600 GTL as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2018 BMW K 1600 GTL is reported most often?

Steering is named most often, in 5 complaints (31% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 4.

Has the 2018 BMW K 1600 GTL been recalled?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2018 BMW K 1600 GTL reported?

Among the 13 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 2,500 miles and the middle half falls between 100 and 8,000 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.