2018 Bmw K1600B: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
37 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
2,450 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2018 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 20 of 37 complaints (54.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 5.4% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 5.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 2.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 20 |
| Steering | 10 |
| Suspension | 6 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
Power Train: 20; Steering: 10; Suspension: 6; Unknown Or Other: 5; Electrical System: 4; Engine: 4; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 20 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 20; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (20). 15 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 14 |
| 2020 | 17 |
2018: 6; 2019: 14; 2020: 17
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11098821 · 2018-05-30 (May 30, 2018)
PURCHASED THIS NEW BIKE AND WITHIN 600 MILES IT DEVELOPED A FRONT END WOBBLE. THIS IS THE 3RD WEEK IN THE SHOP AND BMW CORPORATE STATES THE ISSUE IS INHERENT TO THE BIKE. BMW CALLED TODAY AND SAID THEY ARE REVIEWING AND MAY GET BACK IN A WEEK.
Owner-reported narrative. 300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11098821 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11111044 · 2018-07-12 (July 12, 2018)
ON (FIRST EVER) RIDE HOME IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASE I DROVE ALL HIGHWAY AND WAS HORRIFIED WITH A "DEATH" WOBBLE, ESPECIALLY IN "DIRTY AIR". BIKE ALSO PULLS TO LEFT, ESPECIALLY OVER 40MPH. TOOK BACK TO DEALER AND MANAGER AND TECHNICIAN BOTH RODE BIKE AND IMMEDIATELY PUT BIKE ON A SERVICE RACK AND TRIED TO FIND A PROBLEM. MANAGER DESCRIBED HIS RIDE "AS IF YOU ARE RIDING ON A GROOVED ROAD". UNFORTUNATELY THEY FOUND NO OBVIOUS PROBLEM(S). THEY ADVISED THAT I (AND THEY ALSO OPENED A CASE WITH BMW) OPEN A CLAIM WITH BMW, AND I DID. BMW'S ONLY AND …
Owner-reported narrative. 3 miles reported. Look up ODI 11111044 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11111232 · 2018-07-13 (July 13, 2018)
TURBULENT AIR FROM TRAFFIC CAUSE THE FRONT END AND HANDLEBARS TO MOVE ERRATIC AND WOBBLE IN AN UNSAFE MANNER IN THE LANE. THIS HAPPENS AT 70MPH TRAVELING IN A STRAIGHT LINE BEHIND A GROUP OF CARS AND TRUCKS ON HIGHWAYS, FREEWAYS AND TURNPIKES. THIS IS A CONSTANT SITUATION. THIS DID NOT OCCUR ON MY OTHER BMW MOTORCYCLES, ONLY THIS NEW MODEL. THIS INSTABILITY IS SOMETHING THAT BMW WAS AWARE OF PRIOR TO PRODUCTION BECAUSE THEY PLACED A SPEED LIMITER ON THIS MOTORCYCLE. HOWEVER, IT POSES A DANGER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH THIS INSTABILITY AND MOVEMENT…
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 11111232 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11128491 · 2018-09-10 (September 10, 2018)
THE MOTORCYCLE IS NOT STABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MOTORCYCLE WOBBLES CONSISTENTLY LIKE BEING BUFFETED BY HIGH WINDS OR DRIVING ON GROOVED PAVEMENT. THE INSTABILITY FLOWS THROUGH TO THE HANDLEBARS ALSO. CAN BE VERY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY KNOW OF NO ISSUES, AS WELL AS BMW. THE MOTORCYCLE IS NOT SAFE, BUT NO ONE WANTS TO ADMIT THERE IS A PROBLEM. THIS HAS NOW BEEN CONSISTENT FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED AND CONTINUES AT 5,000 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11128491 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11149745 · 2018-11-06 (November 6, 2018)
MOTORCYCLE IS UNSTABLE ON HIGHWAY SPEEDS ABOVE 60 MPH AND HAS A WOBBLE AND CAN BE HARD TO CONTROL. WHEN CONDITIONS ARE WINDY OR YOU ARE BEHIND OR SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE CONDITION IS WORST. IT FEELS LIKE THAT YOU MAY LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND DEALERSHIP MECHANIC NOTICED THE SAME CHARACTERISTICS. DEALERSHIP CONTACTED BMW AND BMW STATED THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THE MOTORCYCLE TO EXHIBIT THIS BEHAVIOR. ISSUE STARTED HAPPENING WITH 10 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 180 MILES ON IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 11149745 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11150041 · 2018-11-08 (November 8, 2018)
I WAS TRAVELING ON MY MOTORCYCLE IN 6TH GEAR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD NO THROTTLE RESPONSE. I HAD TO DO AN EMERGENCY STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SINCE I WAS IN RUSH HOUR, I WAS VERY LUCKY I WAS ABLE TO GET OVER TO THE SHOULDER SAFELY WITH NO THROTTLE RESPONSE.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 11150041 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11166420 · 2019-01-11 (January 11, 2019)
1- THE MOTORCYCLE HAS AN EXTREME WOBBLING FROM 60 TO ABOVE MPH WHILE BEHIND ANY LARGER VEHICLE (SUV AND TRUCKS) IN THE HIGHWAY. 2- THE MOTORCYCLE HAS A VERY STRONG PUSH TO THE LEFT AT ANY SPEED, CAUSING THE RIDER TO LOSE CONTROL IF NOT 100% HOLDING THE HANDLEBAR IN STREET OR HIGHWAY.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11166420 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11191569 · 2019-03-26 (March 26, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BMW K1600B. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH OR MORE, THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE AND THE CONTACT FELT UNSAFE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BMW, DUCATI, AND HUSQVARNA MOTORCYCLES OF ATLANTA (1581 COBB PKWY SE, MARIETTA, GA 30060, [phone removed]) TO BE DIAGNOSED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT WAS WORKING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACT AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,350.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 11191569 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
19V692000 · Power Train:Manual Transmission
Reported: 2019-10-01 (October 1, 2019)
BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2017-2020 K 1600 GT and 2018-2020 K 1600 GTL and K 1600 B motorcycles. Certain transmission parts may not have been produced to the appropriate hardness level. This could affect the function of the transmission, possibly causing double engagement of two gears and/or the damage of transmission parts.
Consequence: Double gear engagement or transmission damage can cause the rear wheel to lock up, affecting the vehicle stability and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shift forks, the selector sleeve of 5th/6th gear and the gear wheel of 6th gear, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk was mailed November 1, 2019. A second letter will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
NHTSA campaign record ↗