2022 BMW R 18 recalls and problems

The 2022 BMW R 18 has 2 safety recalls and 9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any BMW dealer.

Recalls

Complaints

Crashes / fires

0 / 1

Injuries / deaths

0 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2022 BMW R 18 vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2022 BMW R 18 recalls

Recall 26V-658: Power Train

Reported Oct 7, 2026 · 4,630 vehicles affected · BMW of North America, LLC

Problem: 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.

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

Fix: 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.

Recall 24V-716: Power Train

Reported Sep 26, 2024 · 5,048 vehicles affected · BMW of North America, LLC

Problem: 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.

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

Fix: 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.

2022 BMW R 18 problems reported by owners

Problem area	Reports
Exterior Lighting	8
Electrical System	1

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2022 BMW R 18 complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Exterior Lighting · reported Apr 2, 2024

The contact owns a 2022 BMW R 18. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V884000 (Exterior Lighting) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Exterior Lighting · reported Oct 7, 2023

Adaptive headlight does not work and the low beam reflector is completely loose. With the reflector loose the headlight will occasionally blind oncoming traffic, point to the sky or side of the road. It is unsafe to ride unless riding with high beams, which is not safe for oncoming traffic.

Exterior Lighting · reported Oct 4, 2023

While on a multi-state trip I noticed that two pieces of the headlight have come loose inside the lens distorting the beam. On September 19, 2023 I took the bike in for a warranty claim and it was approved. Now two weeks later the dealer is still unable to give me a time frame for replacement due to the number of theses that have failed. I cannot ride the bike for fear of it going out entirely for safety as well as a law violation. I definitely cannot ride it at night for obvious reasons. The bike has 7000 miles now with most of a 3 year/36000 mile warranty remaining.

Exterior Lighting · reported Aug 31, 2023

The BMW R18 B motorcycle is equipped with an adaptive headlight, which directs the headlight beam in the direction of the motorcycle's lean angle and handlebar rotation; however, the headlight has failed, where the reflective mirror pieces have fallen apart. The loose reflective pieces creates a dazzling effect in the direction of the light beam; this appears to be a high failure item on the R18 B and Transcontinental models, equipped with the adaptive headlight. I dropped my motorcycle off for service in order to have the headlight failure repaired under warranty in May, where the BMW service…

Exterior Lighting · reported Aug 25, 2023

The adaptive headlight assembly had a sudden and unexpected catastrophic internal failure leading to complete loss of low beam headlight. BMW R18 Transcontinental. An appointment has been made with local BMW motorcycle dealer.

Other BMW R 18 years

2024 202320222021

Compare all BMW R 18 years · All BMW models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2022 BMW R 18 have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2022 BMW R 18: 26V-658 (power train), 24V-716 (power train). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2022 BMW R 18?

Owners report exterior lighting problems most often (8 reports), followed by electrical system (1).

Are BMW recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized BMW dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.