Safety recall Power train

BMW recall 26V-658: Reverse Gear Control Unit May Overheat

Report received 28 days ago

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

Campaign facts

NHTSA campaign
26V658000 (26V-658)
Filed by
BMW of North America, LLC
Report received
October 7, 2026
Component
Power train:manual transmission:seals/gaskets
Vehicles potentially affected
4,630
Model years
2021–2024
Built between
September 9, 2020 and July 15, 2024
Recall initiated by
The manufacturer

What is wrong

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.

The risk

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

Why power train defects matter: Gear selection faults are a roll-away risk; driveline failures can cause a sudden loss of power.

The 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.

About the power train

Power train campaigns cover the transmission, gear selector, driveshafts, axles and the electronics that select gears and hold Park.

Vehicles covered by campaign 26V-658

  • BMW R 18 2024202320222021

What to do

  1. Enter your VIN in NHTSA’s lookup (below) to confirm that your vehicle is included and that the repair has not already been done.
  2. Call a dealer for the brand and book the repair. Quote NHTSA campaign 26V-658.
  3. Always set the parking brake when you park until the repair is done, and confirm the vehicle is actually in Park.
  4. Safety recall repairs are carried out free of charge by the manufacturer’s dealers. If you already paid for this repair yourself, ask the manufacturer about reimbursement and keep your receipt.

Check by VIN

A campaign rarely covers every vehicle of a model year. Enter your 17-character VIN to find the recall campaigns filed for your make, model and model year. The VIN is on the driver’s side of the dashboard (visible through the windshield), on the door-jamb label, and on your registration and insurance documents.

Is a recall still open on your vehicle? Only NHTSA’s official VIN check can say whether a campaign applies to your exact vehicle and whether the repair has already been done.

Your VIN is decoded with NHTSA’s public vPIC service to identify the make, model and year. It is not stored and is not added to any page address.

The official record

This page reproduces the campaign as filed with NHTSA. The NHTSA record is authoritative — if anything here differs, follow the agency.

Open campaign 26V-658 on NHTSA.gov

Other BMW power train recalls