2018 Bmw K 1600 GTL
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2018 Bmw K 1600 GTL has 20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is steering problems (25% of all complaints), specifically: bmw introduced the k1600 motorcycle in 2011. at that time close to 50% of the units surveyed (210 out of 424) want to steer left (into oncoming traffic), unless you counter steer to the right. here is a link to the online poll and subsequent discussion by the owners: http://www.k1600forum.com.
20
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
0.3x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
STEERING
5 complaints- • BMW INTRODUCED THE K1600 MOTORCYCLE IN 2011. AT THAT TIME CLOSE TO 50% OF THE UNITS SURVEYED (210 OUT OF 424) WANT TO STEER LEFT (INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC), UNLESS YOU COUNTER STEER TO THE RIGHT. HERE IS A LINK TO THE ONLINE POLL AND SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSION BY THE OWNERS: HTTP://WWW.K1600FORUM.COM
- • 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
- • THIS IS A NEW, 2018 MOTORCYCLE PURCHASED FROM THE DEALER ON 4/6/2019 WITH 6 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AFTER A SHORT TEST RIDE THROUGH SEVERAL SHORT BACK-ROADS AROUND THE DEALERSHIP I DECIDED TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE. UPON LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP AND HEADING HOME ON THE INTERSTATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE IS
“BMW INTRODUCED THE K1600 MOTORCYCLE IN 2011. AT THAT TIME CLOSE TO 50% OF THE UNITS SURVEYED (210 OUT OF 424) WANT TO STEER LEFT (INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC), UNLESS YOU COUNTER STEER TO THE RIGHT. HERE IS A LINK TO THE ONLINE POLL AND SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSION BY THE OWNERS: HTTP://WWW.K1600FORUM.COM”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
4 complaints- • 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
- • WHEN TURNING THE ENGINE ON THROTTLE DOSE NOT RESPOND, IT HAPPENED A FEW TIMES NOTIFY DEALER THEY HAVE NO SOLUTION, VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY
- • THIS VEHICLE IS A MOTORCYCLE. WHEN STARTING ENGINE FROM A STATIONARY POSITION, WHILE IN NEUTRAL, THE THROTTLE GETS STUCK REVVING AT APPROXIMATELY 3000 RPM. CAN'T SHIFT OUT OF NEUTRAL OR DECELERATE/ACELERATE THROTTLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.
“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 ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
3 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A BMW K1600. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V-692000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. AN UNKNOWN DE
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BMW K1600 GTL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V692000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. BMW MOTORCYCL
- • 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 c
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A BMW K1600. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V-692000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. AN UNKNOWN DE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
FUEL SYSTEM
2 complaints- • MOTORCYCLE HAS A DELAY IN WIRELESS THROTTLE WHICH WILL NOT ENGAGE ENGINE CAUSING DELAYS IN TAKING OFF & CAUSING VEHICLE IN-OP & LAYING MOTORCYCLE DOWN FROM LACK OF POWER OR RUNNING, 1 ST TIME IN PARKING LOT WITH PASSENGER NO THROTTLE RESPONSE ,HURT LEFT KNEE & LEG TRYING TO KEEP MOTORCYCLE UP RIG
- • The contact owns a 2018 BMW K 1600 GTL Motorcycle. The contact stated fuel was leaking from intake. There was an abnormal odor of fuel detected. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted who referred the contact to the NHTSA
“MOTORCYCLE HAS A DELAY IN WIRELESS THROTTLE WHICH WILL NOT ENGAGE ENGINE CAUSING DELAYS IN TAKING OFF & CAUSING VEHICLE IN-OP & LAYING MOTORCYCLE DOWN FROM LACK OF POWER OR RUNNING, 1 ST TIME IN PARKING LOT WITH PASSENGER NO THROTTLE RESPONSE ,HURT LEFT KNEE & LEG TRYING TO KEEP MOTORCYCLE UP RIG”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
2 complaints- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BMW K 1600 GTL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED ENGINE PROBLEM WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK ON THE SIDE OF ROAD AND AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTE
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BMW K-1600. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ENGINE FAULT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE MOTORCYCLE IMMEDIATELY STALLED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE MOTORCYCLE OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROADWAY, RESTARTED THE MOTORCYCLE WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENCE. THE MOTORCYCL
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 BMW K 1600 GTL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED ENGINE PROBLEM WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO PARK ON THE SIDE OF ROAD AND AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 20 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐STEERING: BMW INTRODUCED THE K1600 MOTORCYCLE IN 2011. AT THAT TIME CLOSE TO 50% OF THE UNITS SURVEYED (210 OUT OF 424) WANT TO STEER LEFT (INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC), UNLESS YOU COUNTER STEER TO THE RIGHT. HERE IS A LINK TO THE ONLINE POLL AND SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSION BY THE OWNERS: HTTP://WWW.K1600FORUM.COM
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A BMW K1600. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V-692000 (POWER TRAIN) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. AN UNKNOWN DE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: MOTORCYCLE HAS A DELAY IN WIRELESS THROTTLE WHICH WILL NOT ENGAGE ENGINE CAUSING DELAYS IN TAKING OFF & CAUSING VEHICLE IN-OP & LAYING MOTORCYCLE DOWN FROM LACK OF POWER OR RUNNING, 1 ST TIME IN PARKING LOT WITH PASSENGER NO THROTTLE RESPONSE ,HURT LEFT KNEE & LEG TRYING TO KEEP MOTORCYCLE UP RIG
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Bmw K 1600 GTL — Year Comparison
How does 2018 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 20
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 0
- Injury reports
- 0
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
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