BMW seal for the reverse gear control unit may deteriorate and allow moisture inside the control unit, which can result in the unit overheating.
The short version
BMW of North America, LLC reported a problem with the manual transmission seals/gaskets. Here is what owners need to know.
The seal for the reverse gear control unit may deteriorate and allow moisture inside the control unit, which can result in the unit overheating.
An overheated reverse gear control unit increases the risk of a fire.
Take it to a dealer — they will replace the reverse gear control unit, free of charge.
Affected vehicles
These model years are included in NHTSA campaign 26V-658.
| YEAR RANGE | MODEL |
|---|---|
| 2021–2024 | BMW R 18 |
What changed
Newest first. The record shows both when the recall began and what has changed since.
- Recall reported to NHTSA. LATEST
Drive one of these? Check your VIN to see if your specific vehicle is affected.
Check your VINWhat this record means
Data from the NHTSA recall database. A clean VIN check means no open federal recalls for that vehicle — not that it never had one.
Not affiliated
MyAutoRecalls is not affiliated with BMW of North America, LLC or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Record dates
Reported to NHTSA: October 7, 2026
First tracked here: Oct 16, 2026
Last change: Oct 16, 2026