The Recall Desk
HighNHTSA·25V672000·Announced 2025-08-10

2026 BMW R 1300 RT Motorcycles Recalled for Driveshaft Defect

BMW of North America is recalling certain 2026 R 1300 RT motorcycles due to a cardan shaft defect. The shaft may not be properly hardened, potentially causing loss of drive power and increasing crash risk.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: This is a structural vehicle defect where the cardan shaft may not be properly hardened, causing loss of drive power and increased crash risk. No injuries or deaths have been reported, making this a high-risk situation with confirmed hazard but no confirmed harm.

Plain-English summary

BMW of North America, LLC is recalling certain 2026 BMW R 1300 RT motorcycles. The cardan shaft (driveshaft) component on these motorcycles may not have been sufficiently hardened during manufacturing.

When the cardan shaft is not properly hardened, the universal joint may slip within the shaft, causing a loss of drive power. Loss of drive power while riding increases the risk of a crash.

Three units of the 2026 R 1300 RT are potentially affected by this defect. The remedy is a free replacement of the cardan shaft performed by BMW dealers. The identified owner has already been contacted by BMW and the motorcycle has been remedied as of November 21, 2025. If you own a potentially affected motorcycle, contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 for assistance.

The recalled product

Product
2026 BMW R 1300 RT
Brand
BMW
Manufacturer
BMW of North America, LLC
Category
Vehicle — Motorcycle / Driveshaft
Hazard
  • driveshaft-defect
  • loss-of-power
  • crash-risk
Affected units
3

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (1)

  • R 1300 RT

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same brand · BMW

Same category