BMW motorcycles recalled over cardan shaft that may lose drive power
BMW is recalling three 2026 R 1300 RT motorcycles whose cardan shaft may not have been sufficiently hardened, allowing the universal joint to slip and causing a loss of drive power.
What this means for you
Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).
The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.
Our severity reasoning: Scored 4 under the structural vehicle defect criterion: a drivetrain component that can slip and cause a loss of drive power while riding is a safety-critical defect.
Plain-English summary
BMW of North America is recalling certain 2026 BMW R 1300 RT motorcycles. The cardan shaft may not have been sufficiently hardened, causing the universal joint to slip within the shaft and result in a loss of drive power.
NHTSA lists the consequence as follows: a loss of drive power while riding increases the risk of a crash. The affected component is the power train driveline driveshaft. The campaign number is 25V672000 and the potential number of units affected is three.
Dealers will replace the cardan shaft free of charge. Owner notification letters will not be mailed because BMW called the one owner on 30 October 2025 and remedied the motorcycle on 21 November 2025.
Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
The recalled product
- Product
- BMW R 1300 RT
- Brand
- BMW
- Manufacturer
- BMW of North America, LLC
- Category
- Vehicle — Motorcycle
- 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.
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