Total Complaints
11 filings
BMW F 650 GS · model year
11 NHTSA complaints, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2009BMWF 650 GS carries 11 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2009 F 650 GS is fuel system, gasoline with 3 filings, followed by engine (2) and fuel/propulsion system (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 3 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2009 F 650 GS. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
11 filings
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 3 |
| ENGINE | 2 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 F650 GS AND F800 GS MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 2008 AND DECEMBER 2009. DURING ENGINE OPERATION, A VACUUM IS CREATED IN ORDER TO DRAW FRESH AIR INTO THE CANISTER. THIS AIR THEN MIXES WITH THE FUEL VAPORS CAPTURED BY THE CANISTER, A
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN 2008 THROUGH 2010 F 650 GS MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 11, 2008, THROUGH DECEMBER 8, 2009. A WASHER MAY INTERFERE WITH THE FRONT DISC BRAKE FASTENERS' TORQUE. AS A RESULT, OVER TIME, A FASTENER OR MUTIPLE FASTENERS COULD BECOME LOOSE, ALLOWING THE BRAKE DISC TO B
POWER TRAIN
BMW IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 AND 2009 F650 GS AND F 800 GS MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 27, 2007 THROUGH MARCH 30, 2009. THE DRIVE CHAINS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PRODUCED TO SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, OVER TIME THE DRIVE CHAIN COULD BREAK.
THE MOTORCYCLE HAS EXTENSIVE HAIRLINE CRACKS ON THE LEFT & RIGHT SIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. A HIGHLY REPORTED ISSUE ON BMW FORUMS. *TR
Mileage: 930
REFLECTIVE COATING ON REFLECTOR OF HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FIRST LOOSES ITS SHEEN THEN BECOMES VERY DARK (BURNED). THIS DRAMATICALLY REDUCES THE HEADLIGHT'S ABILITY TO ILLUMINATE THE ROAD AHEAD AND RESULTS IN A VERY UNSAFE RIDING SITUATION AFTER DARK. NOTE: MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED IN ITS OEM LIGHTING PROFILE, USING THE STANDARD / RECOMMENDED H7 TYPE BULB. *JS
Mileage: 25,051
REFLECTIVE COATING ON REFLECTOR OF HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS PEELING/FLAKING OFF EXPOSING THE BLACK PLASTIC UNDERNEATH. THIS DRAMATICALLY REDUCES THE HEADLIGHT'S ABILITY TO ILLUMINATE THE ROAD AHEAD AND RESULTS IN A VERY UNSAFE RIDING SITUATION AFTER DARK. *JS
Mileage: 22,000
ENGINE STOPPED (BUT DID NOT SEIZE) AND VEHICLE STARTED RAPID DECELERATION. THE LOSS OF POWER WAS INSTANTANEOUS, BUT APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE EARLIER THE INSTRUMENT DISPLAY HAD GONE BLANK. THERE WERE NO PRIOR INDICATIONS OF TROUBLE. WHEN POWER LOSS OCCURRED, I PULLED IN THE CLUTCH AND COASTED TO A STOP AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SUBSEQUENTLY TESTING SHOWED THAT BATTERY WAS DISCHARGED AND LOSS OF POWER WAS DUE TO FAILURE OF CHARGING SYSTEM, SPECIFICALLY, FAILURE OF GENERATOR STATOR (GENERATOR IN THIS VEHICLE USES PERMANENT MAGNET ROTOR AND WOUND STATOR). *TR
Mileage: 20,320
ENGINE STOPPED (BUT DID NOT SEIZE) AND VEHICLE STARTED RAPID DECELERATION. THE LOSS OF POWER WAS INSTANTANEOUS, BUT APPROXIMATELY 1 MINUTE EARLIER THE INSTRUMENT DISPLAY HAD GONE BLANK. THERE WERE NO PRIOR INDICATIONS OF TROUBLE. WHEN POWER LOSS OCCURRED, I PULLED IN THE CLUTCH AND COASTED TO A STOP AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SUBSEQUENTLY TESTING SHOWED THAT BATTERY WAS DISCHARGED AND LOSS OF POWER WAS DUE TO FAILURE OF CHARGING SYSTEM, SPECIFICALLY, FAILURE OF GENERATOR STATOR (GENERATOR IN THIS VEHICLE USES PERMANENT MAGNET ROTOR AND WOUND STATOR). *TR
Mileage: 20,320
I WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 95 SOUTH IN MARYLAND NEAR COLUMBIA DOING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AND HAD TO SLOW FOR TRAFFIC AHEAD. I SLOWED TO 50 MPH AND DISENGAGED THE CLUTCH TO SHIFT GEARS AND THE ENGINE STALLED. I WAS NOT INITIALLY AWARE THAT IT HAD STALLED DUE TO THE GENERAL TRAFFIC NOISE. WHEN I ENGAGED THE CLUTCH IN THE LOWER GEAR MY REAR TIRE SKIDDED AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE BIKE. THEN I REALIZED THE ENGINE HAD STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO ROLL START THE BIKE BY SHIFTING TO YET A LOWER GEAR AND ENGAGING THE CLUTCH RAPIDLY BUT THE ENGINE STALLED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AGAIN. I ENDED UP HAVING TO DISMOUNT THE BIKE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND (VERY QUICKLY) PUSH IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS THEN ABLE TO RESTART IT BUT IT WOULD NOT IDLE AT ALL. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. I'M AWARE THAT THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS MODEL BIKE BUT WHEN I CHECKED WITH THE DEALER ABOUT 2MONT
Mileage: 23,815
I WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE 95 SOUTH IN MARYLAND NEAR COLUMBIA DOING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH AND HAD TO SLOW FOR TRAFFIC AHEAD. I SLOWED TO 50 MPH AND DISENGAGED THE CLUTCH TO SHIFT GEARS AND THE ENGINE STALLED. I WAS NOT INITIALLY AWARE THAT IT HAD STALLED DUE TO THE GENERAL TRAFFIC NOISE. WHEN I ENGAGED THE CLUTCH IN THE LOWER GEAR MY REAR TIRE SKIDDED AND I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE BIKE. THEN I REALIZED THE ENGINE HAD STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO ROLL START THE BIKE BY SHIFTING TO YET A LOWER GEAR AND ENGAGING THE CLUTCH RAPIDLY BUT THE ENGINE STALLED ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AGAIN. I ENDED UP HAVING TO DISMOUNT THE BIKE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND (VERY QUICKLY) PUSH IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I WAS THEN ABLE TO RESTART IT BUT IT WOULD NOT IDLE AT ALL. THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS INCIDENT THAT OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. I'M AWARE THAT THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS MODEL BIKE BUT WHEN I CHECKED WITH THE DEALER ABOUT 2MONT
Mileage: 23,815
THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES SOMETIMES AT A STANDSTILL OTHER TIMES WHILE MOVING. THEN ENGINE SHUTS DOWN AND THEN CAN BE RESTARTED A SHORT TIME LATER. THE MOST DANGEROUS SITUATION WAS A STALL WHILE MOVING AT 35 MILES A HOUR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. I WAS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT BEING HIT FROM BEHIND. THE ENGINE APPEARS TO BE GAS STARVED. TEMPERATURE OUTSIDE AT TIME OF INCIDENT WAS 80 DEGREES. AFTER SEVERAL STALLS I HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED. *JS
Mileage: 7,300
THIS COMPONENT HAD FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES ON THIS VEHICLE (ABOUT TWICE PER YEAR) SINCE NEW. THE COMPONENT THAT IS REPLACED EACH TIME HAS BEEN THE FUEL PUMP CONTROLLER (SMALL ELECTRONIC DEVICE MOUNTED ON TOP OF THE FUEL TANK). I AM ABOUT TO PURCHASE MY FOURTH ONE. THE UNIT TYPICALLY FAILS WHEN AMBIENT TEMPERATURES ARE ABOVE 90F. WHEN THIS FAILS, THE FUEL PUMP WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LOW SPEEDS ON GRAVEL ROADS, CAUSING GREAT DIFFICULTY KEEPING THE BIKE UPRIGHT AS IT COMES TO A STOP. OTHER TIMES HAS BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY. THERE IS AN IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER, ALMOST AS IF THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF (HOWEVER ALL THE BIKE ELECTRONICS STAY ACTIVE). IN SOME CASES THE CONTROLLER BEGINS TO WORK AGAIN BEFORE THE BIKE HAS COME TO A STOP. ONCE THE PROBLEM SURFACES, IT GETS WORSE QUICKLY. MOST RECENTLY I WAS ABOUT 30 MILES FROM HOME WHEN IT FIRST DISPLAYED SYMPTOMS. IT WAS ALL HIGHWAY MILES. IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THE BIKE HOME, THE ENGINE STALLED MORE THAN 20 TIMES. ONCE TH
Mileage: 2,900
BMW F650GS GAS TANK CRACKING ON GAS FILL SIDE. WIFE AND I EACH HAVE F650GS 2009, BOTH ARE SPLITTING IN THE SAME SPOT, WIFE'S IS MUCH WORSE. *TR
Mileage: 13,749
SMELLING GAS BEHIND ME WHEN I RIDE. I HAVE A BMW F650GS WITH UNDER SEAT TANK - I NOTICED BOTH RIDE AND LEFT SIDE OF THE SIDES OF THE TANK ARE CRACKING. TANK SEEMS TO BE PLASTIC AND THERE IS A U SHAPED CUT THAT RUNS DOWN BOTH SIDES. THERE SEEMS TO BE A SPLIT OR CRACK THAT IS OVER SEVEN INCHES ON BOTH SIDES. I AM HOPING THERE IS NOTHING DANGEROUS ABOUT THESE CRACKS? *TR
Mileage: 9,935
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.