BMW F 650 GS US · model year

2009 BMW F 650 GS US

16 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2009BMWF 650 GS US carries 16 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 US is engine and engine cooling:engine with 5 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling (2) and fuel system, gasoline (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.

NHTSA currently has 34 investigation files overlapping the 2009 F 650 GS US. 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.

16
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

16 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM1
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER1
STRUCTURE:BODY1
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING1

Recent Complaints

20100805EXTERIOR LIGHTING

1. HEADLIGHT (LOW OR HIGH BEAM) USAGE. 2. USING THE LOWBEAM OR HIGH BEAM HEADLIGHT OVER TIME CAUSES THE HEADLIGHT REFLECTOR HOUSING TO OVERHEAT AND LOSE ITS REFLECTIVENESS AND TURN BLACK FROM BEING BURNT. 3. THE HEADLIGHT UNIT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH A UNIT THAT IS MORE RESISTANT TO HEAT. NO REPAIRS HAVE YET BEEN COMPLETED. *TR

Mileage: 23,200

20100527ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR AND 6 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE OF A BMW F650GS MOTORCYCLE SEVERE IGNITION FAILURES OCCUR ON A ROUTINE BASIS RENDERING THE MOTORCYCLE UNUSABLE. PROBLEM DEVELOPED ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY WITH TRIP COMPUTER REPORTING IGNITION MALFUNCTION DUE TO UNAUTHORIZED KEY IN THE IGNITION, AFTER 40 MINUTES INTO A RIDE. MOTORCYCLE WILL NO LONGER START AND TRIP COMPUTER WILL NOT DISPLAY FURTHER INFORMATION. RE-SYNCHRONIZING THE MOTORCYCLES ANTI-THEFT ALARM ALLOWS THE MOTORCYCLE CLEAN OPERATION FOR A FURTHER 10 MINUTES, AND THEN RESULTS IN THE SAME AFOREMENTIONED IGNITION PROBLEM. THE IGNITION FAILURE OCCURS ON A ROUTINE BASIS, EVEN AFTER A RE-SYNCHRONIZATION TO THE MOTORCYCLE'S ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM. THE PROBLEM HAS YET TO BE RESOLVED BY THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *TR

Mileage: 760

20100409POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW F 650 GS MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 30 MPH, HE PULLED THE CLUTCH AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN RESTARTED AND WAS OPERATING NORMAL UNTIL HE ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE CLUTCH AGAIN. THE VEHICLE STALLED A SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE HAPPENED ONCE MORE WHEN PULLING THE CLUTCH. THE DEALER HAD NOT YET BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,750. UPDATED 05/18/10. *LJ UPDATED 01/20/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE BIKE WOULD STALL WHILE COMING TO A STOP OR STARTING FROM A FULL STOP. UPDATED 03/25/11

Mileage: 1,500

20100409ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW F 650 GS MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 30 MPH, HE PULLED THE CLUTCH AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN RESTARTED AND WAS OPERATING NORMAL UNTIL HE ATTEMPTED TO PULL THE CLUTCH AGAIN. THE VEHICLE STALLED A SECOND TIME. THE FAILURE HAPPENED ONCE MORE WHEN PULLING THE CLUTCH. THE DEALER HAD NOT YET BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,750. UPDATED 05/18/10. *LJ UPDATED 01/20/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE BIKE WOULD STALL WHILE COMING TO A STOP OR STARTING FROM A FULL STOP. UPDATED 03/25/11

Mileage: 1,500

20100303ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE FIRST TIME I RODE MY 2009 BMW F650GS MOTORCYCLE IN THE RAIN, THE ENGINE SIMPLY CUT OFF WHILE I WAS RIDING. FORTUNATELY, I WAS ON A SIDE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE BIKE RESTARTED ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THE NEXT DAY. THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY IT FAILED AND SUGGESTED IT MAY HAVE BEEN A LOOSE BATTERY CABLE. THE BIKE HAS SINCE SPUTTERED IN THE RAIN, LEADING ME TO FEAR ANOTHER ENGINE CUTOFF WHILE RIDING. THERE IS AN NHTSA CAMPAIGN #09V499000 REGARDING THIS EXACT ISSUE WITH MY MAKE AND MODEL BUT MY DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF IT AND THE BMW CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE I JUST SPOKE WITH INDICATED THAT MY BIKE IS NOT IN THE RECALL. THE INCIDENT DATE AND MILEAGE THAT I LISTED ARE APPROXIMATE. I JUST REMEMBER IT WAS LAST SUMMER. *TR

Mileage: 6,000

20091229STRUCTURE:BODY

2009 BMW F650GS MOTORCYCLE-CRACKS IN PLASTIC HOLDING GAS TANK-MANY OTHERS ON FORUMS REPORTING THIS ALSO. *TR

Mileage: 3,000

20090826FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

1. RIDING MOTORCYCLE ON CLEAR WARM DAY. 2009 BMWF650GS 2. AFTER ABOUT 100 MILES, AND UPON DOWN-SHIFTING THE ENGINE DIED. THIS LEADING TO A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF IN A TURN OR THERE IS NO SAFE AREA TO PULL OVER OR ON A MULTI-LANE FREEWAY. 3. I PULLED OVER, TURNED THE BIKE OFF AND THEN ON. THE BIKE STALLED ABOUT 5 MORE TIMES IN AN HOUR, REPEATING THE PROCESS, BEFORE I HAD IT TOWED TO A DEALER. THEY ADDED A GAS CLEANER (ASSUMING IT HAD BAD GAS). *TR

Mileage: 2,000

20090821ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MY 2009 BMW F650 GS TWIN STALLS WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN. THE STALL HAPPENS 100% OF TIME WHEN PERFORMING THE FOLLOWING OPERATIONS: SLOWING TO A STOP; SHIFTING GEAR; COASTING WITH CLUTCH ENGAGED AND DISENGAGED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF THE DRIVER IS NOT AWARE OF ENGINE STALL - AT HIGH SPEED IT WILL CAUSE THE REAR TIRE TO SKID, RESULTING IN A DEFINITE FALL OR LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE BIKE. BMW IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT NO DEFINITIVE FIX HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED. MY BMW DEALER IS WAITING FOR ANNOUNCEMENT OF FIX FROM BMW NORTH AMERICA WHILE THE ONLY SOLUTION THEY HAVE IS THAT I AM TOLD NOT TO DRIVE THE MOTORCYCLE IN THE RAIN. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND A DEFINITE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 2,875

20090812FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

A 2009 BMW F650GS STALLS WHEN DRIVEN IN THE RAIN. THE STALLING HAPPENS VERY ERRATICALLY AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. GOOGLING FOR "F650GS STALLING IN RAIN" WILL PROVIDE PAGES OF OTHERS WHO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I'VE SPOKEN TO THE DEALER AND BMW HAS AN OFFICIAL "FIX" BUT HAS NOT EVEN WRITTEN A TECH SERVICE BULLETIN ABOUT THE PROBLEM LET ALONE PERFORMED A SAFETY RECALL. THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO BE DOCUMENTED ON THE WEB SINCE SEPT 2008. *TR

Mileage: 2,000

20090810ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW F 650 GS US MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLS AND PERFORMS POORLY IN RAINY CONDITIONS. AFTER STOPPING TO PLACE FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT RESTART DUE TO THE RAIN. AS A RESULT, HE HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE IN ORDER TO GET HOME. THE CONTACT WILL CALL THE BMW MANUFACTURER REGARDING THIS ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000. UPDATED 08/27/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE BIKE CAN STALL WHEN THE CLUTCH IS DISENGAGED TO SHIFT DOWN TO A LOWER GEAR. THIS CAN CAUSE A REAR WHEEL SKID IN WET CONDITIONS CAUSING THE RIDER TO LOOSES CONTROL. ALSO THE ERRATIC RESPONSE CAN CAUSED THE BIKE TO NOT ACCELERATE OR STALL WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC. UPDATED 08/31/09.*JB

Mileage: 7,000

20090625ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

1. THE EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE: RIDING IN THE RAIN EVENTUALLY CAUSE MY 2009 BMW F650 MOTORCYCLE ENGINE TO STALL. CLOSE EXAMINATION FOUND: AIRBOX WITH A LOT OF WATER INSIDE AND CHARCOAL CANISTER IS SOAKED WITH WATER. 2. THE FAILURE, HOW OFTEN IT OCCURS, ITS CONSEQUENCES AFTER RIDING IN THE POURING RAIN FOR A MORE THAN AN HOUR. THE STALL CAN HAPPEN 100% OF TIME WHEN PERFORMING FOLLOWING OPERATIONS: A) COME TO A STOP. B) SHIFTING GEAR. C) COASTING WITH CLUTCH DISENGAGED. ALL ABOVE OPERATIONS INVOLVED: CLUTCH DISENGAGED AND THROTTLE CLOSED COMPLETELY. THE DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCES: IF BIKE IS STILL MOVING WHEN ENGINE STALL AND THE RIDE ISN'T AWARE. THEN WHEN CLUTCH IS RE-ENGAGED AGAIN, IT WILL CAUSE REAR TIRE TO SKID, THE RIDER WOULD EASILY FALL ESPECIALLY WHEN CORNERING. 3. WHAT WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE; I.E, PARTS REPAIRED OR REPLACED (AND IF OLD PART IS AVAILABLE) NO KNOWN CORRECTION EXIST YET AS BMW WASN'T AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE BIKE IS A NEW MODEL

Mileage: 5,500

20090618ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MY 2009 F650GS STALLS WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY RAIN, WHEN RPMS GO BELOW 3000, BUT BECAUSE ROADWAY IS WET, THERE IS NOT ENOUGH TIRE TRACTION TO OVERCOME DEAD MOTOR AND REAR TIRE SLIDES. ENGINE STAYS RUNNING AT PART TO FULL THROTTLE, 3000 PLUS RPMS, BUT THAT IS HARD TO DO WHEN TRYING TO SLOW FOR INTERSECTIONS AND TRAFFIC. VERY DANGEROUS! I DISCOVERED WATER POOLING IN BOTTOM OF AIRBOX AND CHOKING OFF IDLE CONTROL AIRWAY. *TR

Mileage: 5,000

20090416ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

MOTORCYCLE STALLS WHENEVER THROTTLE DOWN BELOW 2,000 RPM BRAND NEW BIKE 4 MILES CAN'T KEEP IT GOING DEALER SAID ITS KNOWN ISSUE. DOESN'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. *TR

Mileage: 4

20090413ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MOTORCYCLE STALLS IN THE RAIN AT LOW SPEEDS. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND COULD CAUSE HARM TO THE OPERATOR. *TR

Mileage: 6,000

20090410FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

DURING HEAVY RAIN AFTER CRUISING AT HIGHWAYS SPEED, ANYTIME THE CLUTCH IS DISENGAGED TO SLOW DOWN OR COME TO A STOP THE ENGINE WILL STALL. THE BIKE IS DIFFICULT TO RESTART. AT TIMES IT WILL NOT RESTART, OR WILL IMMEDIATELY STALL AGAIN UNLESS THE THROTTLE IS HELD OPEN. IT ALSO SPUTTERS AND MISFIRES WHEN IT DOES RESTART. STARTING AND STOPPING IS INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT AND JERKY DUE TO A SURGING AND JERKINESS, AND THE BIKES IDLE (WHEN IT DOES IDLE) IS VERY JUMPY. THIS ONLY HAPPENS AFTER HEAVY RAIN AND AT SPEEDS OVER 50 MPH. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER ONCE AT AROUND 3800 MILES WHERE THEY REPROGRAMMED THE ECU, BUT THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 5,376

20090318ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW F650 GS MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS IN RAINY CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE STALLS DURING DECELERATION. THE CONTACT MUST HOLD THE THROTTLE OPEN IN AN ATTEMPT TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 3,668. UPDATED 04/17/09 THE CONSUMER STATED ANYTIME THE CLUTCH WAS DISENAGED WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR SHIFTING, THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. THE INCIDENT ONLY OCCURRED IN HEAVY RAIN. UPDATED 04/21/09.*JB

Mileage: 3,668

Compare 2009BMWF 650 GS US to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2009 BMW F 650 GS US have?
The 2009 BMW F 650 GS US has 16 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 BMW F 650 GS US?
The most-complained component for the 2009 BMW F 650 GS US is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.
Is the 2009 BMW F 650 GS US safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.