BMW F 800 GS · model year

2009 BMW F 800 GS

12 NHTSA complaints, and 3 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2009BMWF 800 GS carries 12 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 800 GS is wheels with 3 filings, followed by electrical system (2) and engine (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 800 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.

12
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

12 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
WHEELS3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
ENGINE2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE1

Recalls (3)

09V49900030/12/2009

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

09V08800018/03/2009

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

BMW IS RECALLING 754 MY 2009 F800 GS VEHICLES. THE AXLE SHAFT WALL THICKNESS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS.

10V27400016/06/2010

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.

Recent Complaints

20201202FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK ON THIS MOTORCYCLE IS KNOWN TO HAVE A MATERIAL OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE FORM OF A LATERAL CRACK ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TANK. THE FUEL TANK IS POSITIONED DIRECTLY OVER THE EXHAUST SYSTEM UNDER THE SEAT. I DISCOVERED THIS DEFECT ON MY MACHINE AFTER SMELLING GAS DURING A CASUAL RIDE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. A QUICK SEARCH ONLINE FOR "F800GS FUEL TANK CRACK" IMMEDIATELY RETURNED SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS AND OWNERS' DOCUMENTATION OF THE EXACT SAME ISSUE, INCLUDING SOME DISCOVERED BIKES STILL ON THE SHOWROOM FLOOR. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN RIDERS BEING BURNED AND POSSIBLY KILLED. I ALSO HAVE A WALK AROUND VIDEO THAT SHOWS THE PROBLEM VERY WELL, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I CAN GET THAT TO YOU. THANK YOU

Mileage: 31,920

20140608ENGINE

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WHEN TRAFFIC STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. AS I ROLLED OFF THE THROTTLE TO SLOW DOWN THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED. I HAD TO COAST THROUGH MULTIPLE LANES OF HIGH SPEED FREEWAY TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. I SAW THAT NO WARNING/ CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS HAD COME ON, THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT IT HAD APPROXIMATELY 3/4 OF A TANK, THE KILL SWITCH WAS IN THE RUN POSITION, AND THE KICK STAND WAS SECURELY UP. WHILE COASTING TO THE SHOULDER I NOTICED THAT THE TACHOMETER SHOWED ABOUT 1,000 RPM EVEN THOUGH THE CLUTCH WAS IN AND THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. THE TACHOMETER JUMPED TO ZERO ONCE I INCREASED THE THROTTLE. THE MOTORCYCLE HAD TO BE FULLY CYCLED FROM OFF TO ON USING THE KEY BEFORE IT WOULD START. AFTER RESTARTING IT IN FIRST GEAR, I BEGAN ACCELERATING, WHEN I REACHED APPROXIMATELY 35-45 MPH THE ENGINE DIED AGAIN. I NOTICED THAT THE LONGER I KEPT THE BIKE OFF THE LONGER IT WOULD LET ME RIDE BEFORE DYING. THE INFO DISPLAY INDICATED THAT THE E

Mileage: 9,712

20140608FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WHEN TRAFFIC STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. AS I ROLLED OFF THE THROTTLE TO SLOW DOWN THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED. I HAD TO COAST THROUGH MULTIPLE LANES OF HIGH SPEED FREEWAY TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. I SAW THAT NO WARNING/ CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS HAD COME ON, THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT IT HAD APPROXIMATELY 3/4 OF A TANK, THE KILL SWITCH WAS IN THE RUN POSITION, AND THE KICK STAND WAS SECURELY UP. WHILE COASTING TO THE SHOULDER I NOTICED THAT THE TACHOMETER SHOWED ABOUT 1,000 RPM EVEN THOUGH THE CLUTCH WAS IN AND THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. THE TACHOMETER JUMPED TO ZERO ONCE I INCREASED THE THROTTLE. THE MOTORCYCLE HAD TO BE FULLY CYCLED FROM OFF TO ON USING THE KEY BEFORE IT WOULD START. AFTER RESTARTING IT IN FIRST GEAR, I BEGAN ACCELERATING, WHEN I REACHED APPROXIMATELY 35-45 MPH THE ENGINE DIED AGAIN. I NOTICED THAT THE LONGER I KEPT THE BIKE OFF THE LONGER IT WOULD LET ME RIDE BEFORE DYING. THE INFO DISPLAY INDICATED THAT THE E

Mileage: 9,712

20140508ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

STATOR / FLYWHEEL NO LONGER CHARGING BATTERY. RAN ON BATTERY POWER UNTIL ENGINE QUIT ON FREEWAY AT 65 MPH. COASTED TO SHOULDER AND WAITED FOR TOW. 2ND TIME THIS HAPPENED. FIRST TIME AT 28,000 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 39,040

20140508ENGINE

STATOR / FLYWHEEL NO LONGER CHARGING BATTERY. RAN ON BATTERY POWER UNTIL ENGINE QUIT ON FREEWAY AT 65 MPH. COASTED TO SHOULDER AND WAITED FOR TOW. 2ND TIME THIS HAPPENED. FIRST TIME AT 28,000 MILES. *TR

Mileage: 39,040

20120516ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE STATOR OF THE ALTERNATOR FRIED, SO THE BATTERY STARTED DISCHARGING AND WHEN EMPTY THE COMPUTER AND THE ENGINE STALLED. I HAD THE STATOR REWINDED AND THE SAME PROBLEM REPEATED 5000 MILES LATER. I HAD IT REWINDED A SENCOND TIME AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN. I AM INTO MY 3RD REWIND AND JUST EXPECTING THE PROBLEM TO REAPPEAR...

Mileage: 21,126

20110707FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

THROTTLE RESPONSE IS TOO SHARP AND TAKES YOU BY SURPRISE WITHOUT WARNING DURING NORMAL OPERATION. THIS RESPONSE CAN BE RAPID ACCELERATION OR DECELERATION WHEN A DEFORMITY IN THE ROAD IS DRIVEN OVER. THE RAPID RESPONSE IS EVEN MORE EXACERBATED AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN TRYING TO MANEUVER RESIDENTIAL SURFACE ROADS. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WITH NO KNOWN REPAIRS. I HAVE HAD A COMPUTER SOFTWARE UPGRADE TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE SEARCHED MANY ADVENTURE TYPE FORUMS WHERE MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH NO KNOWN REPAIR FROM THE FACTORY. I HAVE HAD ONE CLOSE CALL WHERE THE VEHICLE THROTTLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED WHILE COMMITTED IN A TURN WHERE I LOST MY LINE AND WENT INTO THE ONCOMING LANE. *TR

Mileage: 600

20100826ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 BMW F800 GS MOTORCYCLE. WHILE TRAVELING 75 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DOWNSHIFT FROM SIXTH TO FIFTH GEAR AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE COMPUTER WAS UPDATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOLLOWING REPAIRS. THE DEALER THEN PERFORMED A SECOND COMPUTER SOFTWARE UPDATE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,200.

Mileage: 2,200

20100513WHEELS

WHEEL BEARING ON CHAINRING SIDE OF REAR HUB WORE OUT PREMATURELY AT 9,000 MILES. OTHER BEARINGS ON FRONT AND REAR HUBS WERE FUNCTIONING WELL. HAD I NOT CHECKED THIS BEARING, AFTER READING ABOUT MULTIPLE SUCH INCIDENTS, CATASTROPHIC FAILURE COULD HAVE OCCURRED WHILE TRAVELING AT FREEWAY SPEED LEADING TO PERSONAL INJURY AND POTENTIALLY INJURY TO OTHERS. *TR

Mileage: 9,000

20100316POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

AFTER 9000 MILES THE CLUTCH ON MY 2009 F800GS SUDDENLY STARTED TO SLIP ON THE FREEWAY WHEN DOWNSHIFTING AND ACCELERATING. THERE WAS NO PREVIOUS SYMPTOMS OF ANY PROBLEMS IN THE DRIVE TRAIN/CLUTCH APART THAT THE ADJUSTMENT OF THE CLUTCH WAS TO THE LAST LIMIT (ALL SERVICE DONE BY BMW DEALER). SINCE THEN ANY ACCELERATION MAKES THE RPM JUMP 1000+ RPM BEFORE GRADUALLY COMING DOWN AND ACTUAL ACCELERATION OCCURRING. THIS CAN BE A SAFETY PROBLEM AS A LOSS OF ACCELERATION CAN LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT OR DEATH ON A MOTORCYCLE. *TR

Mileage: 8,950

20091025WHEELS

I HAD THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ON MY 2009 BMW F800GS MOTORCYCLE CHECKED DURING ITS ROUTINE 6,000 MILE SERVICE. THE BEARINGS ON MY BIKE SHOWED EVIDENCE OF ACCELERATED WEAR. THEY WERE REPLACED BY THE BMW SHOP, UNDER WARRANTY. ONE WOULD EXPECT SUCH BEARINGS TO LAST A _MINIMUM_ OF 50,000 MILES, AND SO FAILURE WITH SO LITTLE MILEAGE WAS UTTERLY UNEXPECTED. ON A MOTORCYCLE, REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILURE AT SPEED COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH TO THE OPERATOR. *TR

Mileage: 6,356

20091022WHEELS

REAR WHEEL BEARING DETERIORATION AT 12,000 MILES ON A BMW F800GS. RIDING UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES. CHECK THE BEARING AFTER READING AN INTERNET POST ABOUT SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL HAVING BEARING FAILURES. THE BEARING FELT PITTED AND GRITTY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEAL AND THEY REPLACED THEM UNDER WARRANTY WITH FACTORY PARTS. UNCHECKED THIS WOULD HAVE MOST LIKELY LEAD TO A CATASTROPHIC FAILURE WITH POSSIBLE INJURY OR DEATH. *TR

Mileage: 11,000

Compare 2009BMWF 800 GS to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2009 BMW F 800 GS have?
The 2009 BMW F 800 GS has 12 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2009 BMW F 800 GS?
Yes, the 2009 BMW F 800 GS has 3 recall(s). The most common affected component is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 BMW F 800 GS?
The most-complained component for the 2009 BMW F 800 GS is WHEELS with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and ENGINE.
Is the 2009 BMW F 800 GS 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.