Total Complaints
4 filings
BMW F650GS DAKAR · model year
2002 BMW F650GS DAKAR
4 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002BMWF650GS DAKAR carries 4 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 2 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 2002 F650GS DAKAR is suspension:front with 2 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (1) and steering (1). 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 2002 F650GS DAKAR. 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.
4
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20110701CrashSUSPENSION:FRONT
THE FRONT AXLE DETACHED FROM THE RHS FORK LEG WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROX 50 KMH DOWN A WASHBOARD SECTION OF A GRAVEL ROAD. I HAD TIME TO LOCK THE REAR BRAKE WHICH SLOW ME DOWN CONSIDERABLY BEFORE FALLING DOWN TO THE RIGHT. OTHER PARTS OF THE MOTORCYCLE WERE DAMAGED.. IE: FRONT TURN SIGNAL, WINDSHIELD, LARGE SIDE PANEL, HANDLEBAR AND HAND PROTECTOR, RHS PANNIER. I DID NOT PURSUE THE MATTER AT THIS TIME, BUT HEARD OF SIMILAR INCIDENT THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN AUSTRALIA, USA INVOLVING THE PRE 2003 MODEL. *TR
Mileage: 42,500
20081005CrashSTEERING
THE FRONT AXLE DETACHED FROM THE RHS FORK LEG WHILST TRAVELING AT APPROX 40KMS/HR DOWN A GRASSY LANE WAY IN A VINEYARD. THE RESULT WAS A VERY HEAVY FALL TO THE RIGHT INTO THE GROUND HEADFIRST & SUBSEQUENT MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR A BADLY BRUISED NECK AND, THE DOCTOR'S TELL ME "SOFT TISSUE DAMAGE TO THE BRAIN" I COMPLETELY DESTROYED A BMW PHASE III HELMET IN THE PROCESS. I BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION AT THIS TIME EVEN THOUGH THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED IN AUSTRALIA DUE TO THE RECENT INCIDENT ALREADY REPORTED TO YOU & SHOWN NOW ON YOUR PUBLIC FILES. BMW AUSTRALIA CLAIMED TO ME AT THE TIME THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY OTHER SUCH INCIDENTS WORLDWIDE. I DID NOT BELIEVE THEM AT THE TIME BUT WAS INVOLVED IN A MAJOR PROJECT AND COULD NOT AFFORD THE TIME AWAY FROM THE PROJECT TO PURSUE THE MATTER. THE PARTS FROM MY INCIDENT WERE SENT TO GERMANY FOR STRESS TESTING AND SO THERE ARE RECORDS OF THE INCIDENT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT STRICTLY ON A PUBLIC ROADWAY. BMW CLAIMED TO ME THAT THE
Mileage: 4,200
20081005CrashSUSPENSION:FRONT
THE FRONT AXLE DETACHED FROM THE RHS FORK LEG WHILST TRAVELING AT APPROX 40KMS/HR DOWN A GRASSY LANE WAY IN A VINEYARD. THE RESULT WAS A VERY HEAVY FALL TO THE RIGHT INTO THE GROUND HEADFIRST & SUBSEQUENT MEDICAL ATTENTION FOR A BADLY BRUISED NECK AND, THE DOCTOR'S TELL ME "SOFT TISSUE DAMAGE TO THE BRAIN" I COMPLETELY DESTROYED A BMW PHASE III HELMET IN THE PROCESS. I BRING THIS TO YOUR ATTENTION AT THIS TIME EVEN THOUGH THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED IN AUSTRALIA DUE TO THE RECENT INCIDENT ALREADY REPORTED TO YOU & SHOWN NOW ON YOUR PUBLIC FILES. BMW AUSTRALIA CLAIMED TO ME AT THE TIME THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY OTHER SUCH INCIDENTS WORLDWIDE. I DID NOT BELIEVE THEM AT THE TIME BUT WAS INVOLVED IN A MAJOR PROJECT AND COULD NOT AFFORD THE TIME AWAY FROM THE PROJECT TO PURSUE THE MATTER. THE PARTS FROM MY INCIDENT WERE SENT TO GERMANY FOR STRESS TESTING AND SO THERE ARE RECORDS OF THE INCIDENT EVEN THOUGH IT WAS NOT STRICTLY ON A PUBLIC ROADWAY. BMW CLAIMED TO ME THAT THE
Mileage: 4,200
20030608VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MOTORCYCLE ENGINE SURGED WHICH CAUSED BIKE TO ACCELERATE SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT WARNING. *TT
Compare 2002BMWF650GS DAKAR to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2002 BMW F650GS DAKAR have?▼
The 2002 BMW F650GS DAKAR has 4 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 BMW F650GS DAKAR?▼
The most-complained component for the 2002 BMW F650GS DAKAR is SUSPENSION:FRONT with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and STEERING.
Is the 2002 BMW F650GS DAKAR 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.