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2016 BMW C650 GT Maxi-Scooter Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
6
Latest Jan 30, 2023
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
3
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2016 BMW C650 GT Maxi-Scooter, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Engine660.0%
  • Powertrain (other)330.0%
  • Fuel system110.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I own a 2016 BMW C650GT. {VIN WB10C1507GZ315600}. {ENGINE # 70037975} There is a RECALL 14V-264 that applies to earlier models - with ENGINE numbers up to - 70020276. The reason for the recall was that the the mechanical CHAIN TENSIONER would wear excessively leading to failure. My 2016 C650GT has a MECHANICAL CHAIN TENSIONER {part dated - 20150819 or AUGUST 19th, 2015} that failed and caused catastrophic failure...including but not limited to the VALVE hitting the piston. The current ESTIMATE is still being prepared but is expected to be over $7,500- I will provide all documents as they become available. I request that my MOTORCYCLE be included on the list of covered vehicles under RECALL 14V-264. THANK YOU RICHARD GRANO 619.987.6483 [email protected]

NHTSA ID 11504484 · filed Jan 30, 2023

MY 2016 BMW C650GT SCOOTERS' MECHANICAL TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED, ALLOWING MY TIMING CHAIN TO JUMP, CAUSING MY VALVES TO SLAM INTO MY PISTONS WHICH BENT THE VALVE STEMS, CAUSING A REPAIR COST OF $3800.00 U.S. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS STILL ON THE FREEWAY (HAD JUST EXITED I-5 IN SEATTLE AND WAS STARTING TO RE-ACCELERATE TO 25 MPH ON 45TH AVE W. WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN SLIPPED CAUSING A VERY LOUD CLACKING NOISE, FOLLOWED BY A STALL AND THE INABILITY TO RESTART) THIS COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A DANGEROUS ACCIDENT AND SERIOUS HARM, IF NOT DEATH TO MYSELF, OR ANY RIDER IN THIS SITUATION. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY BMW, AND WAS A RECALL ON EARLIER MODELS (2013 & 2014) AND REMEDIED BY REPLACING THEM WITH A HYDRAULIC TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER, HOWEVER BMW CONTINUED TO MANUFACTURE LATER BIKES USING THE MECHANICAL TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. A QUICK GOOGLE OR FACEBOOK SEARCH OF BMW C650GT OWNER/ GROUPS/FORUMS, TURNS UP MANY DISCUSSIONS FROM OWNERS ALL OVER THE WORLD COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. IN SOME CASES, BMW HAS PAID 100% OF THE REPAIR, BUT IN MANY BMW WON'T PAY ANYTHING. IN MY CASE THEY ARE PAYING 50% HOWEVER THEY SHOULD BE PAYING 100% OF THE REPAIR BILL AS THIS KNOWN ISSUE. BMW IS NOT EXACTLY CONSISTENT IN THE WAY THAT THEY ARE HANDLING THESE REPAIR COSTS AND ITS TIME THEY DO WHAT IS RIGHT, OR BE FORCED TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. IT'S DANGEROUS FOR ANY VEHICLE TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY BUT IT'S EXTRA DANGEROUS FOR A MOTORCYCLE RIDER IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE MOVING IN FAST TRAFFIC ON A HIGHWAY. THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE FOR ANY BMW C650GT OWNER W/ A MECHANICAL TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER INSTALLED ON THEIR BIKE. I'VE READ FACEBOOK POSTS FROM OWNERS WITH 2017 C650GTS WHOSE BIKES WERE MANUFACTURED W/ THE MECHANICAL TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER! HOW CAN BMW DO THAT IF THEY'VE RECALLED THIS ISSUE ON EARLIER YEARS AND FIXED THE ISSUE WITH HYDRAULIC TENSIONERS? HELP!

NHTSA ID 11308626 · filed Feb 11, 2020

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

MY 2016 BMW C650GT SCOOTERS' MECHANICAL TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER FAILED, ALLOWING MY TIMING CHAIN TO JUMP, CAUSING MY VALVES TO SLAM INTO MY PISTONS WHICH BENT THE VALVE STEMS, CAUSING A REPAIR COST OF $3800.00 U.S. HAD THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS STILL ON THE FREEWAY (HAD JUST EXITED I-5 IN SEATTLE AND WAS STARTING TO RE-ACCELERATE TO 25 MPH ON 45TH AVE W. WHEN THE TIMING CHAIN SLIPPED CAUSING A VERY LOUD CLACKING NOISE, FOLLOWED BY A STALL AND THE INABILITY TO RESTART) THIS COULD HAVE EASILY CAUSED A DANGEROUS ACCIDENT AND SERIOUS HARM, IF NOT DEATH TO MYSELF, OR ANY RIDER IN THIS SITUATION. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY BMW, AND WAS A RECALL ON EARLIER MODELS (2013 & 2014) AND REMEDIED BY REPLACING THEM WITH A HYDRAULIC TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER, HOWEVER BMW CONTINUED TO MANUFACTURE LATER BIKES USING THE MECHANICAL TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER. A QUICK GOOGLE OR FACEBOOK SEARCH OF BMW C650GT OWNER/ GROUPS/FORUMS, TURNS UP MANY DISCUSSIONS FROM OWNERS ALL OVER THE WORLD COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. IN SOME CASES, BMW HAS PAID 100% OF THE REPAIR, BUT IN MANY BMW WON'T PAY ANYTHING. IN MY CASE THEY ARE PAYING 50% HOWEVER THEY SHOULD BE PAYING 100% OF THE REPAIR BILL AS THIS KNOWN ISSUE. BMW IS NOT EXACTLY CONSISTENT IN THE WAY THAT THEY ARE HANDLING THESE REPAIR COSTS AND ITS TIME THEY DO WHAT IS RIGHT, OR BE FORCED TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. IT'S DANGEROUS FOR ANY VEHICLE TO STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY BUT IT'S EXTRA DANGEROUS FOR A MOTORCYCLE RIDER IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE MOVING IN FAST TRAFFIC ON A HIGHWAY. THIS IS A DANGEROUS ISSUE FOR ANY BMW C650GT OWNER W/ A MECHANICAL TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER INSTALLED ON THEIR BIKE. I'VE READ FACEBOOK POSTS FROM OWNERS WITH 2017 C650GTS WHOSE BIKES WERE MANUFACTURED W/ THE MECHANICAL TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER! HOW CAN BMW DO THAT IF THEY'VE RECALLED THIS ISSUE ON EARLIER YEARS AND FIXED THE ISSUE WITH HYDRAULIC TENSIONERS? HELP!

NHTSA ID 11308626 · filed Feb 11, 2020

WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE ON THE FREEWAY FOR APPROX 20 MIN, AFTER EXITING THE FREEWAY AND COMING TO A STOP AT A STOPLIGHT AND THEN RE-ACCELLERATING TO 25MPH, THE TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER MOVED, MAKING A LOUD CLACKING SOUND ALLOWING THE TIMING CHAIN TO JUMP, RESULTING IN BENT VALVE STEMS ETC. SYMPTOMS WERE A LOUD CLACKING SOUND AT STARTUP - THIS NOISE WOULD GO AWAY AND RETURN INTERMITTENTLY. I ASKED NOBLE RUSH BMW LAKE CITY WA (NOW OUT OF BUSINESS) ABOUT THIS SOUND WHEN MY BIKE WAS IN FOR THE 6,000 MILE SERVICE/BMW BRAKE RECALL SERVICE THIS PAST SUMMER, AND WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL AFTER THEY TOOK MY BIKE FOR A TEST RIDE, ESPECIALLY AT STARTUP, AND THERE WAS NO ISSUE. WOW WERE THEY EVER WRONG! MY BIKE IS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP AND I AM LOOKING AT AT LEAST A $3600.00 REPAIR BILL. A QUICK GOODLE ABOUT THIS SOUND AND TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER ISSUE, YIELDS QUITE A FEW STORIES FROM UNHAPPY BMW C650GT OWNERS ALL ACROSS THE US AND CANADA. PREVIOUS BMW C650GT MODEL YEARS WERE RECALLED DUE TO THIS SAME ISSUE, HOWEVER I CANNOT FIND A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE FOR MY BIKES YEAR, BUT I CAN HOWEVER FIND MANY 2016 OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID 11301155 · filed Jan 22, 2020

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

MI SCOOTER HAS INSTALLED ON TWO RANDON OCASSIONS WHILE COASTING OR SITTING AT A STOP SIGN. ACCORDING TO MY MAKE AND MODEL FORUMS THIS IS AN EXISTING PROBLEM THAT BMW HAS NO FIRM FIX

NHTSA ID 11170674 · filed Jan 17, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .