RoadVitals

2012 BMW F 650 Gs

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
2
Latest Aug 25, 2017
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Jul 28, 2017
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2012 BMW F 650 Gs, most frequently naming the electrical and fuel system categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 9 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical150.0%
  • Fuel system150.0%

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

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
17V481000

EQUIPMENT

Jul 28, 2017
47,775 units potentially affected
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain 2013-2017 F800R and F800GT motorcycles, 2014-2018 R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure motorcycles, 2016-2017 S1000XR motorcycles and 2015-2017 R1200R and R1200RS, 2008-2012 F650GS, 2008-2018 F800GS, and 2014-2017 F800GS Adventure motorcycles. When equipped with the optional aluminum luggage cases, the rear reflex reflectors may be partially blocked. The aluminum case mounts for the R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure may also partially block the reflectors. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
The risk: If the rear reflex reflectors are obscured from view, it can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install reflectors on the cases or for the case mounts, an additional bracket with rear reflex reflectors, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2017. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417.
BMW of North America, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Electrical
Filed Aug 25, 2017

THE STATOR AND RECTIFIER ASSEMBLIES WERE FAILING AND WOULD CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION. HEADLIGHTS, BRAKES, TURN SIGNALS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE...INSTRUMENTS WOULD NOT FUNCTION...THEN THE ENGINE WOULD QUIT RUNNING, LEAVING THE MOTORCYCLE AND MYSELF STRANDED. THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL THE BATTERY HAD BEEN CHARGED FOR AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL I COULD NO LONGER TRUST THE MOTORCYCLE AS IT WAS VERY UNSAFE TO RIDE, NEVER KNOWING WHEN IT WOULD HAVE ANOTHER CATASTROPHIC SHUTDOWN OF LIGHTING, INSTRUMENTATION AND THE ENGINE. I CONTACTED TWO BMW DEALERSHIPS AND WAS TOLD TO BRING THE MOTORCYCLE IN, BUT THE REPAIR WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY AND NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. THE REPAIR, I WAS TOLD, WOULD BE OVER $1,200.00 USD IF IT WAS WHAT THEY PERCEIVED IT TO BE. BOTH DEALERS CLAIMED TO HAVE HAD NO ISSUES AS I HAD DESCRIBED, BUT BOTH WERE VERY QUICK TO CLAIM KNOWLEDGE OF THE EXACT ISSUE I HAD EXPERIENCED. I STARTED DOING ONLINE RESEARCH ON BMW MOTORCYCLE FORUMS AND FOUND A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE U.S. AND ABROAD, HAVING THE EXACT ISSUE. MOST HAD BEEN TOLD THE SAME INFORMATION FROM THEIR RESPECTIVE BMW DEALERS. MOST OF THESE PEOPLE BOUGHT REPLACEMENT PARTS, NOT BMW FACTORY ITEMS, THEMSELVES FROM WHOLESALERS. AFTER INSTALLATION THE SHUTDOWN ISSUES CEASED. I CONTACTED SIX DEALERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES AFTER I FOUND THIS INFORMATION AND THEY COMPLETELY DENIED ANY SIMILAR KNOWN ISSUES. THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME IDEA OF WHAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE, THE EXACT SAME I HAD BEEN TOLD BY THE FIRST 2 DEALERS I CALLED. THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS IDENTICAL TO MINE, IT IS INDICATIVE OF A LARGE PROBLEM WITH THE MOTORCYCLE'S CHARGING SYSTEM, SHUTDOWNS OF SAFETY LIGHTING/SIGNALING, LOSS OF INSTRUMENTATION, TOTAL SHUTDOWN OF THE ENGINE/COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THIS PLACES THE RIDER AND OTHER MOTORISTS IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA ID
11019493
Incident
May 9, 2014
Mileage
17,800 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 4, 2014

AFTER WASHING AND DRYING THE MOTORCYCLE, I NOTICED A HULL BREACH ON THE FUEL TANK RUNNING APPROXIMATELY 14 INCHES FROM FRONT TO REAR OF PLASTIC FUEL TANK. TANK HAS INNER LINER AND IS NOT OPENLY LEAKING GASOLINE, BUT CRACKING IS PROMINENT INDICATING A POSSIBILITY OF RUPTURE AND FUEL SPILLAGE. MACHINE IS CURRENTLY NOT BEING OPERATED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS OVER THIS ISSUE. BMW NA HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT UNRESPONSIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10652313
Incident
Oct 29, 2014
Mileage
8,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

MCAS2925

ENGINE

Inspect Bearing Shell

B611305

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important information for the dealer on how to handle “discharged battery” complaints.

MC610321

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

The motorcycle will not start. The vehicle battery is empty even though the battery charger was permanently connected to the 12V power socket.

MC55297495

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Vehicle battery not charged despite the battery charger being connected to the on-board socket (manufactured before 2009)Headlights and rear lights light up intermittently despite the ignition being switched off and the battery charger being connected to the on-board socket.

MC210221

POWER TRAIN

The clutch plates do not tolerate frequent and prolonged operation at the clutch friction zone, causing a shorter service life in motorcycles that see intensive use

MC610208

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The wiring harness of the F 650 GS and F 650 GS Dakar (R13) models is routed along the right-hand top rail of the frame. Weld spatter on the frame and/or adverse routing in the vicinity of the banjo bolt of the hydraulic spring base adjuster can result in the chafing of the wiring harness.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

BMW F 650 Gs by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2012Viewing210—
2011310—
2010330—
2009114145.7
2008060—
2007220—
2006110—
2005200—
2004000—
2003301—
2002401—
2001141149.4

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.