2023 BMW F850GS Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2023 BMW F850GS, 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
- Brakes133.3%
- Engine133.3%
- Powertrain (other)133.3%
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
While driving the motorcycle I lose the ability to pull in the front brake for a few seconds. When I pulled in the clutch to slow down the ABS and Traction Control error lights went off. At this moment I was able to pull the front brake again. I immediately took the bike in for service. The technician said the speed sensor was backing out of the bike and applied loctite. First, the speed sensor did not have loctite so it could come loose. Second, a failure of ABS should NEVER affect the ability to apply the brake. I was very lucky I was able to get out of traffic and be able to slow down. It could have been a serious injury
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
New 2023 BMW F850GSA Motorcycle purchased in April of 2023. Clutch lever often sticks as it engages with the engine causing the motorcycle to lurch forward when attempting to take off from a stop. Nearly struck by another vehicle stopped behind. Problem confirmed by dealership and manufacturer. No warning indicators activated. This situation was observed from the day I took delivery. Was advised that a clutch adjustment was all that was needed. However, the condition continued. The clutch would stick about 80 percent of the time and caused the motorcycle to stall numerous times when trying to move away from intersections. Dealer advised to drive for a while thinking that it would get better. It did not. Motorcycle was at the dealership many times for this concern. I filed a concern with BMW and was told in writing that the sticking clutch was normal? In October 2023, I delivered the motorcycle to the dealer as they requested for a comprehensive investigation. Service Technicians confirmed that there was a problem and has seen this in other units sold at their store. The technician installed a go-pro camera system on my motorcycle and sent the video to BMW in Germany. BMW acknowledged that there is a problem. A complete Clutch basket system was replaced and the motorcycle was returned to me in November after the riding season ended declaring that it was repaired. In the spring of this year (2024), it appeared that about 90 percent of the sticking clutch was successfully repaired. After adding another 1K miles, it appears that the problem has returned and occurs about 50 percent of the time while pulling away from a stop. In conclusion, a clutch that sticks just as it engages with the engine is a serious safety hazard and could easily cause a crash and or injury when trying to take off! All other related repair/concern documents were not made available to me from the dealer or manufacturer.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
New 2023 BMW F850GSA Motorcycle purchased in April of 2023. Clutch lever often sticks as it engages with the engine causing the motorcycle to lurch forward when attempting to take off from a stop. Nearly struck by another vehicle stopped behind. Problem confirmed by dealership and manufacturer. No warning indicators activated. This situation was observed from the day I took delivery. Was advised that a clutch adjustment was all that was needed. However, the condition continued. The clutch would stick about 80 percent of the time and caused the motorcycle to stall numerous times when trying to move away from intersections. Dealer advised to drive for a while thinking that it would get better. It did not. Motorcycle was at the dealership many times for this concern. I filed a concern with BMW and was told in writing that the sticking clutch was normal? In October 2023, I delivered the motorcycle to the dealer as they requested for a comprehensive investigation. Service Technicians confirmed that there was a problem and has seen this in other units sold at their store. The technician installed a go-pro camera system on my motorcycle and sent the video to BMW in Germany. BMW acknowledged that there is a problem. A complete Clutch basket system was replaced and the motorcycle was returned to me in November after the riding season ended declaring that it was repaired. In the spring of this year (2024), it appeared that about 90 percent of the sticking clutch was successfully repaired. After adding another 1K miles, it appears that the problem has returned and occurs about 50 percent of the time while pulling away from a stop. In conclusion, a clutch that sticks just as it engages with the engine is a serious safety hazard and could easily cause a crash and or injury when trying to take off! All other related repair/concern documents were not made available to me from the dealer or manufacturer.
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .