RoadVitals

2014 BMW G650GS Sertao

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.
3
Latest Jan 5, 2018
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 Sep 26, 2016
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 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2014 BMW G650GS Sertao, most frequently naming the electrical and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 2 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

  • Electrical266.7%
  • Engine133.3%

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

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
16V689000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Sep 26, 2016
1,398 units potentially affected
The defect: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 BMW G650GS motorcycles manufactured March 8, 2013, to October 12, 2015, and 2013-2015 BMW G650GS Sertao motorcycles manufactured March 8, 2013, to May 23, 2014. The affected motorcycles may stall during operation due to an engine control unit (ECU) software issue.
The risk: If the engine stalls during operation, it increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the ECU software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin November 18, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V-537. Motorcycles that were repaired under that recall need to have their software updated again as part of this campaign.
BMW of North America, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Electrical
Filed Jan 5, 2018

AFTER THE SECOND BMW RECALL, I PICK UP THE MOTORCYCLE ON 01/05/18. AND STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, THE MOTORCYCLE CAN'T MAINTAIN IDLE OR STALL BEFORE A COMPLETE STOP. BMW DEALER DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT, SINCE THIS IS A POSSIBLE SOFTWARE/FUEL MAP PROBLEM. IT'S NOT SAFE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE SPECIALLY IN TRAFFIC SITUATIONS.

NHTSA ID
11060854
Incident
Jan 5, 2018
Engine
Filed Oct 28, 2017

PROBLEM ONE: MOTORCYCLE GETS OVERHEAT VERY EASY AND THE FAN STARTS TO OPERATE SOON THEN ANTICIPATE, BLOWS THE HOT AIR INTO THE DRIVERS RIGHT SIDE LEG, MAKING VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO OPERATE IN TRAFFIC. TO MAKE A LITTLE BIT COMFORTABLE, DRIVER MUST OPEN THE LEG FAIR AWAY FROM THE NORMAL SEAT POSITION AND FAIR AWAY FROM THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL. THESE IS NOT A SAFE WAY TO RIDE AND MUST BE FIX. THERE IS A LOT COMPLAINS ABOUT THIS SITUATION IN THE BMW FORUMS AND BMW KEEP SAYS IT'S "NORMAL". PROBLEM 2: THE KICKSTAND POSITION IN THESE MODEL WAS ADAPTED FROM A REGULAR VERSION OF THE BMW G650GS, WHICH IS 2 INCHES LOWER, THE BMW SERTAO IT'S 2 INCHES TALLER AND BMW ONLY EXTENDED THE KICKSTAND, THE ANGLE WHERE THEY WELDED IN THE FRAME IT'S WRONG, PLUS THERE IS A LARGE GAP IN BETWEEN THE MOUNTING TO THE KICKSTAND, ONCE YOU STOP, OPEN THE STAND AND PARK TO THE LEFT, THE KICKSTAND MOVE AROUND 2 INCHES FARTHER LEFT AND MAKING A POTENTIAL STRESS IN THE MATERIAL OR THE MOUNTING. IF THE METAL BRAKES WHEN THE RIDER MOUNTING THE MOTORCYCLE, THE LEFT LEG WILL BE TRAPPED UNDER THE MOTORCYCLE, AND THE 420 POUNDS MOTORCYCLE WILL CRASH AND POTENTIAL BRAKE HE LEG TOO. THERE IT'S A LOT REPORTS ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT IT'S TO PUT THE MOTORCYCLE BACK IN THE RIDING POSITION AFTER PARKING, THE RIDER MUST USES ABNORMAL STRENGTH TO PUSH OR LIFT TO THE RIGHT SIDE, THESE COULD LEAD ALSO TO A BACK PROBLEMS, SHOULDER OR LEG PROBLEMS, AGAIN FOR BMW IT'S "NORMAL" A PROCEDURE.

NHTSA ID
11040830
Incident
Apr 1, 2015
Electrical
Filed Sep 5, 2017

ENGINE STILL DIES WHEN YOU PULL THE CLUTCH LEVER IN. I HAVE HAD TWO BMW SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGNS PERFORMED (16V-689 AND 15V-537) ON THIS MOTORCYCLE FOR THIS ISSUE, AND IT IS STILL NO OPERATING CORRECTLY OR SAFELY. I COULD GET INJURED OR KILLED BY THE BIKE STALLING. THE BIKE STALLS WHEN MOVING AT ANY SPEED, GENERALLY STALLS WHEN SLOWING, AND PULLING THE CLUTCH LEVER, COMING TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ROUND ABOUT, STOP SIGN, OR JUST COMING TO A STOP, HOT OR COLD.

NHTSA ID
11021573
Incident
Aug 28, 2017
Mileage
3,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

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.

MC51142327

EQUIPMENT

Leaks have been reported in fork legs. The cause is reported be from oil lubricating film with accompanying dirt/grease ring is incorrectly interpreted to be a leaking fork leg. Investigations have shown that the part is not defective.

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 G650GS Sertao by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2015010—
2014Viewing310—
2013010—

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.