Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports2 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

2 reports

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25,000 miles · Aug 30, 2007

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

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THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED WHEN THE ABS WAS USED ON A DIRT ROAD. STANDING ON THE REAR BRAKE FOOT PEDDLE AND SQUEEZING THE FRONT BRAKE HAND LEVER AS HARD AS POSSIBLE HAD NO EFFECT WHATSOEVER. JUST AS IF THEY WERENT EVEN USED. SECONDS EARLIER THE BRAKES WORKED PERFECTLY. AND AFTER RESTARTING THE MOTORCYCLE THEY WORKED PROPERLY AGAIN. IT IS UNBELIEVABLE TO ME THAT AN ABS SYSTEM WOULD BE DESIGNED IS A WAY THAT WHEN IT FAILED IT RENDERED THE BRAKES TOTALLY INOPERABLE: THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF FAIL SAFE. IN ONE CASE I NEARLY RAN OFF A CLIFF AT UNDER TEN MILES PER HOUR. ONCE I FIGURED OUT WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM I TURNED THE ABS OFF WHEN RIDING ON DIRT. NOT LONG AFTER THE LAST INCIDENT THE ABS QUIT WORKING COMPLETELY. THE DEALER TOLD ME THE TROUBLE CODE SAID THE ABS MODULATOR HAD A STUCK PISTON. I HAVE NOT YET REPLACED THE MODULATOR FIGURING I WAS MUCH SAFER WITHOUT THE ABS.

NHTSA ODI #10201261

3,200 miles · Jun 30, 2005

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ABS FAILURE

NHTSA ODI #10127222

Official recalls

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE09026 · Motorcycle Front Wheel Separation

Opened May 18, 2009 · Closed Sep 18, 2009

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension:front

THIS PE WAS OPENED AFTER NHTSA RECEIVED 3 VOQS CONCERNING ALLEGED FRONT AXLE SEPARATIONS ON CERTAIN BMW F650 GS MODEL MOTORCYCLES SOLD FOR USE IN THE UNITED STATES (THE SUBJECT VEHICLES).COMPLAINTS INVOLVING MOTORCYCLES IN NON-US MARKETS ARE NOT COUNTED IN THIS TOTAL.AFTER GATHERING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SUBJECT, WE ARE NOW AWARE OF FOUR CONFIRMED INCIDENTS INVOLVING MODEL YEAR 2001-2003 SUBJECT VEHICLES.ALL FOUR BIKES WERE BUILT BEFORE SEPTEMBER, 2002.OF THESE, TWO INVOLVE MY 2001 BIKES AND THE OTHER TWO, MY'S 2002 AND 2003, RESPECTIVELY.THE INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN 2002, 2003, AND TWO IN 2008.IN EACH INSTANCE, THE LUG FRACTURES ARE FORCED FRACTURES RATHER THAN FATIGUE-RELATED.BETWEEN OCTOBER 1999 AND SEPTEMBER, 2002, BMW BUILT APPROXIMATELY 4,300 SUBJECT VEHICLES.AFTER SEPTEMBER 12, 2002, ALL F650GS'S WERE BUILT WITH REINFORCED LOWER FORK TUBES TO REDUCE, ACCORDING TO BMW,THE POSSIBILITY OF ANY SIGNIFICANT FRACTURE THAT COULD OCCUR AT THE FORK LEG AXLE LUG AREADURING A CRASH.BMW TOOK THIS ACTION BECAUSE THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED FOR OFF-ROAD USE WHERE CRASHES (MANY MINOR) ARE COMMON AND DID NOT WANT RIDERS TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH A BROKEN FORK AS A RESULT.CURRENTLY, THERE IS NO DATA CONCLUSIVELY ESTABLISHING THAT THE SUBJECT FORK LUGS ARE SEPARATING BEFORE AN ALLEGED CRASH OCCURS.ADDITIONALLY, THE INFREQUENT, SPORADIC, AND RANDOM NATURE OF THE FAILURES FAILS TO ESTABLISH A DEFECT TREND CURRENTLY EXISTS.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY WILL TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.

PE03054 · Fuel Line Leakage

Opened Dec 1, 2003 · Closed Jan 23, 2004

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

BMW IS CONDUCTING A RECALL (04V-028).AN INFORMATION REQUEST(IR)RESPONSE WAS NOT RECEIVED. UPON BMW'S RECEIPT OF THE IR, AND AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH ODI, BMWDETERMINED THAT A RECALL WAS NECESSARY. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE O-RING CONTAINED WITHIN THE FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLING COULD BECOME DAMAGED.FURTHER, THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM INVOLVING CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS, WHICH CAN ALSO RESULT IN A SMALL FUEL LEAK.DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY, ADJUST ALL CRIMP-TYPE HOSE CLAMPS.ALSO ALL FUEL LINE QUICK-DISCONNECT COUPLINGS WILL BE INSPECTED.IF A LEAK IS DETECTED, THE QUICK-DISCONNECT O-RING WILL BE REPLACED.IF DAMAGED, THE COUPLING WILL BE REPLACED.OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2004.