NHTSA vehicle safety data

2011 BMW F650 GS Recalls & Complaints

The 2011 BMW F650 GS has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 3 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized BMW dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2011 BMW F650 GS. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2011 BMW F650 GS owner complaints

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 BMW F650 GS, describing incidents dated May 18, 2011 to January 1, 2012.

Most-cited components

Power Train 2 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint
Engine 1 complaint
Exterior Lighting 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11061386 · Filed January 9, 2018
THE SILVER REFLECTING COATING BEHIND THE HEADLIGHT BULB IS BURNING OFF. THIS REDUCES MY LIGHT VISIBILITY TO ME AND ONCOMING VEHICLES.
ODI #10438682 · Filed December 5, 2011
DATE AND MILEAGE ARE VERY APPROXIMATE. IT WAS SOMETIME DURING SUMMER 2011. CLUTCH CABLE END APPARENTLY SLIPPED OUT OF THE LEVER END ON THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO REMAIN ENGAGED TO ENGINE. I STOPPED THE BIKE BY STALLING IT, ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY LOCK TO…
ODI #10438680 · Filed December 5, 2011
THE MAY 18TH DATE IS A ROUGH GUESS. THE ENGINE HAS DIED TWO TIMES BETWEEN SHIFTS FROM SECOND TO FIRST, VERY SLOW SPEED, COMING TO STOPS. ONE TIME WAS IN LIGHT RAIN. MOST RECENT WAS NOVEMBER 29, 2011 AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES OF RIDING IN LIGHT RAIN. *TR IN MEDIUM TO HEAVY RAIN, ENGINE BEGINS TO…

Read all 3 complaints

Reflex Reflector Visibility Blocked/FMVSS 108

NHTSA #17V481000 · Equipment · NHTSA notice

Reported July 28, 2017 · BMW of North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 47,775 vehicles

Repair completion: 17.69% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified October 16, 2017 · Vehicles built January 11, 2008 – June 1, 2012 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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."

Safety consequence

If the rear reflex reflectors are obscured from view, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2011 BMW F650 GS. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

3 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2011 BMW F650 GS.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #11061386

Incident: January 1, 2012 · Filed: January 9, 2018

THE SILVER REFLECTING COATING BEHIND THE HEADLIGHT BULB IS BURNING OFF. THIS REDUCES MY LIGHT VISIBILITY TO ME AND ONCOMING VEHICLES.

Power Train

ODI #10438682

Incident: June 15, 2011 · Filed: December 5, 2011

DATE AND MILEAGE ARE VERY APPROXIMATE. IT WAS SOMETIME DURING SUMMER 2011. CLUTCH CABLE END APPARENTLY SLIPPED OUT OF THE LEVER END ON THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO REMAIN ENGAGED TO ENGINE. I STOPPED THE BIKE BY STALLING IT, ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY LOCK TO PREVENT A CLUTCH CABLE END FROM COMING OUT OF THE CLUTCH ACTUATION LEVER THAT IS LOCATED ON THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling; Power Train; Electrical System

ODI #10438680

Incident: May 18, 2011 · Filed: December 5, 2011

THE MAY 18TH DATE IS A ROUGH GUESS. THE ENGINE HAS DIED TWO TIMES BETWEEN SHIFTS FROM SECOND TO FIRST, VERY SLOW SPEED, COMING TO STOPS. ONE TIME WAS IN LIGHT RAIN. MOST RECENT WAS NOVEMBER 29, 2011 AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES OF RIDING IN LIGHT RAIN. *TR IN MEDIUM TO HEAVY RAIN, ENGINE BEGINS TO SPUTTER WHILE RIDING (UNDER POWER) AND FREQUENTLY ALMOST STALLS AFTER ABOUT 10-15 MILES. SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO KEEP ENGINE GOING. THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THE 2008-2010 F650GS (TWIN-CYLINDER ENGINE). IT APPEARS TO STILL BE A PROBLEM. IT IS DANGEROUS AND NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. NOT SURE IF THIS RELATED, BUT THE IGNITION SWITCH RECENTLY SHORTED OUT, COMPLETELY DISABLING THE MOTORCYCLE, AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.

Other BMW F650 GS model years

Check your 2011 BMW F650 GS VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your BMW F650 GS at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a BMW VIN