IllustrationMOST WIRES OUT OF IGNITION SWITCH, INSIDE HARNESS TUBING, ARE EXPOSED & THE MAIN WIRE BROKE. THIS RESULTED IN COMPLETE VEHICLE STALL DURING TURNS. NO ABRASIONS OR SIGNS OF FATIGUE ON OUTSIDE HARNESS COVER. VERY UNSAFE FOR A MOTORCYCLE TO STALL WHILE CORNERING. *TR
2003 BMW F650 Gs
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all F650 Gs years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 3 of 3 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
3 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW F650 GS MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING OVER A ROAD BUMP AT 65 MPH, THE REAR SUSPENSION MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE REAR WHEEL AND AN OIL LEAK. THE OIL LEAK CAUSED THE ENGINE TO MALFUNCTION AS WELL. THE CONTACT HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER REFUSED T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BMW F650 GS MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER DRIVING OVER A ROAD BUMP AT 65 MPH, THE REAR SUSPENSION MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE REAR WHEEL AND AN OIL LEAK. THE OIL LEAK CAUSED THE ENGINE TO MALFUNCTION AS WELL. THE CONTACT HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THE REAR SUSPENSION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.
DURING NORMAL RIDING ON A VACATION TRIP I STOPPED TO REFUEL AND GAS WAS LEAKING ON THE GROUND. AFTER REMOVING THE SEAT I FOUND WHAT IS LISTED BELOW. ABOUT ONE HALF GALLON OF GAS LEAKED ON THE GROUND BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO USE EPOXY PUTTY TO STOP THE LEAK. A HAIRLINE CRACK IN THE FUEL PUMP/FILTER ASSEMBLY "CAP" ON TOP OF THE TA…
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DURING NORMAL RIDING ON A VACATION TRIP I STOPPED TO REFUEL AND GAS WAS LEAKING ON THE GROUND. AFTER REMOVING THE SEAT I FOUND WHAT IS LISTED BELOW. ABOUT ONE HALF GALLON OF GAS LEAKED ON THE GROUND BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO USE EPOXY PUTTY TO STOP THE LEAK. A HAIRLINE CRACK IN THE FUEL PUMP/FILTER ASSEMBLY "CAP" ON TOP OF THE TANK WHICH ALLOWS FUEL TO LEAK OUT OF THE TANK AND POOL UNDER THE SEAT CREATING A FIRE/EXPLOSION HAZARD. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM REFERRED TO IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V236000 REGARDING THE CS MODEL. *TR
Official recalls
0No 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
1PE09026 · 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.