Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. 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.

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Engine complaints

1 reports

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Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 2017

Engine

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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 ODI #11040830

Official recalls

16V689000 · Electrical System:software; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Sep 26, 2016

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the engine stalls during operation, it increases the risk of a crash.

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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:software

Consequence: If the engine stalls during operation, it increases the risk of a crash.

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.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine

Consequence: If the engine stalls during operation, it increases the risk of a crash.

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.