IllustrationTHE ENGINE CONTROL SOFTWARE REGULATES IDLE SPEED. WHEN THE CLUTCH LEVER IS EGAGAGED, AND THE ENGINE IS OPERATING AT IDLE, THE MOTORCYCLE ABRUPTLY STALLS REAGARDLESS OF SPEED. IT CAUSED A NEAR -REAR END CRASH AS ANY DOWNSHIFTING RESULTED IN STALLS INSTEAD OF IDLE.
2013 BMW G650GS
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 G650GS 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: 2 of 2 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.
- Engine. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. 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
2 reportsENGINE CONTROL UNIT: WHEN THE CLUTCH IS ENGAGED AND THE ENGINE SPEED IS NEAR IDLE, THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT TURNS OFF THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENS ANYTIME THE MOTORCYCLE NEEDS TO COME TO A STOP (TRAFFIC LIGHT, STOP SIGN, ETC.). WHEN THE ENGINE SPEED IS KEPT ABOVE 3000 RPMS, THE BIKE RUNS FINE AND IDLES FINE IF THERE IS SUFFICIENT THR…
Read full complaint
ENGINE CONTROL UNIT: WHEN THE CLUTCH IS ENGAGED AND THE ENGINE SPEED IS NEAR IDLE, THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT TURNS OFF THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENS ANYTIME THE MOTORCYCLE NEEDS TO COME TO A STOP (TRAFFIC LIGHT, STOP SIGN, ETC.). WHEN THE ENGINE SPEED IS KEPT ABOVE 3000 RPMS, THE BIKE RUNS FINE AND IDLES FINE IF THERE IS SUFFICIENT THROTTLE INPUT.
Official recalls
116V689000 · 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
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: 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
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: 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.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.