AI Damage2009 BMW F 650 GS US: common problems
Owners of the 2009 BMW F 650 GS US filed 15 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and fuel system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 15
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 53% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 20% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 7% of all complaints
- 4 Electronic stability control 7% of all complaints
- 5 Exterior lighting 7% of all complaints
- 6 Powertrain 7% of all complaints
- 7 Structure 7% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 8 complaints (53% of all).
- Fuel system: 3 complaints (20% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (7% of all).
- Electronic stability control: 1 complaints (7% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 1 complaints (7% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 15 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Headlight (low or high beam) usage. 2. Using the lowbeam or high beam headlight over time causes the headlight reflector housing to overheat and lose its reflectiveness and turn black from being burnt. 3. The headlight unit will need to be replaced with a unit that is more resistant to heat.
Approximately 1 year and 6 months after purchase of a bmw f650gs motorcycle severe ignition failures occur on a routine basis rendering the motorcycle unusable. Problem developed on a major highway with trip computer reporting ignition malfunction due to unauthorized key in the ignition, after 40 minutes into a ride.
The contact stated while driving at approximate speeds of 30 mph, he pulled the clutch and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was then restarted and was operating normal until he attempted to pull the clutch again. The vehicle stalled a second time. The failure happened once more when pulling the clutch.
2009 bmw f650gs motorcycle-cracks in plastic holding gas tank-many others on forums reporting this also.
The bike stalled about 5 more times in an hour, repeating the process, before I had it towed to a dealer. They added a gas cleaner (assuming it had bad gas).
My 2009 bmw f650 gs twin stalls while driving in heavy rain. The stall happens 100% of time when performing the following operations: slowing to a stop; shifting gear; coasting with clutch engaged and disengaged.
A 2009 bmw f650gs stalls when driven in the rain. The stalling happens very erratically and is very dangerous. Googling for "f650gs stalling in rain" will provide pages of others who have the same problem.
The contact stated that the vehicle stalls and performs poorly in rainy conditions. After stopping to place fuel in the vehicle, it would not restart due to the rain. As a result, he had to rent a vehicle in order to get home. The contact will call the bmw manufacturer regarding this issue.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 9,288 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 25% most complained about).
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Electronic stability control. ABS/ESC sensors, steering angle, codes after suspension repair.
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2009 BMW F 650 GS US?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, fuel system, electrical system. Total complaints: 15. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (73%), jerking, harsh shifts (7%), headlights and tail lights (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2009 BMW F 650 GS US?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2009 BMW F 650 GS US from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2009 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.