AI Damage2009 BMW F800 GS: common problems
Owners of the 2009 BMW F800 GS filed 17 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and fuel/propulsion system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 17
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 24% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel/propulsion system 18% of all complaints
- 3 Wheels 18% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 12% of all complaints
- 5 Engine and cooling 12% of all complaints
- 6 Exterior lighting 6% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel system 6% of all complaints
- 8 Powertrain 6% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (24% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 3 complaints (18% of all).
- Wheels: 3 complaints (18% of all).
- Engine: 2 complaints (12% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (12% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 17 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 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.
The contact stated while riding 70 MPH, the motorcycle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway and restarted the motorcycle. After restarting the motorcycle, the motorcycle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence.
The plastic fuel tank on this motorcycle is known to have a material or manufacturing defect in the form of a lateral crack all the way around the tank. The fuel tank is positioned directly over the exhaust system under the seat.
Headlight reflector has burned causing diminished nighttime visibility. Oem style bulbs have been the only equipment used.
I saw that no warning/ check engine lights had come on, the fuel gauge indicated that it had approximately 3/4 of a tank, the kill switch was in the run position, and the kick stand was securely up.
The gas tank is cracked on the right side of the bike. This is a known problem that is happening on many bmw f800's.
While cleaning the motorcycle yesterday, I noticed the fuel tank is breaking at its seam on both left and right sides of the tank. The crack in the tank is well over 12 inches on each side.
Experienced a failure of the charging system resulting in stalling the inability to restart the motorcycle. This failure happened in heavy traffic, leaving me stranded in the middle of a multilane highway in rush hour traffic.
Riding home at night in traffic, my motorcycle stalled and died locking up all systems including lights. I found myself at a dead stop in traffic with no lights for visibility. It was quite dangerous.
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 8,820 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 24% most complained about).
On average one model year of the F800 GS has 3 complaints (13 years in the data). This year has 17, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Wheels. Wheel runout, cracks, signs of a wheel strike.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2009 BMW F800 GS?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, fuel/propulsion system, wheels. Total complaints: 17. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (24%), warning lights, check engine (12%), fuel system, fuel smell (6%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2009 BMW F800 GS?
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 F800 GS 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 2026-11-05.