AI Damage2016 BMW G 650 GS: common problems
Owners of the 2016 BMW G 650 GS filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and electrical system. The maker issued 7 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 7
What fails most often
- 1 Engine 80% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 20% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 20% of all complaints
- 4 Vehicle speed control 20% of all complaints
- Engine: 4 complaints (80% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (20% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 2.
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 5 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 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 2 |
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 that while driving at 70 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The motorcycle was taken to cycle center of denton (521 acme st, denton, [ZIP]) where the contact was unable to describe the failure experienced. The contact stated that failure recurred while driving home at 65 mph.
The contact stated that the motorcycle would stall whenever the throttle was released at any speed. If the throttle was constant, the vehicle would surge violently without warning. The contact took the motorcycle to the dealer, but it was not officially diagnosed. The motorcycle had not been repaired.
A summory of my issue: my vehicle stalls and the engine dies when below a certain rpm threshold or when the clutch is depressed when coming to a stop and is unable to start again for several minutes. This has happened 4 separate times on my motorcycle with less that 1000 miles on it.
While driving 15 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 720.
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 14,282 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the G 650 GS has 3 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 5, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few…
The electrical system of BMW vehicles has been subject to an ongoing development process over the last few years. This has led to increased demands being placed on the battery. This document covers important…
- TEC26 Turbo Charger Return
- Tec25 Wishbone Return
- Tech24 Snap-in Adapter Return
- MINI engine oil part number transition and model year 2016 engine oils
- MINI "Enhanced" dealer self authorized (DSA)K goodwill program
- Leaks have been reported in fork legs
The cause is reported be from oil lubricating film with accompanying dirt/grease ring is incorrectly interpreted to be a leaking fork leg. Investigations have shown that the part is not defective.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2016 BMW G 650 GS?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine, electrical system, powertrain. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (100%), unintended acceleration (20%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2016 BMW G 650 GS?
NHTSA lists 7 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 2016 BMW G 650 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 2016 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.