AI Damage2012 Suzuki DL650: common problems
Owners of the 2012 Suzuki DL650 filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 6
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 67% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 17% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 17% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 4 complaints (67% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (17% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 6 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 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 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.
ABS pump issue, very likely clogged valves, lead to rear brake pedal locked up in disengaged position while riding - no rear brakes. When I was riding at moderate speed, the ABS module engaged after the rear wheel slid a little on a patch of grass.
Upon pulling away from a stoplight and shifting into 2nd gear with a toe lift on the gear shift lever, the shifting linkage broke and fell down. The linkage allowed the shifter arm to fall down and intermittently contact the ground while driving. Using 20x magnification it appears to have failed in bending fatigue.
Fuel inj system takes info from this part, the bike gives a intermittent fi warning light when this part is malfunctioning. Have replaced this part 4 times now.
Headlight goes out when operationing without warning. This is not an uncommon occurrence. Did research and discovered numerous owners have/had this problem. I was stopped by a florida state trooper who informed me my headlight was not working. Called suzuki to report this safety issue and they were not concerned.
After riding 360 miles, over a two day period, the motorcycle was parked and the contact discovered that the tail lights and the parking lights were illuminated slightly. The contact was unable to turn the lights off and disconnected the battery.
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 13,278 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 36% most complained about).
On average one model year of the DL650 has 2 complaints (10 years in the data). This year has 6, above average.
What to check before buying
- 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.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Suzuki DL650?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, powertrain, service brakes. Total complaints: 6. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: headlights and tail lights (33%), warning lights, check engine (17%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2012 Suzuki DL650?
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 2012 Suzuki DL650 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 2012 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.