2001 BMW F650 GS recalls and problems

The 2001 BMW F650 GS has 1 recall and 14 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is fuel system.

How the 2001 compares

Highest

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

Highest complaint count among 10 F650 GS model years — the most of any year.

1recalls

14complaints

3crashes

0fires

2injuries

14,000median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.

Check your VIN →

1 recall

Fuel System

Sep 12, 2000 · NHTSA campaign 00V267000 · 417 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: Motorcycles. The fuel tank is equipped with a carbon canister which helps control evaporative emissions from the fuel system. This canister is mounted to a metal insert that is integrated into the tank. During the production process, the thickness of the fuel tank material in the area of the insert May be less than intended. As a result, vehicle operating conditions such as vibration, high temperature, etc., could result in the fuel tank developing a crack in the area of the insert.

Original NHTSA wording

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE FUEL TANK IS EQUIPPED WITH A CARBON CANISTER WHICH HELPS CONTROL EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS FROM THE FUEL SYSTEM. THIS CANISTER IS MOUNTED TO A METAL INSERT THAT IS INTEGRATED INTO THE TANK. DURING THE PRODUCTION PROCESS, THE THICKNESS OF THE FUEL TANK MATERIAL IN THE AREA OF THE INSERT MAY BE LESS THAN INTENDED. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE OPERATING CONDITIONS SUCH AS VIBRATION, HIGH TEMPERATURE, ETC., COULD RESULT IN THE FUEL TANK DEVELOPING A CRACK IN THE AREA OF THE INSERT.

Risk: The fuel tank could leak during refueling, possibly resulting in a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

THE FUEL TANK COULD LEAK DURING REFUELING, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the fuel tank.

Owner notification began September 21, 2000.owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact BMW at 1-800-831-1117, option #5. Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

What owners complain about

Vehicle Speed Control1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

Complaints by year filed

NHTSA investigations

MOTORCYCLE FRONT WHEEL SEPARATION

PE09026 · opened May 18, 2009 · closed Sep 18, 2009

Summary

THIS PE WAS OPENED AFTER NHTSA RECEIVED 3 VOQS CONCERNING ALLEGED FRONT AXLE SEPARATIONS ON CERTAIN BMW F650 GS MODEL MOTORCYCLES SOLD FOR USE IN THE UNITED STATES (THE SUBJECT VEHICLES).COMPLAINTS INVOLVING MOTORCYCLES IN NON-US MARKETS ARE NOT COUNTED IN THIS TOTAL.AFTER GATHERING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SUBJECT, WE ARE NOW AWARE OF FOUR CONFIRMED INCIDENTS INVOLVING MODEL YEAR 2001-2003 SUBJECT VEHICLES.ALL FOUR BIKES WERE BUILT BEFORE SEPTEMBER, 2002.OF THESE, TWO INVOLVE MY 2001 BIKES AND THE OTHER TWO, MY'S 2002 AND 2003, RESPECTIVELY.THE INCIDENTS OCCURRED IN 2002, 2003, AND TWO IN 2008.IN EACH INSTANCE, THE LUG FRACTURES ARE FORCED FRACTURES RATHER THAN FATIGUE-RELATED.BETWEEN OCTOBER 1999 AND SEPTEMBER, 2002, BMW BUILT APPROXIMATELY 4,300 SUBJECT VEHICLES.AFTER SEPTEMBER 12, 2002, ALL F650GS'S WERE BUILT WITH REINFORCED LOWER FORK TUBES TO REDUCE, ACCORDING TO BMW,THE POSSIBILITY OF ANY SIGNIFICANT FRACTURE THAT COULD OCCUR AT THE FORK LEG AXLE LUG AREADURING A CRASH.BMW TOOK THIS ACTION BECAUSE THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE DESIGNED FOR OFF-ROAD USE WHERE CRASHES (MANY MINOR) ARE COMMON AND DID NOT WANT RIDERS TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH A BROKEN FORK AS A RESULT.CURRENTLY, THERE IS NO DATA CONCLUSIVELY ESTABLISHING THAT THE SUBJECT FORK LUGS ARE SEPARATING BEFORE AN ALLEGED CRASH OCCURS.ADDITIONALLY, THE INFREQUENT, SPORADIC, AND RANDOM NATURE OF THE FAILURES FAILS TO ESTABLISH A DEFECT TREND CURRENTLY EXISTS.A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TI…

2001 vs. other BMW F650 GS years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2001. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2001 BMW F650 GS have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign covering the 2001 BMW F650 GS, the latest from Sep 12, 2000 (fuel system). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2001 BMW F650 GS?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention fuel system (5), suspension (3), visibility (3). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.