2005 Bmw F650 GS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
6,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Wiring is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 1 | 50.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 50.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 50.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
2006: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Wiring leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10163562 · 2006-07-26 (July 26, 2006)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ELECTRICAL WIRING CONNECTIONS HAVE RUSTED THROUGH. THE CONTACT HAD A ELECTRICIAN LOOK AT THE WIRING AND THEY STATE THAT WIRING IS A GRADE CLASS C, WHICH IS A THIRD GRADE CATEGORY WIRING WHICH SHOULD NOT BE USED ON MOTORCYCLES. THIS HAS SHORTED OUT THE HEADLIGHTS CAUSING HEADLIGHTS, LOW AND HIGH BEAM AS WELL AS BRAKE LIGHTS TO FAIL. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS NOT BEEN OVERLY EXPOSED TO WATER AND THE GRADE OF WIRING IS A SAFETY CONCERN IN BEING ABLE TO DRIVE THE MOTORCYCLE WITHOUT HEADLIGHTS AS WELL AS IT BEING A FIRE HAZARD.…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10163562 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10436885 · 2011-11-23 (November 23, 2011)
FUEL CAP UNDER SEAT WHERE FUEL PICKUP ENTERS FUEL TANK HAS DEVELOPED A HAIRLINE CRACK AND WEEPS SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF FUEL WHEN THE TANK IS FILLED UP. THIS IS THE SECOND BIKE OWNED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM-VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION INDEED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10436885 at NHTSA ↗
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
2 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 2003 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 2100.0%ODI 10745672 · 5,500 miMY MOTORCYCLE WAS PUT INTO THE SHOP BEFORE A TRIP AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE WERE CRACKS ON THE OUTSIDE WALL OF THE FUEL TANK IN THE SEAM AREAS. VICTORY BMW TOLD US THAT IT HAPPENS TO A LOT OF BIKES AND THEY WOULD TRY TO PUT IT IN UNDER WARRANTY AND WE WERE LATER TOLD THAT THE COMPANY WOULD NOT COVER IT. THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB UNDER THE BMW 600 - 800 FORUMS. ANY PROBLEM WITH FUEL TANKS IS A SERIOUS DANGEROUS SITUATION. BMW SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL AND REPLACE THE TANKS. | 133.3%ODI 10536546 · 7,400 miTHREE INCIDENTS ON THE SAME DAY WITHIN 35 MILES. THE AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE WAS 95 DEGREES FOR THE FIRST INCIDENT, AND IN THE MID- 80S (WHILE GRADUALLY RISING IN ALTITUDE ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD) FOR THE 2ND AND 3RD. THE GAS TANK WAS HALF EMPTY-ABOUT 2 GALLONS REMAINING: 1ST INCIDENT) RODE THREE MILES ON A FLAT, PAVED ROAD. STOPPED AND TURNED OFF IGNITION TO DISABLE ABS AT START OF DIRT ROAD. BMW WOULD NOT RESTART FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. 2ND & 3RD INCIDENTS) 10 MILES LATER WHILE RIDING IN 2ND OR 3RD GEAR IN THE RANGE OF 20 - 30 MPH, THE BMW LOST … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10652313 · 8,000 miAFTER WASHING AND DRYING THE MOTORCYCLE, I NOTICED A HULL BREACH ON THE FUEL TANK RUNNING APPROXIMATELY 14 INCHES FROM FRONT TO REAR OF PLASTIC FUEL TANK. TANK HAS INNER LINER AND IS NOT OPENLY LEAKING GASOLINE, BUT CRACKING IS PROMINENT INDICATING A POSSIBILITY OF RUPTURE AND FUEL SPILLAGE. MACHINE IS CURRENTLY NOT BEING OPERATED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS OVER THIS ISSUE. BMW NA HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT UNRESPONSIVE. *TR |
| Electrical System | 133.3%ODI 10711815 · 51,867 miMOST WIRES OUT OF IGNITION SWITCH, INSIDE HARNESS TUBING, ARE EXPOSED & THE MAIN WIRE BROKE. THIS RESULTED IN COMPLETE VEHICLE STALL DURING TURNS. NO ABRASIONS OR SIGNS OF FATIGUE ON OUTSIDE HARNESS COVER. VERY UNSAFE FOR A MOTORCYCLE TO STALL WHILE CORNERING. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10536546 · 7,400 miTHREE INCIDENTS ON THE SAME DAY WITHIN 35 MILES. THE AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE WAS 95 DEGREES FOR THE FIRST INCIDENT, AND IN THE MID- 80S (WHILE GRADUALLY RISING IN ALTITUDE ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD) FOR THE 2ND AND 3RD. THE GAS TANK WAS HALF EMPTY-ABOUT 2 GALLONS REMAINING: 1ST INCIDENT) RODE THREE MILES ON A FLAT, PAVED ROAD. STOPPED AND TURNED OFF IGNITION TO DISABLE ABS AT START OF DIRT ROAD. BMW WOULD NOT RESTART FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. 2ND & 3RD INCIDENTS) 10 MILES LATER WHILE RIDING IN 2ND OR 3RD GEAR IN THE RANGE OF 20 - 30 MPH, THE BMW LOST … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 11019493 · 17,800 miTHE STATOR AND RECTIFIER ASSEMBLIES WERE FAILING AND WOULD CAUSE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION. HEADLIGHTS, BRAKES, TURN SIGNALS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE...INSTRUMENTS WOULD NOT FUNCTION...THEN THE ENGINE WOULD QUIT RUNNING, LEAVING THE MOTORCYCLE AND MYSELF STRANDED. THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD NOT RESTART UNTIL THE BATTERY HAD BEEN CHARGED FOR AN EXTENDED AMOUNT OF TIME. THIS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL I COULD NO LONGER TRUST THE MOTORCYCLE AS IT WAS VERY UNSAFE TO RIDE, NEVER KNOWING WHEN IT WOULD HAVE ANOTHER CATASTROPHIC SHUTDOWN OF LIGHT… |
| Engine | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 1100.0%ODI 11324634 · 7,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BMW F 650. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM THE OIL TANK DOWN UNTO THE EXHAUST CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SMOKE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT A FIRE MAY START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000. *LN CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING THE OIL WOULD DRIP ON THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST.*JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10536546 · 7,400 miTHREE INCIDENTS ON THE SAME DAY WITHIN 35 MILES. THE AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE WAS 95 DEGREES FOR THE FIRST INCIDENT, AND IN THE MID- 80S (WHILE GRADUALLY RISING IN ALTITUDE ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD) FOR THE 2ND AND 3RD. THE GAS TANK WAS HALF EMPTY-ABOUT 2 GALLONS REMAINING: 1ST INCIDENT) RODE THREE MILES ON A FLAT, PAVED ROAD. STOPPED AND TURNED OFF IGNITION TO DISABLE ABS AT START OF DIRT ROAD. BMW WOULD NOT RESTART FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES. 2ND & 3RD INCIDENTS) 10 MILES LATER WHILE RIDING IN 2ND OR 3RD GEAR IN THE RANGE OF 20 - 30 MPH, THE BMW LOST … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10342947 · 700 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 BMW R1200RT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WOULD SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND WHEN RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE WOULD RESUME NORMAL OPERATION. THE DEALER ADVISED THERE WAS A DEFECTIVE CAM GEAR IN HIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE TOOL NEEDED TO MAKE THE REPAIR TO THE VEHICLE WAS NOT AVAILABLE YET WAS EXPECTING IT TO ARRIVE WITHIN TWO WEEKS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CON… | 133.3%ODI 10438680 · 1,500 miTHE MAY 18TH DATE IS A ROUGH GUESS. THE ENGINE HAS DIED TWO TIMES BETWEEN SHIFTS FROM SECOND TO FIRST, VERY SLOW SPEED, COMING TO STOPS. ONE TIME WAS IN LIGHT RAIN. MOST RECENT WAS NOVEMBER 29, 2011 AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES OF RIDING IN LIGHT RAIN. *TR IN MEDIUM TO HEAVY RAIN, ENGINE BEGINS TO SPUTTER WHILE RIDING (UNDER POWER) AND FREQUENTLY ALMOST STALLS AFTER ABOUT 10-15 MILES. SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO KEEP ENGINE GOING. THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THE 2008-2010 F650GS (TWIN-CYLINDER ENGINE). IT APPEARS TO STILL BE A PROBLEM. IT IS… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 133.3%ODI 10339245 · 27,500 miDURING NORMAL RIDING ON A VACATION TRIP I STOPPED TO REFUEL AND GAS WAS LEAKING ON THE GROUND. AFTER REMOVING THE SEAT I FOUND WHAT IS LISTED BELOW. ABOUT ONE HALF GALLON OF GAS LEAKED ON THE GROUND BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO USE EPOXY PUTTY TO STOP THE LEAK. A HAIRLINE CRACK IN THE FUEL PUMP/FILTER ASSEMBLY "CAP" ON TOP OF THE TANK WHICH ALLOWS FUEL TO LEAK OUT OF THE TANK AND POOL UNDER THE SEAT CREATING A FIRE/EXPLOSION HAZARD. THIS IS THE SAME PROBLEM REFERRED TO IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 04V236000 REGARDING THE CS MODEL. *TR | 150.0%ODI 10436885 · 6,000 miFUEL CAP UNDER SEAT WHERE FUEL PICKUP ENTERS FUEL TANK HAS DEVELOPED A HAIRLINE CRACK AND WEEPS SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF FUEL WHEN THE TANK IS FILLED UP. THIS IS THE SECOND BIKE OWNED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM-VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION INDEED. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 266.7%ODI 10438680 · 1,500 miTHE MAY 18TH DATE IS A ROUGH GUESS. THE ENGINE HAS DIED TWO TIMES BETWEEN SHIFTS FROM SECOND TO FIRST, VERY SLOW SPEED, COMING TO STOPS. ONE TIME WAS IN LIGHT RAIN. MOST RECENT WAS NOVEMBER 29, 2011 AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES OF RIDING IN LIGHT RAIN. *TR IN MEDIUM TO HEAVY RAIN, ENGINE BEGINS TO SPUTTER WHILE RIDING (UNDER POWER) AND FREQUENTLY ALMOST STALLS AFTER ABOUT 10-15 MILES. SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO KEEP ENGINE GOING. THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THE 2008-2010 F650GS (TWIN-CYLINDER ENGINE). IT APPEARS TO STILL BE A PROBLEM. IT IS… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 102138852007 BMW F650 WITH SCRATCHED SIDE PANELS AND SAFETY DEFECT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALER NEVER RETURNED HIS PHONE CALL. HE THEN NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY WAS NOT MOUNTED IN THE RIGHT SPOT. SERIOUS THINGS COULD HAPPEN IF ACID WERE TO LEAK. *KB THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE BATTERY WAS MOUNTED HIGHER THAN THE HIS WAISTLINE. HE ALSO FOUND THAT THE BATTERY WAS MOUNTED FORWARD WHEN SITTING ON THE MOTORCYCLE. THE PLASTIC HOSE WHICH WAS MEANT TO VENT THE BATTERY WAS NOT CONNECTED. THE HOSE WAS LYING FORWARD OF THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT AND APPEARED NE… | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10438680 · 1,500 miTHE MAY 18TH DATE IS A ROUGH GUESS. THE ENGINE HAS DIED TWO TIMES BETWEEN SHIFTS FROM SECOND TO FIRST, VERY SLOW SPEED, COMING TO STOPS. ONE TIME WAS IN LIGHT RAIN. MOST RECENT WAS NOVEMBER 29, 2011 AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MILES OF RIDING IN LIGHT RAIN. *TR IN MEDIUM TO HEAVY RAIN, ENGINE BEGINS TO SPUTTER WHILE RIDING (UNDER POWER) AND FREQUENTLY ALMOST STALLS AFTER ABOUT 10-15 MILES. SOMETIMES DIFFICULT TO KEEP ENGINE GOING. THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THE 2008-2010 F650GS (TWIN-CYLINDER ENGINE). IT APPEARS TO STILL BE A PROBLEM. IT IS… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | Too few reports for a range | 6,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10436885 · 6,000 miFUEL CAP UNDER SEAT WHERE FUEL PICKUP ENTERS FUEL TANK HAS DEVELOPED A HAIRLINE CRACK AND WEEPS SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNTS OF FUEL WHEN THE TANK IS FILLED UP. THIS IS THE SECOND BIKE OWNED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM-VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION INDEED. *TR |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2011: 3 complaints · 2012: 2 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Electrical System:Wiring | Fuel System, Gasoline |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System:Wiring | — | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.