Auto Recall Watch
U.S. public vehicle records

Bmw G650GS SERTAO problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

3 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

3,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2013 to 2015 model years. 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.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 3 complaints (66.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation266.7%
Braking behavior133.3%

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.

Electrical System
2
Engine
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System2
Engine1

Electrical System: 2; Engine: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0001
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

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). 2 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.

2017
2
2018
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20172
20181

2017: 2; 2018: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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 11021573 · 2017-09-05 (September 5, 2017)

ENGINE STILL DIES WHEN YOU PULL THE CLUTCH LEVER IN. I HAVE HAD TWO BMW SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGNS PERFORMED (16V-689 AND 15V-537) ON THIS MOTORCYCLE FOR THIS ISSUE, AND IT IS STILL NO OPERATING CORRECTLY OR SAFELY. I COULD GET INJURED OR KILLED BY THE BIKE STALLING. THE BIKE STALLS WHEN MOVING AT ANY SPEED, GENERALLY STALLS WHEN SLOWING, AND PULLING THE CLUTCH LEVER, COMING TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ROUND ABOUT, STOP SIGN, OR JUST COMING TO A STOP, HOT OR COLD.

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11021573 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11060854 · 2018-01-05 (January 5, 2018)

AFTER THE SECOND BMW RECALL, I PICK UP THE MOTORCYCLE ON 01/05/18. AND STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, THE MOTORCYCLE CAN'T MAINTAIN IDLE OR STALL BEFORE A COMPLETE STOP. BMW DEALER DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT, SINCE THIS IS A POSSIBLE SOFTWARE/FUEL MAP PROBLEM. IT'S NOT SAFE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE SPECIALLY IN TRAFFIC SITUATIONS.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11060854 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11040830 · 2017-10-28 (October 28, 2017)

PROBLEM ONE: MOTORCYCLE GETS OVERHEAT VERY EASY AND THE FAN STARTS TO OPERATE SOON THEN ANTICIPATE, BLOWS THE HOT AIR INTO THE DRIVERS RIGHT SIDE LEG, MAKING VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO OPERATE IN TRAFFIC. TO MAKE A LITTLE BIT COMFORTABLE, DRIVER MUST OPEN THE LEG FAIR AWAY FROM THE NORMAL SEAT POSITION AND FAIR AWAY FROM THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL. THESE IS NOT A SAFE WAY TO RIDE AND MUST BE FIX. THERE IS A LOT COMPLAINS ABOUT THIS SITUATION IN THE BMW FORUMS AND BMW KEEP SAYS IT'S "NORMAL". PROBLEM 2: THE KICKSTAND POSITION IN THESE MODEL WAS ADAPTED …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11040830 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2013
1
2014
1
2015
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20131
20141
20151

2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1

Year-by-year records

Bmw G650GS SERTAO model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
201301Not available
2014310
2015010
Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

3 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.

33.3%Usable mileage1 / 3 records
100.0%Valid incident date3 / 3 records
100.0%Valid filing date3 / 3 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates3 / 3 records

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 complaint heatmap
Component201320142015
Electrical System
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

266.7%
ODI 11021573 · 3,000 mi

ENGINE STILL DIES WHEN YOU PULL THE CLUTCH LEVER IN. I HAVE HAD TWO BMW SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGNS PERFORMED (16V-689 AND 15V-537) ON THIS MOTORCYCLE FOR THIS ISSUE, AND IT IS STILL NO OPERATING CORRECTLY OR SAFELY. I COULD GET INJURED OR KILLED BY THE BIKE STALLING. THE BIKE STALLS WHEN MOVING AT ANY SPEED, GENERALLY STALLS WHEN SLOWING, AND PULLING THE CLUTCH LEVER, COMING TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ROUND ABOUT, STOP SIGN, OR JUST COMING TO A STOP, HOT OR COLD.

Look up ODI 11021573 at NHTSA ↗

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

Engine
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

133.3%
ODI 11040830

PROBLEM ONE: MOTORCYCLE GETS OVERHEAT VERY EASY AND THE FAN STARTS TO OPERATE SOON THEN ANTICIPATE, BLOWS THE HOT AIR INTO THE DRIVERS RIGHT SIDE LEG, MAKING VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO OPERATE IN TRAFFIC. TO MAKE A LITTLE BIT COMFORTABLE, DRIVER MUST OPEN THE LEG FAIR AWAY FROM THE NORMAL SEAT POSITION AND FAIR AWAY FROM THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL. THESE IS NOT A SAFE WAY TO RIDE AND MUST BE FIX. THERE IS A LOT COMPLAINS ABOUT THIS SITUATION IN THE BMW FORUMS AND BMW KEEP SAYS IT'S "NORMAL". PROBLEM 2: THE KICKSTAND POSITION IN THESE MODEL WAS ADAPTED …

Look up ODI 11040830 at NHTSA ↗

0Unavailable

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 failure mileage distribution
ComponentMileage range (25th–75th percentile)MedianUsable recordsExamples
Electrical SystemToo few reports for a range3,000 mi1 (sparse)
ODI 11021573 · 3,000 mi

ENGINE STILL DIES WHEN YOU PULL THE CLUTCH LEVER IN. I HAVE HAD TWO BMW SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGNS PERFORMED (16V-689 AND 15V-537) ON THIS MOTORCYCLE FOR THIS ISSUE, AND IT IS STILL NO OPERATING CORRECTLY OR SAFELY. I COULD GET INJURED OR KILLED BY THE BIKE STALLING. THE BIKE STALLS WHEN MOVING AT ANY SPEED, GENERALLY STALLS WHEN SLOWING, AND PULLING THE CLUTCH LEVER, COMING TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ROUND ABOUT, STOP SIGN, OR JUST COMING TO A STOP, HOT OR COLD.

Look up ODI 11021573 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

1 reports2024-102026-09

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
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
MonthComplaintsCampaigns announcedExamples
2024-100None

No examples available for this selection.

2024-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2024-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-100None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-09 (partial)0None

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.

Age 0Age 1Age 21 reports

2014: 1 complaints · 2015: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model yearThrough age 0Through age 1Through age 2
2014011
2015000
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
YearIncident dates usedFiling date fallbacksExcluded dates
2014300
2015000

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 co-occurrence matrix
ComponentElectrical SystemEngine
Electrical System—0
Engine0—

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.

2 patterns with matching reports.

Stalling or loss of power

2 mentions · 66.7% of complaints

Median mileage: 3,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 11021573 · 3,000 mi

ENGINE STILL DIES WHEN YOU PULL THE CLUTCH LEVER IN. I HAVE HAD TWO BMW SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGNS PERFORMED (16V-689 AND 15V-537) ON THIS MOTORCYCLE FOR THIS ISSUE, AND IT IS STILL NO OPERATING CORRECTLY OR SAFELY. I COULD GET INJURED OR KILLED BY THE BIKE STALLING. THE BIKE STALLS WHEN MOVING AT ANY SPEED, GENERALLY STALLS WHEN SLOWING, AND PULLING THE CLUTCH LEVER, COMING TO A TRAFFIC LIGHT, ROUND ABOUT, STOP SIGN, OR JUST COMING TO A STOP, HOT OR COLD.

Look up ODI 11021573 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 11060854

AFTER THE SECOND BMW RECALL, I PICK UP THE MOTORCYCLE ON 01/05/18. AND STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, THE MOTORCYCLE CAN'T MAINTAIN IDLE OR STALL BEFORE A COMPLETE STOP. BMW DEALER DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT, SINCE THIS IS A POSSIBLE SOFTWARE/FUEL MAP PROBLEM. IT'S NOT SAFE TO OPERATE THE VEHICLE SPECIALLY IN TRAFFIC SITUATIONS.

Look up ODI 11060854 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b

Brake response concerns

1 mentions · 33.3% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 11040830

PROBLEM ONE: MOTORCYCLE GETS OVERHEAT VERY EASY AND THE FAN STARTS TO OPERATE SOON THEN ANTICIPATE, BLOWS THE HOT AIR INTO THE DRIVERS RIGHT SIDE LEG, MAKING VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO OPERATE IN TRAFFIC. TO MAKE A LITTLE BIT COMFORTABLE, DRIVER MUST OPEN THE LEG FAIR AWAY FROM THE NORMAL SEAT POSITION AND FAIR AWAY FROM THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL. THESE IS NOT A SAFE WAY TO RIDE AND MUST BE FIX. THERE IS A LOT COMPLAINS ABOUT THIS SITUATION IN THE BMW FORUMS AND BMW KEEP SAYS IT'S "NORMAL". PROBLEM 2: THE KICKSTAND POSITION IN THESE MODEL WAS ADAPTED …

Look up ODI 11040830 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule\b(brake fail\w*|brakes fail\w*|brake pedal|braking distance|unintended braking|phantom braking)\b