2016 BMW G650gs: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 2016 BMW G650gs
Only 6 defect reports have been filed with NHTSA about the 2016 BMW G650gs, which is too few to compute mileage percentiles or a risk score. The reports reported other engine problem.
When each failure gets reported
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other engine problem | engine | 4 | 4 | — | 720 | — | 20.1 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 1 | 1 | — | 720 | — | 5.0 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 1 | 1 | — | 300 | — | 5.0 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other engine problem
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 bmw g650gs. 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.
I previously left a phone complaint #10926258 with nhsta and upon further investigation there appears to have been a recall for my exact problem (recall 16v-689) however my particular VIN was not associated with this recall after contacting bmw motorrad usa and thus they stated that there was nothing that they could do other than recommend me to pay to have it serviced at a dealership. I feel that for a safety concern that I the consumer should not be faulted into paying for a diagnosis and review of a brand new motorcycle. 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. The most recent occurrence was 14nov16 at 215pm pst. My concern is that my safety issue is not going to be resolved because of the seclusion of my particular VIN with recall 16v-689. I will attempt to document the next occurrence of this issue to further help my cause in getting this safety issue with my motorcycle addressed.
Other electrical problem
I previously left a phone complaint #10926258 with nhsta and upon further investigation there appears to have been a recall for my exact problem (recall 16v-689) however my particular VIN was not associated with this recall after contacting bmw motorrad usa and thus they stated that there was nothing that they could do other than recommend me to pay to have it serviced at a dealership. I feel that for a safety concern that I the consumer should not be faulted into paying for a diagnosis and review of a brand new motorcycle. 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. The most recent occurrence was 14nov16 at 215pm pst. My concern is that my safety issue is not going to be resolved because of the seclusion of my particular VIN with recall 16v-689. I will attempt to document the next occurrence of this issue to further help my cause in getting this safety issue with my motorcycle addressed.
Other speed control problem
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 bmw g650gs. 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. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 300.
Recalls on the 2016 model year
NHTSA has issued 1 recall campaign covering the 2016 BMW G650gs, affecting an estimated 199 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover engine and engine cooling:engine. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1,398 vehicles 2016-09-26- Defect
- BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 BMW G650GS motorcycles manufactured March 8, 2013, to October 12, 2015, and 2013-2015 BMW G650GS Sertao motorcycles manufactured March 8, 2013, to May 23, 2014. The affected motorcycles may stall during operation due to an engine control unit (ECU) software issue.
- Consequence
- If the engine stalls during operation, it increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- BMW will notify owners, and dealers will update the ECU software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin November 18, 2016. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417. Note: This recall supersedes recall 15V-537. Motorcycles that were repaired under that recall need to have their software updated again as part of this campaign.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
Every year of the BMW G650gs
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
What the reports on file say
The complaints recorded against the 2016 BMW G650gs are other engine problem (4 reports, around 720 miles), other electrical problem (1 report, around 720 miles) and other speed control problem (1 report, around 300 miles). With a sample this size these are anecdotes rather than a pattern, and they are shown because somebody looking at this exact car would rather see them than nothing.
Why this page is short
A model year needs about 8 reports before percentiles mean anything, and this one does not have them. Complaint volume tracks how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road, so a thin page usually means a rare car, a new car, or a car whose owners do not file.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed