BMW F 800 GS Complaints

51 consumer complaints on file.

#11643900February 20, 2025
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECU/ECM)
The contact owns a 2009 BMW F800 GS. The contact stated while riding 70 MPH, the motorcycle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the roadway and restarted the motorcycle. After restarting the motorcycle, the motorcycle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The motorcycle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the Engine Control Unit (ECU). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 36,000. The VIN was not available.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11478655August 10, 2022
TIRES
Tire is cracking at the base of the knobbies.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11377487December 2, 2020
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK ON THIS MOTORCYCLE IS KNOWN TO HAVE A MATERIAL OR MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE FORM OF A LATERAL CRACK ALL THE WAY AROUND THE TANK. THE FUEL TANK IS POSITIONED DIRECTLY OVER THE EXHAUST SYSTEM UNDER THE SEAT. I DISCOVERED THIS DEFECT ON MY MACHINE AFTER SMELLING GAS DURING A CASUAL RIDE IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. A QUICK SEARCH ONLINE FOR "F800GS FUEL TANK CRACK" IMMEDIATELY RETURNED SEVERAL DISCUSSIONS AND OWNERS' DOCUMENTATION OF THE EXACT SAME ISSUE, INCLUDING SOME DISCOVERED BIKES STILL ON THE SHOWROOM FLOOR. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS ISSUE COULD RESULT IN RIDERS BEING BURNED AND POSSIBLY KILLED. I ALSO HAVE A WALK AROUND VIDEO THAT SHOWS THE PROBLEM VERY WELL, PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF I CAN GET THAT TO YOU. THANK YOU
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11351750August 28, 2020
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD GOING 55 MPH I LET OFF OF THE THROTTLE TO SLOW DOWN BEFORE ENTERING A SLOWER SPEED AREA AND THE BIKE TURNED OFF. THE BIKE WILL NOT IDLE WITHOUT HAVING THE THROTTLE ON. I HAD TO KEEP THE THROTTLE ON FOR THE REMAINDER OF MY TRIP OR THE BIKE WILL IMMEDIATELY DROP IN RPMS AND TURN OFF.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11024556September 20, 2017
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I BOUGHT THE 2012 F800GS WITH 417 MILES ABOUT A MONTH AGO AT A DEALERSHIP. IT'S A GREAT BIKE. I HAVE ABOUT 520 MILES ON IT. BUT TODAY I PUMPED GAS AND WHEN I PARKED IT AT HOME I NOTICED THAT IT WAS LEAKING GAS. COME TO FIND OUT THAT THE FUEL TANK CRACKED ALONG THE SEAM OF THE FUEL TANK, ALL AROUND . I'VE CLEANED IT IN THE PAST AND NEVER SAW THIS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I REFUELED THE BIKE. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM OR A NUMBER THAT I CAN CALL? I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. THANKS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11016539August 21, 2017
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
STOCK CHARGING SYSTEM FAILED AT ONLY 47,000 MILES. REPLACED WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS DUE TO COST. BMW SAYS YOU MUST REPLACE STATOR AND ROTOR, WHEN ONLY THE STATOR HAS FAILED. THE NEW STATOR FAILED WITHIN 6,000 MILES. REPLACED AGAIN, AND AGAIN. THEY FAIL ROUGHLY EVERY 8,000 MILES. THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED WITH 2013 AND NEWER MODELS, BUT THE OLD BIKES ARE STILL FAILING AT AN ALARMING RATE. WITH NO HELP FROM BMW, THESE ARE STILL A MAJOR ISSUE. WHEN THE BATTERY BECOMES LOW, THE ABS PUMP STOPS WORKING FIRST, THEN THE LIGHTS, THEN THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM WITH THE MOTOR SHUTTING OFF. HAS LEFT ME STRANDED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. I WAS STATIONED IN GUAM WITH FIRST FAILURE. NOT EASY GETTING A TOW ACROSS A SMALL ISLAND WITH NO ACCESS TO A BMW DEALERSHIP. THE REMAINING FAILURES HAVE ALL BEEN BACK STATESIDE. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE LEFT ME STRANDED TWO MILES FROM HOME WHILE COMING HOME LATE ONE NIGHT. WHILE RIDING, MY ABS INDICATOR FLASHED, LETTING ME KNOW THAT I HAVE A LOW BATTERY. THEN THE LIGHT WENT SOLID, INDICATING ABS PUMP FAILURE DUE TO LOW VOLTAGE. THEN MY LCD DASH AND TACHOMETER WENT OUT. THEN MY HEADLIGHT, RUNNING, AND BRAKE LIGHTS TURNED OFF, AT NIGHT, ON A 4 LANE INNER CITY ROAD. NOT EVEN MY HAZARD LIGHTS WORKED. THEN THE BIKES FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FAILED AND STALLED. I COASTED TO A RIGHT TURN LANE SAFELY AND PROCEEDED TO PUSH THE MOTORCYCLE THE REMAINING TWO MILES. UPON DISASSEMBLY OF MY STATOR, IT WAS SEVERELY BURNT TO DUE A LACK OF OIL COOLING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE MOTOR. I KNOW BMW MAKES MANY MOTORCYCLES WITH THE SAME F800 SERIES ENGINES. THEY ARE A COMMON PROBLEM APPARENTLY AND ALSO VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX. AS THE BATTERY AND CHARGING SYSTEM IS CRUCIAL TO MOST MOTORCYCLES, THIS IS CERTAINLY A SAFETY RISK AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS SO. THANK YOU.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10994668June 8, 2017
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY, SERVICE BRAKES
CPSC:2013 BMW F800GS HAS AN ISSUE WHERE THE PLASTIC GAS TANK HAS CRACKED THREE TIMES. BMW REPLACES THE TANK UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THIS IS A TRUE HAZARD. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE MECHANICS CANNOT DETERMINE WHY THE REAR WHEEL AND BRAKES WOULD LOCK UP. UPDATED 06/13/2017*JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10981325April 28, 2017
SERVICE BRAKES, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
BMW HAS MADE A DEFECTIVE GAS TANK FOR THIS MOTORCYCLE. IT CRACKS FREQUENTLY. THOUGH THEY WARRANTY THE TANK, IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM ON MY THIRD TANK. SECONDLY, THE REAR BRAKE CONTINUES TO LOCK UP FOR NO REASON. I HAVE HAD IT WITH THREE MECHANICS IN A YEAR AND NO ONE CAN FIX. IT LOCKED UP TODAY AS I WAS RIDING.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10889155July 27, 2016
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
UPON INSPECTION I SAW THE GAP AROUND THE FUEL TANK WAS CRACKED. NO MOVEMENT DURING INSPECTION
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10850586March 19, 2016
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MOTORCYCLE WAS BOUGHT NEW FROM A DEALERSHIP WITH A CRACK IN THE GAS TANK. IT WAS REPLACED AFTER PURCHASE UNDER WARRANTY. THE TANK IS BEGINNING TO CRACK ONCE AGAIN FOR THE SECOND TIME ABOUT A YEAR LATER. CRACKING FUEL TANKS POSES A RISK OF NOT ONLY GETTING STRANDED BUT POTENTIAL FUEL LEAKS AND SUBSEQUENT ASSOCIATED FIRES. THE CRACK OCCURS ALONG THE SEAM BY THE SEAT ALONG THE RIM OF THE FUEL TANK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10721169May 23, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEAD LAMP FAILED TO LIGHT AND HEAD LAMP HOUSING REFLECTIVE MATERIAL EVAPORATED. HEAD LAMP CONNECTOR HOUSING IS MELTED. ONLINE REPORTS INDICATED HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLIES WITH MANUFACTURER WITH LOGO 'CEV' EXHIBIT THIS PROBLEM. NEWER ASSEMBLY WITH MANUFACTURER LOGO HELLA DO NOT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10716720May 15, 2015
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
CLUTCH LEVER SNAPS OFF SUPER EASILY AND BROKE WHEN WAS BROUGHT IN TO FAST. MADE OF CHEAP MATERIALS THAT BREAK AND LEAVE SHARP EDGES EXPOSED. CAUSED MOTORCYCLE TO LURCH FORWARD AND FALL OVER. AND NOW THERE ARE DAMAGES TO BROKEN CLUTCH LEVER AS WELL AS DAMAGE TO BAR WEIGHT ON LEFT HAND SIDE AND PASSENGER LEFT PEG. EFFECTS SAFE OPERATION OF MOTORCYCLE AND LEFT WITH EASY BREAKING POINTS ACCORDING TO DEALER.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10651263October 29, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHT REFLECTING HOUSING MELTED, DECREASING ABILITY TO SEE AT NIGHT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10648759October 20, 2014
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
HEADLIGHT REFLECTOR HAS BURNED CAUSING DIMINISHED NIGHTTIME VISIBILITY. OEM STYLE BULBS HAVE BEEN THE ONLY EQUIPMENT USED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10596978June 9, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
MOTORCYCLE FUEL TANK HAS SEVERE CRACKS ON BOTH SIDES, IT APPEARS THAT ITS A DESIGN FLAW, BMW MOTORAD OF NORTH AMERICA HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS ISSUE FOR AT LEAST 5 YEARS, TANKS HAVE BEEN REPLACED UNDER THE 3 YEAR BMW WARRANTY, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM APPEARS NOT BE GOING AWAY AND THE NEW PARTS CRACK ONLY A FEW MONTHS AFTER REPLACEMENT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10596974June 8, 2014
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I WAS TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH WHEN TRAFFIC STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. AS I ROLLED OFF THE THROTTLE TO SLOW DOWN THE ENGINE COMPLETELY DIED. I HAD TO COAST THROUGH MULTIPLE LANES OF HIGH SPEED FREEWAY TRAFFIC TO GET TO THE SHOULDER. I SAW THAT NO WARNING/ CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS HAD COME ON, THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT IT HAD APPROXIMATELY 3/4 OF A TANK, THE KILL SWITCH WAS IN THE RUN POSITION, AND THE KICK STAND WAS SECURELY UP. WHILE COASTING TO THE SHOULDER I NOTICED THAT THE TACHOMETER SHOWED ABOUT 1,000 RPM EVEN THOUGH THE CLUTCH WAS IN AND THE ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY DEAD. THE TACHOMETER JUMPED TO ZERO ONCE I INCREASED THE THROTTLE. THE MOTORCYCLE HAD TO BE FULLY CYCLED FROM OFF TO ON USING THE KEY BEFORE IT WOULD START. AFTER RESTARTING IT IN FIRST GEAR, I BEGAN ACCELERATING, WHEN I REACHED APPROXIMATELY 35-45 MPH THE ENGINE DIED AGAIN. I NOTICED THAT THE LONGER I KEPT THE BIKE OFF THE LONGER IT WOULD LET ME RIDE BEFORE DYING. THE INFO DISPLAY INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. I HAVE READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS IN THE NHTSA DATABASE AS WELL AS ON OWNER WEBSITES, THAT MULTIPLE OTHER RIDERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS EXACT SAME SCENARIO. I BOUGHT THE MOTORCYCLE USED WITH APPROXIMATELY 9,600 MILES. I CONTACTED BMW WHO INFORMED ME THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER HAD ALSO COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS SAME SCENARIO, AT 108 MILES AND 8,995 MILES. BOTH TIMES BMW REPORTED REPAIRING AND/OR REPLACING COMPONENTS AND NOT BEING ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE SITUATION AFTER THE REPAIR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10587345May 8, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
STATOR / FLYWHEEL NO LONGER CHARGING BATTERY. RAN ON BATTERY POWER UNTIL ENGINE QUIT ON FREEWAY AT 65 MPH. COASTED TO SHOULDER AND WAITED FOR TOW. 2ND TIME THIS HAPPENED. FIRST TIME AT 28,000 MILES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10586648May 5, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
VEHICLE GAS TANK HAS CRACKED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS AFTER BEING REPLACED. SPLIT OCCURS UNDERNEATH SEAT OF MOTORCYCLE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10566176February 26, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 2010 BMW F800GS WITH 40,000 MILES. THE ALTERNATOR DIED FAR AWAY FROM MY HOUSE, ABOUT 1000 MILES AND INCLUDED THE NEED TO CROSS THE BORDER. WHEN THE BATTERY EMPTIED THE ABS LIGHT WENT ON AND SOON AFTER THE DASHBOARD TURNED OFF COMPLETELY. SOON AFTER THE BIKE CAME TO A HALT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10561245January 23, 2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE BIKE WOULD NOT START. THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THAT WHILE LOOKING AT IT TO REPAIR THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF A FIRE. THE BEST I CAN TELL IS SOMEONE AT THE DEALER CAUSED THE BIKE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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