Model year record

2012 Suzuki DL650 recalls & problems

The 2012 Suzuki DL650 has 3 safety recalls and 6 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (4 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints6filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 1reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Electrical systemDec 6, 2016

Alternator/generator/regulator

Recall 16V8780008,613 vehicles

Problem: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2012-2016 DL650 motorcycles manufactured August 30, 2011, to October 12, 2015. In the affected motorcycles, the alternator stator may have insufficient heat resistance, resulting in a short circuit of the stator wires.
Risk: A short circuit of the stator wires may prevent the battery from properly charging, causing an engine stall and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stator, free of charge. The recall began on January 6, 2017. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-714-572-1490. Suzuki's number for this recall is 2A67.

Engine and engine coolingDec 18, 2015

Engine

Recall 15V8520006,214 vehicles

Problem: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 SFV650 and AN650A, and 2012-2014 DL650A motorcycles. Contamination from component production and storage combined with manufacturing variations may result in excessive tappet and camshaft wear within the engines of the affected motorcycles.
Risk: The excessive wear may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tappet clearance, replacing the tappets and camshafts, as necessary. All motorcycles that have less than 2500 miles will have their tappets and camshafts replaced since wear may not be evident. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on February 5, 2016. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-714-996-7040. Suzuki's number for this recall is 2A50, 2A51, and 2A52.

Exterior lightingFeb 3, 2012

Brake lights › Switch

Recall 12V0380001,396 vehicles

Problem: SUZUKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 AN400, AN650, AND DL650 SCOOTERS AND MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED PRIOR TO DECEMBER 17, 2011, BECAUSE THE LEVER-MOUNTED BRAKE LIGHT ACTUATING SWITCH(ES) MAY FAIL.
Risk: ON THE AN400 AND AN650 MODELS, FAILURE OF THE SWITCHES WILL PREVENT THE SCOOTERS FROM STARTING. ON ALL OF THE AFFECTED MODELS, FAILURE OF THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH(ES) MAY CAUSE THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN A SCOOTER OR MOTORCYCLE IS BRAKING, THEREBY INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH WITH A TRAILING VEHICLE.
Fix: SUZUKI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND SUZUKI DISTRIBUTORS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE LIGHT ACTUATING SWITCH, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 13, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-714-996-7040.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Fires	Typical mileage*
Electrical systemWiring	4	1	13,005 mi
Power train	1	0	—
Service brakes	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Service brakes
ABS pump issue, very likely clogged valves, lead to rear brake pedal locked up in disengaged position while riding - no rear brakes. When I was riding at moderate speed, the ABS module engaged after the rear wheel slid a little on a patch of grass. Immediately afterwards I found the rear brake pedal became stiff, and one more test brake later the rear brake pedal became rock solid, and I cannot engage the rear brake anymore while riding. Upon further investigation with mechanics, what happened was the valves on the ABS module were clogged during the movement of fluid when ABS was engaged, therefore locking up the rear brake pedal. This seems to be a common problem for 2012 VStrom DL650A…
Oct 1, 2023
Power train
UPON PULLING AWAY FROM A STOPLIGHT AND SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR WITH A TOE LIFT ON THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER, THE SHIFTING LINKAGE BROKE AND FELL DOWN. THE LINKAGE ALLOWED THE SHIFTER ARM TO FALL DOWN AND INTERMITTENTLY CONTACT THE GROUND WHILE DRIVING. USING 20X MAGNIFICATION IT APPEARS TO HAVE FAILED IN BENDING FATIGUE.
Oct 19, 2017 · 17,300 miles
Electrical system
GEAR POSITION INDICATOR HAS FAILED YEARLY, PART 37730-44H01, COST IS OVER $100 TO REPLACE. FUEL INJ SYSTEM TAKES INFO FROM THIS PART, THE BIKE GIVES A INTERMITTENT FI WARNING LIGHT WHEN THIS PART IS MALFUNCTIONING. HAVE REPLACED THIS PART 4 TIMES NOW.
Jun 6, 2017
Electrical system
HEADLIGHT GOES OUT WHEN OPERATIONING WITHOUT WARNING. THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON OCCURRENCE. DID RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED NUMEROUS OWNERS HAVE/HAD THIS PROBLEM. I WAS STOPPED BY A FLORIDA STATE TROOPER WHO INFORMED ME MY HEADLIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. CALLED SUZUKI TO REPORT THIS SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY WERE NOT CONCERNED.
Jan 29, 2017 · 13,005 miles
Electrical system › WiringFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 SUZUKI DL650. AFTER RIDING 360 MILES, OVER A TWO DAY PERIOD, THE MOTORCYCLE WAS PARKED AND THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE TAIL LIGHTS AND THE PARKING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED SLIGHTLY. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE LIGHTS OFF AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS, BENEATH THE FUEL TANK ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BIKE, MELTED THROUGH FIVE WIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,800.
Mar 16, 2015 · 20,800 miles
Electrical system
THE VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER IS READING HIGHER THAN THE SPEED AS MEASURED BY AN ONBOARD GPS. THE DIFFERENCE IS APPROXIMATELY +8%. IS THERE A FEDERAL STANDARD FOR VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER ACCURACY?? THE MANUFACTURER STATES THAT HE WARRANTS THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER TO BE ACCURATE WITHIN 10%. *TR
Mar 5, 2014 · 1,050 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.