Suzuki DL650 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
1,100 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 to 2018 model years. Data snapshot: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 18 complaints (38.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 5 | 27.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 22.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 16.7% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 11.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 5.6% |
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 | 7 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
Electrical System: 7; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 4; Service Brakes: 3; Electrical System:Wiring: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Power Train: 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 | 12 |
| 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: 12; 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 (12). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 5 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2007: 5; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2017: 5; 2022: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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 10200704 · 2007-08-24 (August 24, 2007)
MOTORCYCLE IS 2 WEEKS OLD / 1,900 MILES TOTAL: THE MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN STALLING UNDER CERTAIN SPECIFIC CONDITIONS. ONCE THE ENGINE IS WARM, AND I ATTEMPT TO DOWNSHIFT MULTIPLE GEARS AT A TIME, THE BIKE MAY STALL WHILE THE CLUTCH IS PULLED IN. AS AN EXAMPLE, I MAY BE RIDING IN 6TH GEAR AND WILL SLOW USING MY BRAKES ONLY (NOT ENGINE BRAKING). I WILL CLOSE THE THROTTLE COMPLETELY, CLUTCH IN, AND THEN DOWNSHIFT TO 5TH, 4TH, 3RD SEQUENTIALLY WITHOUT RELEASING THE CLUTCH BETWEEN GEARS. THERE WILL BE A POP COMING FROM UNDER THE SEAT, AND THE BIKE…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10200704 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10456843 · 2012-04-30 (April 30, 2012)
FAILURE OF FRONT BRAKE LINE ABOVE JUNCTION THAT SPLITS TO GO TO THE TWO CALIPERS. EITHER THE HOSE CRIMP HAS FAILED OR, THE CASTING HAS BROKEN. NOT YET DETERMINED. THIS CAUSED COMPLETE FAILURE OF FRONT BRAKES. BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THIS POINT. THE FACTORY INSTALLATION APPEARS TO BE CORRECT AND NO APPARENT CAUSE OF FAILURE CAN BE NOTED OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT I HAD JUST GONE OVER A FAIRLY SEVERE RUT AND HAD THE BRAKES APPLIED AT THE TIME. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 18,075 miles reported. Look up ODI 10456843 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11476826 · 2022-08-01 (August 1, 2022)
My VIN number is [XXX]. A recall was issued for Suzuki Vstrom. The recall was issued for 2012-2016 Suzuki V-Strom 650 stator due to a wiring issue. The wire burns. The problem is that the 2008 model has the same stator rectifier system. The part numbers are identical and feature the same wiring. My stator currently went bad at 42,000 miles. K8, 32101-17G12, 32800-47H00 K12, 32101-17G12, 32800-47H00 INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11476826 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10705023 · 2015-04-10 (April 10, 2015)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 20,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10705023 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10184565 · 2007-03-08 (March 8, 2007)
TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL BETWEEN 5TH AND 6TH GEARS. THIS HAPPENS DURING AN ACCELERATION PERIOD AND CAUSES AN ABRUPT LOSS OF ACCELERATION CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 9,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10184565 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10197736 · 2007-07-28 (July 28, 2007)
SHIFTING FROM 5TH TO 6TH GEAR FALSE NEUTRALS WERE EXPERIENCED MANY, MANY TIMES. SUZUKI WOULD NOT REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 40 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197736 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10425276 · 2011-09-13 (September 13, 2011)
FAILED COMPONENT; FUEL INDICATOR THE DIGITAL FUEL INDICATOR IS NOT READING ACCURATELY. FUEL INDICATOR SHOWS MORE FUEL THAN WHAT IS ACTUALLY AVAILABLE IN THE TANK. - AT ONLY 1/4 FULL TANK, TEH INDICATOR STILL SHOWS AS 3/4 FULL. - WHEN FILLING THE TANK (5.4 GAL CAPACITY) AT APPX 1/4 FULL (OR APPX 1.3 GAL), THE TANK ACCEPTS APPX 4 GAL OF FUEL. - THIS REFLECT AN ERROR OF APPX 60% LESS MORE FUEL THAN ACTUALLY AVAILABLE. - THIS INACCURACY CAN CAUSE ENGINE STALLING AND A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. - MANUFACTURER SHOULD PROVIDE A CORRECTION/FIX TO HAVE T…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10425276 at NHTSA ↗
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2004: 0; 2006: 0; 2007: 0; 2008: 0; 2009: 0; 2011: 0; 2012: 3; 2013: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1