2012 Suzuki DL650: complaints, problems and recalls

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

Owner-reported narrative. 1,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568806 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 13,005 miles reported. Look up ODI 10949130 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11002638 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 17,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 11034612 at NHTSA ↗

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 dur…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11562956 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2012-02-03 (February 3, 2012)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2015-12-18 (December 18, 2015)

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.

Consequence: The excessive wear may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Reported: 2016-12-06 (December 6, 2016)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.