- The 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.
- The 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.
- The 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.
Vehicle safety record
2012 Suzuki DL650 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 6 complaints about the 2012 Suzuki DL650 with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system (4) and the brakes (1). Those complaints describe 1 fire. It is covered by 3 recalls, the latest in December 2016 for the alternator / generator / regulator. For comparison, the 2011 has 2 and the 2013 has 2.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical DL650 year, for its age
#231 most complained-about 2012 vehicle
- Complaints
- 6
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2012 Suzuki DL650 problems
Share of all 6 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2012 Suzuki DL650 recalls 3
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The 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.
- The risk
- The excessive wear may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The 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.
- The 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.
- The 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.
- The 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.
What owners say
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6 complaints about the 2012 Suzuki DL650
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
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...
Read the full complaint
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 model by Suzuki: [[redacted]] [[redacted]] [[redacted]] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Suzuki DL650: every year compared
All DL650 years2012 Suzuki DL650 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 Suzuki DL650 | 6 | 3 | F | |
| 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara | 13 | 2 | A | Compare |
| 2012 Suzuki DL1000 | 4 | 1 | D | Compare |
| 2012 Suzuki DR650 | 2 | 0 | - | Compare |
| 2012 Suzuki AN400 | 2 | 2 | D | Compare |
| 2012 Suzuki Equator | 1 | 2 | C | Compare |
| 2012 Suzuki GSX1300R | 1 | 1 | B | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2012 Suzuki DL650
Does the 2012 Suzuki DL650 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2012 Suzuki DL650: alternator / generator / regulator (December 2016); engine (December 2015); switch (February 2012). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Suzuki DL650?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the electrical system (4), brakes (1), transmission & drivetrain (1).
How many complaints has the 2012 Suzuki DL650 had?
6 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on March 12, 2014 and the latest on January 2, 2024. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 1 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2012 Suzuki DL650 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 7 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Suzuki DL650 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Suzuki DL650 years have the most complaints?
2012 (6), 2011 (2), 2013 (2). See every Suzuki DL650 year compared.
What should I do if my 2012 Suzuki DL650 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data