Consumer Safety Complaints
Search 2,215,138 safety complaints filed by vehicle owners with NHTSA — including 138,663 crashes, 56,255 fires, and 8,561 deaths.
What is a NHTSA consumer complaint?
A consumer complaint is a free-form report filed by a vehicle owner directly to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) describing a safety concern about their vehicle. NHTSA collects these reports through its Vehicle Owner Defect Report (VOQ) system and publishes them publicly. Each complaint includes the affected component, the date and circumstances of the incident, whether the failure caused a crash or fire, and any reported injuries or deaths. The owner's full narrative description is included verbatim — NHTSA does not edit or moderate the descriptions.
The database below contains over 2,215,138 individual complaints. NHTSA's investigators monitor it for clusters of similar reports — when enough owners describe the same failure mode on the same vehicle, NHTSA may open a Preliminary Evaluation that can lead to a recall. Many of the largest recalls in U.S. history, including the Takata airbag recall and the Hyundai/Kia engine fire recalls, started as patterns visible in this complaint database years before they became formal recalls.
How to interpret what you read
A few principles for reading consumer complaints usefully:
- One complaint is anecdote; a hundred similar complaints is data. NHTSA does not investigate the truthfulness of any individual report — that's the job of the Office of Defects Investigation, which looks at the full pattern. When evaluating a vehicle, look for whether multiple owners describe the same chain of events.
- Crash, fire, injury, and death flags are owner-set. They are not verified by NHTSA. They are still useful as a filter, because owners who tick those boxes are typically reporting more serious incidents than those who don't.
- Component categories are NHTSA-assigned, not owner-assigned. NHTSA standardizes the component field so that complaints can be aggregated. The owner narrative often goes into more detail than the component category captures.
- Complaint volume scales with sales volume. A best-selling model will accumulate more raw complaints than a niche model even at the same defect rate. To compare across vehicles, look at complaints per 100,000 units sold, not raw counts.
If you've experienced a defect
File a complaint. NHTSA's investigators rely on this database to detect emerging defects, and useful complaints — specific, concrete, with dates and mileage and clear descriptions of what happened — feed directly into the agency's pattern detection. The form takes about 10 minutes and is at nhtsa.gov/recalls under "Report a Safety Problem." Your complaint becomes part of the same public record that this page is built from. Owners filing detailed VOQs are how recalls get triggered.
Read more from our blog
Showing 1,426 complaints for KAWASAKI
Incident date: Jun 15, 2010
THE COOLING SYSTEM ON THE MOTORCYCLE IS UNDERSIZED THUS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO RUN TOO HOT WHICH LEADS TO RIDER FATIGUE AND OVERHEATING OF THE MOTORCYCLE THUS LEADING TO AN UNSAFE CONDITION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROBLEM BUT HOLDS THE POSITION THERE IS NO PROBLEM. *TR
KAWASAKI
VULCAN NOMAD
(1999) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Jul 2, 2010
Incident date: Jun 30, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KAWASAKI VULCAN NOMAD. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE OIL LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE OIL GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 43000.
Incident date: Jun 30, 2010
DRIVING IN THE FAR LEFT LANE OF A 6 LANE HIGHWAY DOING ABOUT 75 MPH. EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE ON 1999 KAWASAKI VULCAN NOMAD AND COMPLETE ENGINE STALL TWO VEHICLES BEHIND ME ALMOST RAN ME OVER AND ENDED UP WITH ONE REAR ENDING ANOTHER. I NARROWLY ESCAPED A HIT FROM BEHIND. SOME INTERNET SEARCHES REVEALS THAT THIS LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE IS COMMON FOR THIS YEAR MAKE AND MODEL. FOR ... Read more
Crash
Incident date: May 31, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KAWASAKI, EX250F6F NINJA 250. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS PARKED WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THEN IT BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE STARTED ON THE LEFT SIDE AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. NO ONE WAS INJURED THE FIRE WAS OUT BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME.THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THERE WAS NO REPORT FILED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOT CALLED. THE... Read more
Fire
Incident date: May 30, 2010
UNKNOWN EVENTS CAUSED THE FAILURE OF BOTH A SUB-FRAME FASTENER AS WELL AS AN INTEGRAL WELD WITHIN THE SUB-FRAME. AFTER DISCOVERING SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENT IN BOTH THE SEAT AND FUEL TANK, BOTH WERE REMOVED TO INSPECT THEIR RESPECTIVE MOUNTING POINTS. ONCE CLEAR OF THE FRAME, AN APPARENT WELD FAILURE AT THE SEAM JOINING THE FUEL TANK BRACKET TO THE FRAME BECAME EVIDENT. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, ... Read more
Incident date: May 1, 2010
VALVE COVER GASKET AND O-RING FOR THE SENSOR ON THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE LEAKS OIL. OIL LEAKS DAILY. VALVE COVER GASKET AND O-RING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. OIL LEAK CAN GREASE THE TIRES OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND CAUSE A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. KAWASAKI IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL AS DEMONSTRATED BY THE NEW PARTS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PARTS. DEFECTS ARE... Read more
KAWASAKI
CONCOURS 14
(2008) — EQUIPMENT
Jun 18, 2010
Incident date: May 15, 2010
I NOTICED THAT THE ORIGINAL LUGGAGE RACK ON MY 2008 KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14 HAD CRACKED AND THE TOP CASE WHICH ATTACHES TO IT WAS ABOUT TO BREAK LOOSE ON THE FREEWAY. THIS LUGGAGE RACK HAD BEEN RECALLED AND REPLACED BY KAWASAKI BEFORE I TOOK OWNERSHIP OF THE BIKE IN JUNE 2008. HOWEVER, THE NEW DESIGN, WHICH IS PART NUMBER 53029-0076, IS WHAT WAS ON MY BIKE, AND IT FAILED AFTER ONE AND A HALF YEAR OF ... Read more
KAWASAKI
CONCOURS 14
(2008) — STRUCTURE
Jun 18, 2010
Incident date: May 15, 2010
I NOTICED THAT THE ORIGINAL LUGGAGE RACK ON MY 2008 KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14 HAD CRACKED AND THE TOP CASE WHICH ATTACHES TO IT WAS ABOUT TO BREAK LOOSE ON THE FREEWAY. THIS LUGGAGE RACK HAD BEEN RECALLED AND REPLACED BY KAWASAKI BEFORE I TOOK OWNERSHIP OF THE BIKE IN JUNE 2008. HOWEVER, THE NEW DESIGN, WHICH IS PART NUMBER 53029-0076, IS WHAT WAS ON MY BIKE, AND IT FAILED AFTER ONE AND A HALF YEAR OF ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 13, 2010
TACH SHOWS RPMS 1000 RPM HIGHER WHEN WARM UP. WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE RUNS TO OPERATE TEMP THE ENGINE STUMBLES BETWEEN 7500/9000 RPM COULD CAUSE ME TO CRASH FEELS LIKE THE MOTOR WILL FOUL OUT. IDLE INCREASE BY 300 RPMS. *TR
KAWASAKI
VN1600A7FA
(2007) — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
Jun 15, 2010
Incident date: Jun 1, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 KAWASAKI VULCAN 1600. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 30,000. UPDATED 7/26/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER AGREED TO R... Read more
KAWASAKI
VN1600A7FA
(2007) — STRUCTURE
Jun 9, 2010
Incident date: Jun 7, 2010
FOUND MY GARAGE SMELLED LIKE "GAS" AND FOUND A SMALL PUDDLE OF FUEL UNDER MY MOTORCYCLE.(2007 KAWASAKI VULCAN 1600 CLASSIC) I TRACED THE LEAK TO FUEL TANK MOUNTING BRACKET UNDER MY SEAT. LATER TO FIND OUT THAT KAWASAKI HAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM ONLY ON AN OLDER (2003 KAWASAKI VULCAN 1600 CLASSIC)MY VIN # DIDN'T HAVE A RECALL. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO MY LOCAL DEALER ON 6/09/2010 THEY SAID ... Read more
KAWASAKI
VN1600A7FA
(2007) — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Jun 9, 2010
Incident date: Jun 7, 2010
FOUND MY GARAGE SMELLED LIKE "GAS" AND FOUND A SMALL PUDDLE OF FUEL UNDER MY MOTORCYCLE.(2007 KAWASAKI VULCAN 1600 CLASSIC) I TRACED THE LEAK TO FUEL TANK MOUNTING BRACKET UNDER MY SEAT. LATER TO FIND OUT THAT KAWASAKI HAS A RECALL FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM ONLY ON AN OLDER (2003 KAWASAKI VULCAN 1600 CLASSIC)MY VIN # DIDN'T HAVE A RECALL. I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO MY LOCAL DEALER ON 6/09/2010 THEY SAID ... Read more
KAWASAKI
VN1700A9FA
(2009) — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Jun 7, 2010
Incident date: Jun 7, 2010
2009 KAWASAKI VN1700A9FA VOYAGER MOTORCYCLE. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD REV OCCASIONALLY WHILE RIDING AFTER IT WAS WARMED UP. THE INCIDENT WOULD HAPPENED WHEN HE MADE A TURN AND WHILE COASTING UP TO A CAR STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL THE CLUTCH TO STOP FURTHER MOVEMENT. A FACTORY REPRESENTATIVES RODE THE BIKE A... Read more
Incident date: Jun 5, 2010
2008 KAWASAKI KLR 650 STARTER GEAR COVER IS IMPROPERLY BORED ALLOWING SUPPORT SHAFT TO BECOME UNSUPPORTED ON ONE END. THIS COULD CAUSE THRUST WASHERS TO DROP INTO THE ROTATING FLYWHEEL AT SPEED, LOCKING THE MOTOR AND CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. OLDER AND NEWER MODELS BOTH HAVE A RIDGE IN THE OUTER ENGINE COVER THAT PREVENTS THE IDLER GEAR SHAFT FROM DRIFTING OUT TOO FAR AND LOOSING SUPPORT IN THE I... Read more
Incident date: Jun 3, 2010
2009 KAWASAKI KLR650 MOTORCYCLE BUILD DATE SEPT. 2008. THE STARTER IDLER SHAFT BEARING HOLE IN THE OUTER ALTERNATOR CASE SIDE IS BORED TOO DEEP. THIS ALLOWS THE SHAFT TO MIGRATE OVER SO THAT IT IS ONLY SUPPORTED ON ONE END. RESULT IS THE OTHER END WOBBLES, GRINDS AWAY AT THE BEARING AND CASE SURFACE, AND COULD CAUSE THE IDLER GEAR TO JAM. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE ENGINE WILL STOP ABRUPTLY. KAWASA... Read more
Incident date: May 23, 2010
THE SAFETY ISSUE IS ON A 2008 KAWASAKI KLR-650. THE STARTED GEAR IS GRINDING WHEN I TRY TO CRANK THE BIKE. THE DEALER WILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS A DEEP BORE ON THE SIDE COVER THAT HOLDS THE GEAR. IT IS A MFG ISSUE. MY CONCERN IS WHEN THE GEAR LOCK UP? THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE IT COULD LOCK UP AS I'M RIDING DOWN THE RODE. *TR
Incident date: May 10, 2010
COVER SIDE HOLE THAT LOWER STARTER GEAR PIN RIDES IN IS MILLED TOO DEEP AND CAN RESULT IN SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE. WHILE INSTALLING A BALANCER TENSION SPRING UPGRADE (ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THESE MOTORCYCLES) I FOUND I HAD THIS ISSUE. I HAD TO INSTALL A SPACER TO FIX AND PREVENT THE OTHER SIDE FROM COMING OUT OF ENGINE SIDE HOLE AND CAUSING DAMAGE. *TR
Fire
Incident date: Jun 1, 2010
THE STARTER GEAR SHAFT CAN MIGRATE OUT IN THE LEFT SIDE ENGINE COVER, LEAVING THE GEAR UNSUPPORTED ON THE INBOARD SIDE AND ALLOWING A WASHER TO MIGRATE LOOSE INTO THE ENGINE--POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO LOCK UP OR THE TIMING CHAIN TO SKIP TEETH AND CAUSE THE INTAKE OR EXHAUST VALVES TO HIT THE PISTON TOP, BENDING VALVES AND MAKING THE ENGINE INOPERABLE. *TR
Incident date: May 23, 2010
PROBLEM: BAD DESIGN OF STATOR (CHARGING UNIT OF A MOTORCYCLE) FOR KAWASAKI VULCAN 900 (YEARS 2006 TO PRESENT, INCLUDING CUSTOM AND LT MODELS) CAUSES PREMATURE WEAR, WILL SHORT OUT ENGINE, COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF MOTORCYCLE. MOTORCYCLE FORUMS ON THE INTERNET REPORT HIGH FREQUENCY OF THIS KIND OF REPAIR, FOR VEHICLES LESS THAN 20,000 MILES. FOR ME, I HAVE DRIVEN MY MOTORCYCLE ONLY A YEAR ... Read more
KAWASAKI
VN1600D8FA
(2008) — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
May 14, 2010
Incident date: May 14, 2008
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KAWASAKI 1600 NOMAD MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE SPEEDOMETER WAS OFF BY 10 MPH AND IF TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD READ 60 MPH. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE FAILURE WAS A COMMON AND NORMAL INDUSTRY PRACTICE AND WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH REPAIRS. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED BECAUSE HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE EXACT SPEEDS TRAVELED. THE FAILURE ... Read more
Incident date: May 11, 2010
2008 KAWASAKI KLR 650 MOTORCYCLE. CONSUMER STATES SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MOTORCYCLE AND HAS RECEIVED RECALLS *TGW SINCE PURCHASING THE MOTORCYCLE, THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THREE BATTERIES. WHILE CHANGING THE OIL FOR THE FIRST TIME, HE DISCOVERED THE ENGINE WAS CONSUMING EIGHT TO TEN OUNCES OF OIL PER THOUSAND MILES OF USE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THE OIL CONSUM... Read more
Incident date: May 11, 2010
2008 KAWASAKI KLR 650 MOTORCYCLE. CONSUMER STATES SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MOTORCYCLE AND HAS RECEIVED RECALLS *TGW SINCE PURCHASING THE MOTORCYCLE, THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THREE BATTERIES. WHILE CHANGING THE OIL FOR THE FIRST TIME, HE DISCOVERED THE ENGINE WAS CONSUMING EIGHT TO TEN OUNCES OF OIL PER THOUSAND MILES OF USE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THE OIL CONSUM... Read more
Incident date: Apr 30, 2010
THE 2009 KAWASAKI NINJA 650R MODELS VENT EXCESSIVE HEAT TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE MOTORCYCLE DURING OPERATION. MY HUSBAND AND I RECENTLY PURCHASED TWO NEW 2009 NINJA 650R MOTORCYCLES AND BOTH OF US EXPERIENCED SLIGHT BURNS TO OUR RIGHT CALVES AFTER RIDING FOR JUST 20 MINUTES. I WAS WEARING LONG, COTTON PANTS AND HE WAS WEARING SHORTS. HIS BURN WAS SLIGHTLY WORSE. WE SUBMITTED A COMPLAINT TO THE ... Read more
2 injured
KAWASAKI
VULCAN NOMAD
(1999) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
Apr 20, 2010
Incident date: Mar 18, 2010
I HAVE A 1999 KAWASAKI VULCAN NOMAD. THE GEAR ON THE OIL PUMP STRIPED AND DID DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. KAWASAKI KNOWS THAT THE GEAR FAILS. IT DID ON MY BIKE AT 57,000 MILES. IT IS IN THE KAWASAKI SHOP NOW AND WILL COST AROUND $2200 TO FIX. KAWASAKI HAS FIXED SOME BIKES BUT I WAS TOLD BY KAWASAKI THAT THEY STOPPED THIS LAST YEAR. I LIVE IN ARKANSAS AND WAS IN FLORIDA ON A TRIP WHEN I HAD THE PROBLEM. ... Read more
Incident date: Mar 19, 2010
FUEL LINE COUPLING PULLED OUT OF FUEL TAP CAUSING A FUEL LEAK. NOTICED FUEL ODOR AND DROPS COMING FROM FUEL LINE CONNECTION TO FUEL TAP NIPPLE AND SUSPECTED A CRACKED LINE OR HOSE. WHEN I REMOVED THE FUEL HOSE FROM THE FUEL TAP THE ENTIRE NIPPLE PULLED OUT OF THE FUEL TAP BODY. THE FUEL TAP IS THE ON/OFF VALVE BODY RIGHT UNDER THE TANK. THE FUEL LINE FEEDS DIRECTLY FROM THE TAP BODY TO THE CAR... Read more
Incident date: Dec 29, 2009
VALVE COVER GASKET AND O-RING FOR THE SENSOR ON THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE LEAKS OIL. OIL LEAKS DAILY. VALVE COVER GASKET AND O-RING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. OIL LEAK CAN GREASE THE TIRES OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND CAUSE A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE CAN SEIZE FROM LACK OF OIL AND RUIN THE PRODUCT FOR THE OWNER. *TR
Incident date: Feb 22, 2010
CAMS AND TAPPETS GOING BAD IN A 2007 KAWASAKI ZX-6R A TICKING IS COMING FROM THE ENGINE THAT HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH CAUSING FAILURE AND THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. (I AM NOT SURE OF MY VIN # BUT PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU NEED ME TO FIND IT). *TR
Incident date: Jul 2, 2008
APPLIED BRAKES ON A 2006 ZX1400 KAWASAKI TO NEGOTIATE A TURN IN THE ROAD. AT THAT TIME THE FRAME BROKE 3 TO 4 INCHES BEHIND THE TRIPLE CLAMPS. THIS CAUSED ME TO BE THROWN OVER THE HANDLEBARS AND ONTO THE ROAD IN THE WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WAS HOSPITALIZED FOR 2 DAYS. THE FRAME HAS 4 HOLES IN IT FOR AIRCLEANERS AND THE RAM AIR INDUCTION. I THINK THIS DESIGN MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE FRAM... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Jan 15, 2010
2008 KAWASAKI KLR 650 ENGINE USES AN ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF OIL, LEADING TO ENGINE SEIZURE/FAILURE/COSTLY DAMAGE. *TR
Incident date: Jan 1, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KAWASAKI VULCAN 1700 VOYAGER. HE STATED WHATEVER SPEED IN WHICH THE THROTTLE WAS ENGAGED, IT WOULD STAY STUCK IN POSITION. WHILE KILLING THE THROTTLE AT A STOP SIGN OR STOP-LIGHT, HE WOULD HAVE TO WAIT 10-12 SECONDS BEFORE HE COULD ENGAGE THE THROTTLE AND MOVE FROM THE STOP SIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER WHERE THEY ATTEMPTED TO ADJUST THE THROTTLE, TO NO AVA... Read more
Incident date: Jan 27, 2010
TAIL LIGHT INOPERATIVE. FOR THE SECOND TIME SINCE I'VE OWNED THIS MOTORCYCLE MY TAIL LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON UNLESS I JIGGLE THE KEY BEFORE I RIDE IT. THIS MORNING A HIGHWAY PATROL OFFICER HIT HIS SIREN TO GET MY ATTENTION AND TOLD ME MY TAIL LIGHT WAS OUT AND TO GET IT FIXED. I HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH LAST YEAR AND KNOW IT'S DOING IT AGAIN. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I LEAVE ... Read more
Incident date: Nov 27, 2009
THE WIRING HARNESS RUBBED IN TWO DIFFERENT PLACES ON THE MOTORCYCLE THAT LEAD TO A NEUTRAL LIGHT STAYING ON AND THE TURN SIGNAL TO NOT ACTIVATE. THE BIKE WIRING HARNESS HAD A PREVIOUS RECALL THAT WAS COMPLETED BY KAWASAKI ON MARCH OF 2009. KAWASAKI FACTORY REP. CAME IN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE AND TOOK PHOTOS AND SAMPLES OF THE FAILED COMPONENTS TO SEND BACK TO THE ENGINEERS. THEY R... Read more
Incident date: Nov 20, 2009
I BOUGHT A MOTORCYCLE ON NOVEMBER 19. I USED IT AROUND LESS THEN 30 MILES. NEXT DAY WHEN I WANTED TO USE IT DID NOT RUN SO I CALLED THE AGENCY WHERE I BOUGHT THE MOTORCYCLE AND THEY PICK IT UP. IS BEEN 2 WEEKS SINCE THEY PICK IT UP AND THEY HAVE THE MOTORCYCLE ALL IN PARTS FIXING IT AND I TOLD THEM TO GIVE ME A NEW ONE AND THEY DON'T WANT IT. SO I TOLD THEM THAT I WANTED TO RETURN IT, AND THEY DON... Read more
Incident date: Oct 25, 2009
PURCHASED IN APRIL, 2009 AND INSTALLED SET OF AVON STORM MOTORCYCLE TIRES. THE REAR TIRE, SIZE 180/55ZR17 (DOT AT8E IC 3208) LESS THAN 3000 MILES AND ABOUT 6 MONTHS SINCE INSTALL BEGAN LOSING AIR. THIS WAS A SLOW LEAK THAT LOST AIR FASTER AS PRESSURE DROPPED. INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT BEAD AREA WAS LEAKING, CAUSED BY CORROSION AT FAIRLY EVEN INTERVALS AROUND THE BEAD AREA, ALONG WITH A GOUGE INTO T... Read more
Incident date: Oct 30, 2009
VALVE COVER GASKET AND O-RING FOR THE SENSOR ON THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE LEAKS OIL. OIL LEAKS DAILY. VALVE COVER GASKET AND O-RING NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. OIL LEAK CAN GREASE THE TIRES OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND CAUSE A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. *TR
Incident date: Jun 9, 2009
ON A RECENT TRIP, I SPENT SOME TIME IN NORTH CAROLINA ON HWY 129. A CERTAIN SECTION OF THIS ROAD IS KNOWN FOR IT'S CURVES. AFTER SEVERAL TRIPS ALONG THIS HIGHWAY AND SOME HARD BRAKING, A NOTICEABLE PULSING OF THE BRAKE LEVER DEVELOPED AND OCCURRED ON ALL SUBSEQUENT STOPS. THE EFFECT WAS MOST DISCONCERTING DURING LIGHT BRAKING IN CORNERS (IT SEVERELY ALTERED THE FEEL OF THE MOTORCYCLE DURING CORN... Read more
Incident date: Oct 2, 2009
THE CURRENT BRAKE PADS HAD 9000 MILES ON THEM, VERY BROKEN IT WITH PLENTY OF FREE PLAY. WHEEL SPINS FINE WHEN BRAKES NOT APPLIED. REAR BRAKE DRAGGING ALMOST TO LOCK UP. BURNED THE ROTOR AND MELTED THE BRAKE PADS. THIS HAPPENED VERY SUDDENLY AFTER ONE DAYS RIDE. WHEN NOTICED THE REAR WHEEL STILL WAS FAIRLY FREE SPINNING. SOMETHING IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM CAUSED THIS. *TR
KAWASAKI
CONCOURS 14
(2008) — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Oct 27, 2009
Incident date: Oct 13, 2009
FRONT DISC ROTORS WARPED AS A RESULT OF RIDING THROUGH WATER DURING STORM. CARE WAS BEING USED DUE TO CONDITIONS SO SPEED AND BRAKING EFFORT WAS LOW. ROTOR WARPING CAUSED HEAVY PULSING DURING BRAKING REDUCING DIRECTIONAL STABILITY AND INCREASING STOPPING DISTANCE. ODOMETER ONLY READ 8000 MILES. ROTORS ARE BEING REPLACED BY DEALER UNDER WARRANTY BUT KAWASAKI HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED THIS IS AN ISSU... Read more
Incident date: Oct 20, 2009
VALVE COVER GASKET LEAKS OIL ONTO HEADERS WHICH BEGINS SMOKING AND POSES A FIRE /ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD. OIL ALSO SPRAYS ONTO TIRES CAUSING A LOSS OF TRACTION. THIS EQUIPMENT MALFUNCTION POSES A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD TO THE RIDER AND OTHERS. *TR
Incident date: Jul 26, 2009
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KAWASAKI VN1500T6F MOTORCYCLE. WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLS WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT AN EXPENSE OF $1200.00. THE DEALER THEN ADDED THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON FOR THIS MODEL TYPE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.
Incident date: Oct 11, 2009
NEW 09 KAWASAKI KLR650 BOUGHT FROM RIDERSVILLE CYCLE IN BERKELEY SPRINGS, WV. ON INITIAL RIDE OIL DRAIN PLUG CAME OUT, DRAINING OIL, LEADING TO ENGINE SEIZING WHILE TRAVELING AT 55MPH, BUT FOR THE QUICK REACTIONS OF THE RIDER, A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WOULD HAVE PURSUED. DEALER/MANUFACTURER ERROR FOR NOT CHECKING BOLT TIGHTNESS, AS 2 QUARTS OF OIL HAD TO BE ADDED TO BIKE UPON PICKUP, INDICATING THE BOLT... Read more
Incident date: Jul 10, 2009
2008 KAWASAKI VERSYS MOTORCYCLE MIRRORS COME LOOSE AND SPIN WHILE UNDERWAY. OCCURS RANDOMLY AFTER RE-ALIGNMENT AND TIGHTENING INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL NUTS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN WHEN RIDING THIS MOTORCYCLE AND THE MANUFACTURER/DEALER SHOULD REPLACE THE EXISTING MIRRORS WITH ONES THAT DO NOT COME LOOSE. *TR
Incident date: Sep 30, 2009
2009 KAWASAKI VERSYS MOTORCYCLE LEFTHAND MIRROR COMES LOOSE AND SPINS WHILE UNDERWAY. OCCURS APPROXIMATELY EVERY RIDE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, EVEN AFTER RE-ALIGNMENT AND TIGHTENING INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL NUTS. *TR
Incident date: Sep 30, 2009
2009 KAWASAKI VERSYS MOTORCYCLE LEFTHAND MIRROR COMES LOOSE AND SPINS WHILE UNDERWAY. OCCURS APPROXIMATELY EVERY RIDE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, EVEN AFTER RE-ALIGNMENT AND TIGHTENING INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL NUTS. *TR
Incident date: Sep 28, 2009
I HAVE A 2008 KAWASAKI VERSYS AND THE MIRRORS MOVE AROUND,THEY WILL NOT STAY AT A FIXED POINT. I THINK IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE ND WOULD LIKE KAWASAKI TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Incident date: May 1, 2009
2009 KAWASAKI VERSYS MOTORCYCLE MIRRORS COME LOOSE AND SPIN WHILE UNDERWAY. OCCURS APPROXIMATELY EVERY 300 MILES AFTER RE-ALIGNMENT AND TIGHTENING. *TR
Incident date: Jul 28, 2009
ON MY WIFE'S 2009 KAWASAKI KL250G9 SUPER SHERPA MOTORCYCLE,THE SHIFT LEVER ON THE TRANSMISSION FELL OFF WITHIN 100 MILES AFTER PURCHASING...I AM OWNER/MODERATOR OF A KL250G9 GROUP WITH 700 MEMBERS,,,AND HAVE REPORTS OF ALMOST A DOZEN OTHER 2009 SUPER SHERPA OWNERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM...LUCKILY MY SHIFTER WAS FOUND ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOT IN SOMEBODY'S WINDSHIELD CAUSING A WRECK..MY WIFE ... Read more
Incident date: Aug 7, 2009
2000 KAWASAKI VULCAN--1500 TIRE STARTED TO GO FLAT WHILE DRIVING ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE. DRIVER STEERED THE MOTORCYCLE OFF THE ROAD WHERE IT THREW BOTH PASSENGERS. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0580-89
Crash
2 injured
Incident date: Jul 19, 2009
I HAVE A 2007 ZX6R KAWASAKI WITH ONLY 1700 MILE ON IT AND I HAVE NOTICED MY HEAD GASKET LEAKS AND A TAPPING NOISE IN THE ENGINE. I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS SAFE. IF THE ENGINE LOCKS UP AT HIGH SPEEDS THEN IT HURT AND POSSIBLE KILL ME. IT DON'T SOUND TO SAFE. *TR
KAWASAKI
CONCOURS 14
(2008) — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
Sep 3, 2009
Incident date: Jun 2, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARP DURING APPLICATION, THUS REDUCING BREAKING CAPABILITY. BRAKE FAILURE CAN CAUSE AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCES, WHICH INCREASES THE RISK OF VEHICLE CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE COMPONENTS WOULD NOT BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. AS OF CURREN... Read more