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: Jan 4, 2007
I PURCHASED A NEW 2006 KAWASAKI VUCAN MOTORCYCLE IN 9/05. SINCE THE FIRST DAY, THE CLUTCH GRABS AND JERKS THE BIKE ON EVERY COLD STARTUP. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET SHOWS THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER OWNERS. ONE OWNER INFORMED ME IT CAUSED HIM TO FALL AND BREAK A BONE. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALERS I HAVE CONTACTED INFORM ME THAT I WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR IF IT IS DETERMINE... Read more
Incident date: Dec 20, 2006
CANNOT SEE LANE BEHIND RIDER ON 2005 KAWASAKI Z750S MOTORCYCLE WITH REAR VIEW MIRRORS, AND MIRRORS VIBRATE TO POINT OF USELESSNESS AROUND 6000 RPM, WHICH IS MIDRANGE. EVERYONE EXCEPT NARROW SHOULDERED WOMEN FINDS MIRRORS USELESS. REPLACED MIRRORS WITH BUELL CONVEX MIRRORS. PROBLEMS SOLVED. NO ONE SHOULD RIDE WITH STOCK MIRRORS, AS TRAFFIC BEHIND RIDER IS INVISIBLE. *NM
Incident date: Nov 28, 2006
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I BOUGHT A NEW 2006 KAWASAKI VULCAN 900 CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE (MODEL: VN900B6F) ON NOV 8, 2006 FROM A LOCAL DEALER AND HAVE EXPERIENCED 4 ENGINE STALL EVENTS TO THIS POINT. THE FIRST 2 EVENTS OCCURRED ON SEPARATE DAYS AFTER THE ENGINE WAS STARTED FROM A COLD STATE (AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT) AND RIDDEN ABOUT 2 BLOCKS. WHEN STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE DID NOT RETUR... Read more
Incident date: Nov 28, 2006
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: I BOUGHT A NEW 2006 KAWASAKI VULCAN 900 CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE (MODEL: VN900B6F) ON NOV 8, 2006 FROM A LOCAL DEALER AND HAVE EXPERIENCED 4 ENGINE STALL EVENTS TO THIS POINT. THE FIRST 2 EVENTS OCCURRED ON SEPARATE DAYS AFTER THE ENGINE WAS STARTED FROM A COLD STATE (AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT) AND RIDDEN ABOUT 2 BLOCKS. WHEN STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN, THE ENGINE DID NOT RETUR... Read more
Incident date: Apr 21, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30 MPH AND 60 MPH UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE FRONT END OF THE MOTORCYCLE SHOOK. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER, WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 12/28/2006 - THE DEALER PROVIDED SEVERAL REPAIR SUGGESTIONS BUT COULD NOT GUARANTEE THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEMS. *NM
Incident date: Jun 3, 2006
CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING 2006 KAWASAKI CONCOURS BIKE SAFETY. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *JB
Crash
KAWASAKI
VULCAN CLASSIC
(1997) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Nov 14, 2006
Incident date: Oct 25, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE OIL AND WATER WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THEN WENT OUT. THE BIKE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED AS AN OIL PRESSURE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.
Incident date: Sep 25, 2006
KAWASAKI'S UNLIMITED MILEAGE WARRANTY IS A RIPOFF! I OWN A 2003 KAWASAKI NOMAD MOTORCYCLE WITH 170,345 MILES ON THE ODOMETER AND MY EXTENDED "UNLIMITED MILEAGE" WARRANTY EXPIRES ON 8/19/2008. ON 9-25-06, I NOTICED A MAJOR OIL LEAK COMING FROM A HOLE IN THE LEFT SIDE #1 CYLINDER SPARK PLUG SLEEVE. ON 9-27-06, I TOOK MY BIKE (BY TRAILER) TO MY DEALER IN ORDER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. ON 10-14-06, I ... Read more
Incident date: Oct 21, 2006
FAILURE: THE IDLER SHAFT SPRING (KAWASAKI PART NO. 92144-1860) WAS BROKEN AND UNABLE TO MAINTAIN TENSION ON THE BALANCER IDLER LEVER. THIS CREATES A SITUATION WHERE THE BALANCER CHAIN COULD BECOME LOOSE, JUMP OFF THE GEARING, AND CAUSE THE ENGINE AND FINAL DRIVE SYSTEM TO LOCK-UP. THEORY OF OPERATION: 1) THE BALANCER IDLER LEVER (KAWASAKI PART NO. 13168-1436); AND, 2) THE IDLER SHAFT SPRING... Read more
Incident date: Jan 1, 1901
CONSUMER COMPLAINT CONCERNING THE KAWASAKI ELIMINATOR 125 REAR BRAKE CAM WARNING RECALL. *TS THE CONSUMER STATED THE NEAREST DEALER IS AN HOUR AWAY. *JB
KAWASAKI
VULCAN 1500
(1999) — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Oct 12, 2006
Incident date: Jul 16, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MOTORCYCLE WAS PURCHASED WITH SUBSTANTIAL PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM, AND THE FUEL HOSE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD SENT RECALL LETTERS ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS CONCERNING THE FUEL SYSTEM CAMPAIGN ID #99V67000. THE MOTORCYCLE'S ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 50 MPH. THE MOTORCYCLE BURNED UP DUE TO THE FUEL SYSTEM, AND THE CONTACT SUFF... Read more
Fire
1 injured
Incident date: Sep 1, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MOTORCYCLE FUSES BLEW OUT THREE TIMES. ALSO, THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED IN NEUTRAL WHICH WHEN STARTING THROWS IT OFF THE KICKSTAND. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS UNWILLING TO ASSIST THE CONTACT WITH THESE CONCERNS. YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL: 2006 KAWASAKI KL650A6F. *AK UPDATED 10/31/2006 - THE CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE DEALER AT THE FIRST SERVICE ABOUT STARTING IN GEAR WITH THE NEUTRAL... Read more
Incident date: Sep 1, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MOTORCYCLE FUSES BLEW OUT THREE TIMES. ALSO, THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED IN NEUTRAL WHICH WHEN STARTING THROWS IT OFF THE KICKSTAND. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS UNWILLING TO ASSIST THE CONTACT WITH THESE CONCERNS. YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL: 2006 KAWASAKI KL650A6F. *AK UPDATED 10/31/2006 - THE CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE DEALER AT THE FIRST SERVICE ABOUT STARTING IN GEAR WITH THE NEUTRAL... Read more
Incident date: Sep 23, 2005
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE STARTING THE MOTORCYCLE IN THE MORNING WITHOUT WARNING, THE CLUTCH GRABBED DUE TO A LACK OF LUBRICATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DECLARED THAT EVEN IF THERE WERE A DESIGN DEFECTS IT WOULDN'T BE COVERED UNLESS A RECALL WAS ISSUED. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE WINTER WEATHER WOULD MAKE THE PROBLEM WORST. THE MOTORCYCLE MAKE WAS A 2006 KAWASAKI V... Read more
Incident date: Sep 12, 2006
MY CONCERN IS WITH THE HANDLING CAPABILITIES OF MY 2006 KAWASAKI CONCOURS MOTORCYCLE. THE MOTORCYCLE IS TOP HEAVY AND IS EXTREMELY UNSTABLE WHEN RIDING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN TRAFFIC. THE WIND TURBULENCE FROM THE OTHER VEHICLES MAKES THE BIKE VERY WOBBLY AND DIFFICULT TO MAINTAIN COMPLETE CONTROL. PART OF THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE WINDSHIELD DESIGN OF THE BIKE IN MY OPINION. WHEN I TALKED WITH MY ... Read more
Incident date: Sep 12, 2006
BROKEN SPEEDOMETER CABLE, 2 TIMES. CABLE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE ALREADY, THIS LATEST INCIDENT OF BREAKAGE WILL BE THE THIRD REPLACEMENT. THE CABLE WAS LEFT DANGLING BOTH TIMES AND COULD HAVE POSSIBLY CAUSED THE FRONT WHEEL TO LOCK UP. THERE HAVE ALSO BEEN OTHER MECHANICAL ISSUES WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE WHICH THE DEALER HAS FIXED FOR ME UNDER WARRANTY. THIS BIKE HAS LESS THAN 3,000 MILES ON IT AN... Read more
Incident date: Apr 8, 2006
THE COUNTER BALANCER ADJUSTMENT LEVER SPRING ON MY 2006 KAWASAKI KLR650 W/ 1700 MILES FAILED. ALTHOUGH NO DAMAGE OR INJURY WAS CAUSED IN THIS CASE, THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGE AND INJURY TO OTHER USERS OF THIS MODEL MOTORCYCLE EXISTS DUE TO FRAGMENTED PARTS FROM THE BROKEN ITEMS CIRCULATING THROUGH THE ENGINE AND CAUSING AN ENGINE SEIZURE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON ALL KLR MODELS. KAWASAKI HAS ... Read more
KAWASAKI
VN1500-E7L
(2004) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Aug 31, 2006
Incident date: Apr 4, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MOTORCYCLE HAD SEVERAL DEFECTS SINCE THE DAY IT WAS PURCHASED. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A HIGHWAY WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN THE GEAR WOULD NOT BECOME ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE MOVED TO THE SHOULDER FROM THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO REPAIRED THE DEFECT AFTER 26 DAYS. THE SECOND MAJOR PROBLEM WAS A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE OBSE... Read more
Incident date: Jul 4, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE'S SPEEDOMETER WAS INACCURATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE SPEEDOMETER WAS 15 MPH OFF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY THE DEALER AND A NEW SPEEDOMETER SENT TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PART, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE'S SPEE... Read more
Incident date: Aug 7, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING ABOVE 30 MPH, THE REAR VIEW MIRRORS VIBRATE AND NOTHING CAN BE SEEN. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO OFFER ANY REPAIRS. THE CONTACT INSTALLED MIRROR SNUBBERS IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. UPDATED 10/6/2006 - *NM
Incident date: Jul 18, 2006
2006 KAWASAKI NINJA 250 WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR PROPERLY. *KB *JB *AK
KAWASAKI
KL650A19
(2005) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
Jul 29, 2006
Incident date: Jul 29, 2006
I AM VERY UPSET WITH KAWASAKI'S KLR 650'S IDLER SHAFT ASSEMBLY EVERYONE I TALK TO HAS OR WILL HAVE TO REPLACE IT. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE FROM A COMPANY AS BIG AS KAWASAKI. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED A LONG TIME AGO. I TOO, WILL BE SPENDING THE $200 TO FIX SOON. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. THANK,YOU. I HOPE YOU WILL DO SOMETHING. *JB
Incident date: Jul 29, 2006
I AM VERY UPSET WITH KAWASAKI'S KLR 650'S IDLER SHAFT ASSEMBLY EVERYONE I TALK TO HAS OR WILL HAVE TO REPLACE IT. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE FROM A COMPANY AS BIG AS KAWASAKI. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED A LONG TIME AGO. I TOO, WILL BE SPENDING THE $200 TO FIX SOON. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. THANK,YOU. I HOPE YOU WILL DO SOMETHING. *JB
Incident date: Jun 29, 2006
FOOT PEDAL BROKE WHEN RIDER SHIFTED HIS WEIGHT CAUSING HIS FOOT TO HIT PAVEMENT RESULTING IN LOST OF CONTROL OF KAWASKI MOTORCYCLE. *NM
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Jul 16, 2006
WHEN I TORE INTO MY 2001 KLR 650 TO INSPECT AND REPLACE THE FAULTY "DOOHICKEY". I FOUND THE FACTORY ONE BROKE. BOTH THE SPRING AND BALANCER WERE BROKE AND I DID NOT FIND EITHER PART IN THE MOTOR. THEY ARE STILL FLOATING AROUND IN THE MOTOR SOMEWHERE. THERE WAS SCARING ON THE PARTS INSIDE THE MOTOR WHERE YOU COULD TELL IT HAD HUNG UP ON OTHER MOVING PARTS AND LUCKILY DID NOT LOCK UP THE MOTOR. I R... Read more
Incident date: Sep 4, 2004
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STATIONARY TOP PART OF THE WINDSHIELD FRACTURED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED THE AFFECTED PART OF THE WINDSHIELD, HOWEVER AFTER A MONTH IT FRACTURED ONE MORE TIME. THE SAFETY ISSUE WAS THAT THE WINDSHIELD COULD BREAK INTO PIECES WHILE RIDING. UPDATED 8/7/2006 - *NM
Incident date: Jun 23, 2006
INDEPENDENT KAWASAKI KLR650 WEB SITES DESCRIBE INHERENT PROBLEMS WITH THE IDLER SHAFT LEVER AND SPRING WITHIN THE ENGINE. I OPENED UP THE ENGINE ON MY 2005 KLR 650 WITH 8795 MILES AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SPRING WAS BROKEN AND NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL. THIS CAN LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AS THE CAMSHAFT CHAIN IS NO LONGER BEING TIGHTENED CORRECTLY. I THEN REPLACED THE IDLER SHAFT LEVER AND ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 25, 2006
DOOHICKEY AND SPRING ON THE COUNTER BALANCER OF THE ENGINE WITH 14000 MILES WAS BROKEN DURING MOTORCYCLE USAGE. THIS IS A SUGGEST REPLACEMENT PART THAT IS RECOGNIZED BY OWNERS OF KAWASAKI KLR 650 , SO WHEN I TOOK MIND APART TO REPLACE IT, IT WAS BROKEN AND THE SPRING WAS ALSO MISSING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT COULD CAUSE THE MOTOR TO LOCK UP. *JB
Incident date: Jun 17, 2006
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A KAWASAKI 1400 AS A BIRTH DAY GIFT FOR MY HUSBAND. I HAD IT EXACTLY 48 DAYS. SATURDAY 6/17/06 HE WAS OUT RIDING HIS BIKE ON 290 EXPRESSWAY IN CHICAGO AT 90 MPH WITH A BUS BEHIND HIM THE BIKE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WE DO NOT NEED TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES OF WHAT COULD HAVE WENT WRONG. HAD IT BEEN AN ACCIDENT THE FIRST THOUGHT WOULD HAVE BEEN RIDER ERROR AS OPPOSED TO MECHANI... Read more
Incident date: Jun 17, 2006
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A KAWASAKI 1400 AS A BIRTH DAY GIFT FOR MY HUSBAND. I HAD IT EXACTLY 48 DAYS. SATURDAY 6/17/06 HE WAS OUT RIDING HIS BIKE ON 290 EXPRESSWAY IN CHICAGO AT 90 MPH WITH A BUS BEHIND HIM THE BIKE COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN WE DO NOT NEED TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES OF WHAT COULD HAVE WENT WRONG. HAD IT BEEN AN ACCIDENT THE FIRST THOUGHT WOULD HAVE BEEN RIDER ERROR AS OPPOSED TO MECHANI... Read more
Incident date: May 10, 2006
THE BALANCER CHAIN ADJUSTER SPRING BROKE AND LODGED IN THE OIL SCREEN. *NM
Incident date: Jun 10, 2005
I WAS RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AND PREPARED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN. I APPLIED BOTH THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES. AS I APPLIED THE REAR BRAKE, THE BRACKET THAT SECURES THE REAR BRAKE TO THE MOTORCYCLE FRAME FAILED. THE BRAKE LEVER DETACHED FROM THE BRACKET AND THE REAR BRAKE WAS NON-FUNCTIONAL. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE MOTORCYCLE USING THE FRONT BRAKE ONLY. THE OLD PARTS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. *JB
Incident date: May 18, 2006
I HAVE NOT HAD AN INCIDENT AS OF YET BUT THE PROBLEM I HAVE DEALS WITH REAR BRAKE LIGHTS NO COMING ON WHEN PRESSURE PLACED ON BRAKE LEVER. IT TAKES MORE PRESSURE TO MAKE THEM COME ON THAN IS NEEDED TO STOP IN MOST SITUATIONS. I HAVE TAKEN THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY DIDN'T FIX IT AND THEN I CALLED KAWASAKI RECALL NUMBER AND THEY SAID I NEEDED TO GET BACK TO THE DEALER ABOUT IT. I HAVE... Read more
Incident date: Jun 7, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS UNSTABLE CAUSING TO MUCH MOVEMENT IN THE REAR WHEELS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE REAR SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED. UPDATED 06/23/06 THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THE SWING ARMS WERE INOPERATIVE. *JB
Incident date: May 27, 2006
WIRES CONNECTORS THAT ATTACH THE REGULATOR/RECTIFIER AND STATOR MELTED. WHITE SMOKE WAS EMITTING FROM UNDER THE REAR SEAT. AFTER REMOVING THE SEAT, I NOTICE THAT OIL WAS PRESENT IN THE AREA SURROUNDING THE REGULATOR/RECTIFIER AND ONE OF WIRES HAD BURN LOOSE. THIS ALSO CAUSED THE JUNCTION/BOX HEADLIGHT RELAY SWITCH TO FAIL. I RECEIVED A $175 EQUIPMENT FAILURE TICKET. FORTUNATELY IT WAS ABOUT 6... Read more
Incident date: May 27, 2006
WIRES CONNECTORS THAT ATTACH THE REGULATOR/RECTIFIER AND STATOR MELTED. WHITE SMOKE WAS EMITTING FROM UNDER THE REAR SEAT. AFTER REMOVING THE SEAT, I NOTICE THAT OIL WAS PRESENT IN THE AREA SURROUNDING THE REGULATOR/RECTIFIER AND ONE OF WIRES HAD BURN LOOSE. THIS ALSO CAUSED THE JUNCTION/BOX HEADLIGHT RELAY SWITCH TO FAIL. I RECEIVED A $175 EQUIPMENT FAILURE TICKET. FORTUNATELY IT WAS ABOUT 6... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING INTERMITTENTLY WHILE SLOWING DOWN AND DOWN SHIFTING FROM ANY SPEED AND ANY GEAR. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CLUTCH WAS ADJUSTED. THE PROBLEM RECURRED SEVERAL MORE TIMES. THE MOTORCYCLE IS A 2006 KAWASAKI VULCAN 900 LT. *AK UPDATED 7/5/2006 - THE DEALER REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE AND THE MOTORCYCL... Read more
Incident date: May 25, 2006
WHILE TRAVELING AT 65+ MPH ON I-64, A FRIEND RIDING BEHIND ME NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM MY MOTORCYCLE AND SIGNALED FOR ME TO PULL OVER. WHEN I GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE SHOULDER I NOTICED THAT THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM BEHIND THE COVER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION JUST FWD OF THE DRIVE SHAFT. I COULD SEE THE GLOW OF FLAMES STILL BURNING THROUGH THE HOLE WHERE THE WIRING HARNESS PASSES.... Read more
Fire
Incident date: May 25, 2006
WHILE TRAVELING AT 65+ MPH ON I-64, A FRIEND RIDING BEHIND ME NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM MY MOTORCYCLE AND SIGNALED FOR ME TO PULL OVER. WHEN I GOT TO THE SIDE OF THE SHOULDER I NOTICED THAT THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM BEHIND THE COVER ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE/TRANSMISSION JUST FWD OF THE DRIVE SHAFT. I COULD SEE THE GLOW OF FLAMES STILL BURNING THROUGH THE HOLE WHERE THE WIRING HARNESS PASSES.... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Mar 12, 2006
I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON STATE ROAD 17 FROM DAYTON BIKE WEEK WHEN MY KAWASAKI VULCAN 1600 STARTED TO MAKE A HIGH PITCHED WINDING NOISE THEN THE COVER JUST BEFORE THE DIVE SHAFT SHOOT OFF IN TO THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME, THEN THE MOTOR CYCLE CAUGHT FIRE. I PULLED OF THE ROAD AND A BYSTANDER HAD SOME WATER IN A COOLER WE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, I PUT MY BIKE IN THE SHOP AT JACKSONVILLE POWER SPORT IT WAS... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Mar 12, 2006
I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON STATE ROAD 17 FROM DAYTON BIKE WEEK WHEN MY KAWASAKI VULCAN 1600 STARTED TO MAKE A HIGH PITCHED WINDING NOISE THEN THE COVER JUST BEFORE THE DIVE SHAFT SHOOT OFF IN TO THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME, THEN THE MOTOR CYCLE CAUGHT FIRE. I PULLED OF THE ROAD AND A BYSTANDER HAD SOME WATER IN A COOLER WE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, I PUT MY BIKE IN THE SHOP AT JACKSONVILLE POWER SPORT IT WAS... Read more
Fire
Incident date: May 16, 2006
KAWASAKI KLR650'S HAVE A PROBLEM WITH AN ENGINE BALANCER LEVER BREAKING. I HAVE A 2002 KLR AND FOUND MY LEVER TO BE BROKEN IN THREE PLACES. ALTHOUGH IT DID NOT CAUSE A CRASH IN THIS CASE, THE BROKEN PIECES COULD EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT (AND HAVE IN THE PAST). YOU CERTAINLY DO NOT WANT THIS PIECE TO BREAK WHILE YOU ON THE HIGH WAY. IT IS WELL KNOWN THAT NEW KLR OWNERS CHANGE THIS PART OUT WITH AN ... Read more
Incident date: Apr 16, 2006
I WAS GOING FOR A DAY RIDE ROLLED OUT THE BIKE DID A ONCE OVER AND WARM UP. UPON DEPARTURE I WAS APPROXIMATELY 1//4 MI. AWAY TRAVELING AT 35 MPH. AND THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO SHUT DOWN IN A QUICK AND SAFE MANNER. INITIAL INSPECTION SHOWED OIL LEVEL AT PROPER LEVEL. FURTHER INSPECTION INDICATED _OIL PUMP FAILURE_. AT PRESENT KAWASAKI HAS AGREED TO REPLACE THE OIL PUMP, SEALS RINGS E... Read more
Incident date: Apr 6, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT NO PARTICULAR SPEED, THE SIDE VIEW MIRRORS WOULD RE-ADJUST. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE ALERTED. THE MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED TIGHTENING THE SCREWS TO THE MIRRORS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WERE NO SCREWS TO THE MIRRORS. UPDATED 10/30/2006 - THE DEALER'S MECHANIC DISASSEMBLED ONE OF THE MIRRORS TO VERIFY. *NM
Incident date: Mar 23, 2006
I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS 2000 KAWASAKI KLR650 FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW AND HAD 8766 MILES AT THE TIME! I HAD READ ON THE INTERNET THAT THE IDLER SHAFT LEVER(KAWASAKI PART NO. 13168-1436) AND SPRING(KAWASAKI PART NO. 92144-1860) PUT IN EVERY KLR650 SINCE 1996 WERE PRONE TO FAILURE. DUE TO POOR QUALITY STEEL AND POOR MANUFACTURING! WHICH CAN CAUSE THE TIMING CHAIN TO SEIZE, WHICH RESULTS IN THE ENGINE SEI... Read more
Incident date: Mar 20, 2006
2006 KAWASAKI CONCOURS WITH DUNLOP SPORT RADIAL TIRES. K701F IN FRONT, K700J IN REAR. THESE TIRES TRACK SEVERELY ON RAIN GROOVES ON CALIFORNIA HIGHWAYS. I HAVE 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE DRIVING MOTORCYCLES AND HAVE NEVER BEEN SO SCARED BY HOW A TIRE BEHAVED OVER RAIN GROOVES UNTIL I BOUGHT THIS BIKE. I WENT TO THE DEALER TODAY TO COMPLAIN AND THERE WAS A BIKE LIKE MINE WITH 700 MILES ON IT GETTING I... Read more
Incident date: Mar 15, 2006
GAS LEAK AT TOP OF TANK AROUND FILLER NECK. LEAK REMAINS UNTIL TANK IS ONLY 1/4-1/3 FULL. SEEMS TO COME FROM VENT HOLE ON RIGHT SIDE OF FILLER, UNDER CAP. THIS LEAK MAY HAVE RUINED THE PAINT FINISH AS WELL. *JB
Incident date: Mar 5, 2006
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65MPH, THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE EMITTING FROM THE MOTORCYCLE FOLLOWED BY SMOKE. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE ERUPTED FROM THE TRANSFER CASE AND DRIVE TRAIN. UPON INITIAL INSPECTION, THE FIRE WAS SUSPECTED TO BE ELECTRICAL IN NATURE DUE TO DAMAGE SUSTAINED TO THE WIRING. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER.
Fire
Incident date: Apr 10, 2003
TRAVELING IN MEXICO ON MY 2002 KLR 650 LOST ENGINE POWER DUE TO FAILURE OF BALANCER CHAIN TENSIONER (DOOHICKEY)LATER FOUND OUT A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS BIKE HAD TO REPLACE 2 VALVES GASKETS FOR REPAIR WORK AND NEW TENSIONERS. *NM
Incident date: May 13, 1999
I OWN A 1999 KAWASAKI 1500 DRIFTER MOTORCYCLE THAT I BOUGHT NEW FROM G&G CYCLES, 142 LAFAYETTE ROAD, SALISBURY, MA, 01952. SINCE IT WAS NEW THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD COME ON WHEN I STARTED THE MOTORCYCLE. THE DEALER HAD NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM WHEN I POINTED OUT THAT IT CREATED A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE, IF I FAILED TO TURN IT OFF BEFORE DRIVING, IT WOULD SIGNAL OTHER DRIVERS THAT I WAS TURNING WHEN... Read more