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: Oct 10, 2004
1999 KAWASAKI KLR650 MOTORCYCLE BALANCER ADJUSTER FAILURE >ENGINE LOCKUP & LOSS OF CONTROL . PARTS & LABOR TO REPAIR $1211.81 REPAIR DATE INVOICE DATE 5/24/05 INVOICE#99079450 HILLSIDE MOTORSPORTS RT14 WHITE RIVER JCT , VT 05001 MAYBE SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO SUDDEN ENGINE LOCK UP, BIKES NEED RECALL FOR IMPROVED BALANCER,TENSIONER ASSY. *JB
Incident date: Jan 28, 2006
VEHICLE WAS A 2001 KAWASAKI KLR 650 MOTORCYCLE. DISMANTLED ENGINE CASE AND FOUND BALANCER CHAIN TENSIONER BROKEN INTO THREE PIECES. HAD TO RUMMAGE THROUGH THE CRANKCASE TO FIND TWO OF THE PIECES. THE TENSIONER SPRING WAS ALSO BROKEN. PIECE OF SPRING NOT FOUND. *NM
Incident date: Jan 25, 2006
2005 KAWASAKI KLR 650 1,500 MILES. THE IDLER SHAFT LEVER (DOOHICKEY) RETENTION / RETURN SPRING WAS BROKEN. I OPENED THE CASE TO REPLACE THIS PART THAT HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH FAILURE AND SURE ENOUGH MINE WAS BROKEN! GOOD THING I WAS DOING THE STITCH IN TIME. HAD I NOT DONE THIS PREVENTIVE UPGRADE AND ADJUSTED THE LEVER AS PER MY REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. I COULD HAVE RUINED MO... Read more
Incident date: Jul 22, 2005
1996 KAWASAKI VULCAN REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. *TS THE TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT AND CAUSED THE LICENSE PLATE AND HOLDER TO BE TORN OFF. *NM
Incident date: Oct 10, 2005
OWNING THE 2005 NINJA FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS(5,000 MILES) I EXPERIENCED SOME VERY UNUSUAL SHIFTING TRAITS. SHIFTING ON ITS OWN. THIS IS A MANUAL SHIFT TRANSMISSION. THE FIRST WAS AFTER TURNING A CORNER, IN 2ND GEAR. AFTER ABOUT 30-50 FT IT DOWN SHIFTED INTO FIRST. IMMEDIATELY DECELERATING. THE SAME DAY WAS PASSING. I SHIFTED 3RD INTO 2ND, ATTEMPTED TO PASS(IN ONCOMING LANE) IT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRA... Read more
Incident date: Jan 8, 2006
I JUST CHECKED MY IDLER SHAFT LEVER (DOOHICKEY) ON MY 2003 KLR 650. THE DOOHICKEY WAS INTACT BUT, THE SPRING WAS BROKE. I CAN'T FIND THE END OF THE SPRING THAT BROKE OFF AND THE CHAIN WORE PART WAY THROUGH THE SPRING LEAVING METAL SHAVINGS THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE NOT GOOD!!! JUST ORDERED NEW DOOHICKEY AND SPRING FROM ARROWHEAD MOTORSPORTS. *JB
Incident date: Jan 8, 2006
I JUST CHECKED MY IDLER SHAFT LEVER (DOOHICKEY) ON MY 2003 KLR 650. THE DOOHICKEY WAS INTACT BUT, THE SPRING WAS BROKE. I CAN'T FIND THE END OF THE SPRING THAT BROKE OFF AND THE CHAIN WORE PART WAY THROUGH THE SPRING LEAVING METAL SHAVINGS THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE NOT GOOD!!! JUST ORDERED NEW DOOHICKEY AND SPRING FROM ARROWHEAD MOTORSPORTS. *JB
Incident date: Jan 6, 2006
FAILURE OF THE IDLER SHAFT SPRING. *JB
Incident date: Jan 6, 2006
FAILURE OF THE IDLER SHAFT SPRING. *JB
Incident date: May 21, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOHICKEY CRACKED ON THE MOTORCYCLE. THE DOOHICKEY IS AN IDLER SHAFT LEVER WHICH PUTS TENSION ON THE CHAIN INSIDE THE ENGINE. THERE WERE NO WARNING OR INDICATORS OF A PROBLEM. THIS WAS DISCOVERED BY THE CONTACT WHEN DOING ROUTINE SERVICE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED. *AK UPDATED 1/25/2006. *NM
KAWASAKI
VULCAN NOMAD
(1999) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Dec 9, 2005
Incident date: Oct 5, 2005
DEFECTIVE OIL GEAR DESTROYED THE ENGINE ON MY 1999 VULCAN NOMAD. KAWASAKI IS WILLING TO COVER ONLY THE PUMP AND GEAR OF THE ENGINE BUT NOT THE REST OF THE DAMAGE. I AM GOING TO BE CHARGED OVER $1,700 FOR THEIR FAULTY GEAR. THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO OFFICIAL RECALL, NO INSTRUCTIONS ON WHAT TO DO IF THE GEAR FAILED. I TRIED TO WORK IT OUT WITH KAWASAKI. THE LOCAL DEALER IS EVEN ON MY SIDE AND ... Read more
Incident date: Dec 8, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ENGINE COUNTER BALANCE PART ON MOTORCYCLE FAILED. THE CONTACT PURCHASED AN AFTER MARKET PART AND REPLACED THE FAILED ONE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER. *AK
KAWASAKI
NINJA ZX-10R
(2004) — STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
Dec 5, 2005
Incident date: Jul 1, 2004
DT: THE CONTACT NOTICED THE MAIN FRAME AND SWING ARM CRACKED THREE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. AS A RESULT, THE REAR TIRE WAS TILTED TWO DEGREES TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. *AK UPDATED 1/4/2006 - *NM
Incident date: Apr 1, 2005
FRONT TIRE OF MOTORCYCLE WEARS VERY UNEVENLY NOT ALLOWING FULL CONTACT OF RUBBER TO MEET THE ROAD. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS TIRE IS NOT FULLY CONTACTING THE ROAD SURFACE. IT HAS DONE THIS SINCE BIKE WAS NEW AND ON TWO SETS OF TIRES. I THINK THE RIM MAY BE THE PROBLEM CAUSING THIS UNEVEN WEAR. I HAD TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS INSTALL TIRES WITH THE SAME IDENTICAL RESULTS OF POOR ROAD CO... Read more
Incident date: Sep 9, 2005
WHEN KAWASAKI VULCAN 2000 MOTORCYCLE IS WASHED OR WHENEVER IT RAINS THE HORN FAILS TO FUNCTION AND WILL REMAIN FAILED UP TO FOUR DAYS! THIS IS DANGEROUS AND IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. *JB
Incident date: Feb 12, 2005
MOTORCYCLE KEEPS BURNING UP BATTERIES ONCE EACH SIX MONTHS AND THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULB BURNS OUT EVERY 3,000 MILES. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE BIKE IN FEBRUARY OF 2005. EVEN MAIN HEADLIGHT FUSE HAS BURNED LEAVING ME STRANDED AT NIGHT. THE BULB BURNS IN DAYTIME AND I HAVE NO HEADLIGHT AND I DO NOT KNOW IT. I HAD TO USE A TOW TRUCK DUE TO BATTERY BEING COOKED IT LEFT... Read more
Incident date: Feb 12, 2005
MOTORCYCLE KEEPS BURNING UP BATTERIES ONCE EACH SIX MONTHS AND THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULB BURNS OUT EVERY 3,000 MILES. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE BIKE IN FEBRUARY OF 2005. EVEN MAIN HEADLIGHT FUSE HAS BURNED LEAVING ME STRANDED AT NIGHT. THE BULB BURNS IN DAYTIME AND I HAVE NO HEADLIGHT AND I DO NOT KNOW IT. I HAD TO USE A TOW TRUCK DUE TO BATTERY BEING COOKED IT LEFT... Read more
Incident date: Feb 12, 2005
MOTORCYCLE KEEPS BURNING UP BATTERIES ONCE EACH SIX MONTHS AND THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULB BURNS OUT EVERY 3,000 MILES. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE BIKE IN FEBRUARY OF 2005. EVEN MAIN HEADLIGHT FUSE HAS BURNED LEAVING ME STRANDED AT NIGHT. THE BULB BURNS IN DAYTIME AND I HAVE NO HEADLIGHT AND I DO NOT KNOW IT. I HAD TO USE A TOW TRUCK DUE TO BATTERY BEING COOKED IT LEFT... Read more
Incident date: Nov 1, 2004
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE FRAME NEAR THE STEERING AREA. BOTH TIMES WHEN THE CRACK OCCURRED THE DEALERSHIP WELDED THE FRAME BACK TOGETHER. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE SECOND CRACK OCCURRED BECAUSE THE FIRST REPAIR WAS NOT HEAT TREATED. *AK UPDATED 12/27/2005 - THE CONSUMER READ IN THE OWNERS MANUAL THAT IF THE FRAME IS DAMAGED IT SHOULD BE REPLACED NOT REPAIRED. *NM
Incident date: Jun 25, 2005
THE TRANSMISSION WILL KICK OUT OF 1ST GEAR AND INTO NEUTRAL. *JB
Incident date: Aug 1, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A HAIRLINE CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK. HE FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE SMELL OF LEAKING FUEL. ALSO, WHERE THE EXHAUST PIPE BRACKET CONNECTS TO THE MUFFLER WAS WEAK FROM STRESS CRACK FAILURES. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE EXHAUST PIPE ISSUE, WHICH WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. NOW, THE EXHAUST PIPE HAS A WELDING PROBLEM. *AK
KAWASAKI
VN1600-A1
(2003) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
Oct 25, 2005
Incident date: Aug 1, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A HAIRLINE CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK. HE FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE SMELL OF LEAKING FUEL. ALSO, WHERE THE EXHAUST PIPE BRACKET CONNECTS TO THE MUFFLER WAS WEAK FROM STRESS CRACK FAILURES. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE EXHAUST PIPE ISSUE, WHICH WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. NOW, THE EXHAUST PIPE HAS A WELDING PROBLEM. *AK
Incident date: Dec 31, 2004
I HAVE A 1993 KAWASAKI ZX-11, VIN [XXX], WITH A 6 SPEED TRANSMISSION AND 27,824 MILES ON BIKE. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH 2ND GEAR, ESPECIALLY AT SLOWER SPEED AND UNDER ACCELERATION. I CAN BE GOING ANYWHERE FROM 15 TO 45 MPH AND WHEN I ACCELERATE THE BIKE SPUTTERS AND KICKS. I HAD IT TO A DEALER AND THEY CHANGED THE SPROCKETS AND CHAINS THINKING THAT WAS THE PROBLEM, BUT IT DID NOT FIX IT. IT IS DANGER... Read more
Incident date: Jun 3, 2005
2004 KAWASAKI KLR 650A BROKEN TENSIONER SPRING. FAILURE FOUND AT 1700 MILE INSPECTION OF SUSPECTED BALANCER LEVER MECHANISM. NO ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRED. NEW AFTER MARKET UPGRADED PARTS AND TOOLS WERE PURCHASED AND REPAIRS WERE MADE.(BROKEN TENSIONER SPRING IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION). *NM
Incident date: Jun 30, 2005
UNEXPECTED GAS SLEAKAGE FROM GAS TANK. NO ACCIDENT OR ANY OTHER INCIDENT TO JUSTIFY THE LEAK. TANK WILL HAVE TO BE REMOVED AND REWELDED. LEAKAGE AMOUNTS TO 1/2 TEASPOON A DAY. CONCEREND ABOUT HOUSING VEHICE IN GARAGE
Incident date: Jul 1, 2005
1)POOR PERFORAMANCE SEEMED LIKE CARBURATER PROBLEM. 2)SUDDEN LOUD KNOCK AND ENGINE STALLED AT 40MPH. UPON INTERNAL INSPECTION, BALANCER SHAFT ADJUSTER FAILED (BROKE INTO 4 PIECES) CIRCULATED PIECES THROUGHOUT CRANKCASE AND SNAPPED BALANCER CHAIN. MAY BE ADDITIONAL DAMAGE TO INTERNAL ENGINE PARTS. AFTER RESEARCH, LEARNED THAT FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC AND RESULTED IN ENGINE SIEZING ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 27, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KAWASAKI NOMAD 1500. THE REAR TIRE WAS GOING FLAT AND WENT BACK TO THE SHOP. CONSUMER THOUGHT HE HAD A DEFECTIVE REAR TIRE. SO THEY ORDERED HIM A NEW TIRE. WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH WITH 6200 MILES ON THE MOTORCYCLE THE TIRE BLEW OUT. T DEALERSHIP PUT ON ANOTHER TIRE. ON THE TIRE IT STATED FRONT USE ONLY. THEY PUT THIS TIRE ON THE REAR. HE WAS LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AFTER ... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Jun 20, 2005
2004 KAWASAKI VULCAN 2000 MOTORCYCLE REAR PULLEY (REAR BELT SPROCKET) BEARING FAILURE. SEE PICTURES AND SHORT .AVI MOVIE WITH SOUND AT HTTP://WWW.NEWSNOT.COM/~EMONK/PICTURES/MOTORCYCLE/VN2000/V2K_PULLEY_BEARING_BLOWOUT BEARING FAILED WHILE RIDING MOTORCYCLE SOUTH ON I-35 NEAR CLEAR LAKE, IA. SPEED WAS ABOUT 55 AT THE TIME (DUE TO RAIN). SLIGHT SHIMMY WAS MOMENTARILY FELT IN REAR OF BIKE (WHIC... Read more
Incident date: Jun 20, 2005
THE CHAIN IDLER SHAFT ADJUSTER ON MY KLR HAS BROKEN.
Incident date: Jan 3, 2005
DT: STEERING STEM WAS NOT TIGHTENED DOWN AT THE FACTORY. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT AT THE 600 MILES SERVICE, WHICH WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, CONSUMER STATES HE PAID FOR THE SERVICE, BUT NOTHING WAS DONE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY FOUND THAT THE NUT WAS LOOSE. AT WHICH POINT THE CONSUMER TOOK IT TO ANOTHER SERVICE DEALER TO GET THE LOOSE NUT FIXED. CONSUMER CONTACTED T... Read more
KAWASAKI
VULCAN 1500
(1997) — POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
Jun 22, 2005
Incident date: Mar 22, 2005
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KAWASAKI VULCAN. HE STATES THAT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 97V233000 CONCERNING MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS ISSUED. THE CONSUMER CALLED KAWASAKI AND THEY STATED HIS MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE RECALL. *AK THE GEAR LOCKED UP. *JB
KAWASAKI
VN2000 A1
(2004) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
Jun 20, 2005
Incident date: Mar 2, 2005
DT : CONTACT STATES: MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES. AT FIRST IT WAS MAKING A RATTLING NOISE AND THEY TRIED TO FIX IT WOULD START RATTLING AGAIN. THE FRONT PULLEY QUIT WORKING. AT A CORNER OR A CURVE, AND THE PULLEY GOES OUT COULD HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *AK
KAWASAKI
VULCAN 750
(2000) — POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
Jun 10, 2005
Incident date: Sep 30, 2000
DT: MOTORCYCLE. CONSUMER SAYS THAT REAREND ON MOTORCYCLE IS LEAKING GREASE, AND THE GREASE IS GETING SLUNG ONTO THE REAR TIRE. THIS IS CAUSING TRACTION/LOSS OF REAR TIRE. CONSUMER SAYS IF TURNING LEFT THE GREASE IS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF TIRE, SO THIS CAUSES MAJOR TRACTION LOSS. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALER FOR REPAIR OF THIS PROBLEM FOUR TIMES. IT HAS BEEN FIXED UNDER WARRANTY UNTIL NOW. ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 1, 2005
I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW MOTORCYCLE AND ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER WITH LESS THAT 400 MILES ON THE TIRES I EXPERIANCED A REAR WHEEL RAPID DEFLATION WHILE AT SPEED. I COULD NOT TELL IF THE TIRE WAS PUNCTURED. MY COUSIN WHO ALSO HAS THE SAME MOTORCYCLE WITH THE SAME EQUIPMENT EXPERIANCED A REAR WHEEL DEFLATION WHILE AT SPEED. HIS 2005 KAWASAKI NINJA ALSO HAD LESS THAN 400 MILES ON IT.
KAWASAKI
VULCAN 2000
(2004) — POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
Jun 1, 2005
Incident date: May 17, 2005
DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE RIDING MOTORCYCLE THE FRONT DRIVELINE PULLEY STRIPPED . THE PULLEY HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. THE MOTORCYCLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.*AK
KAWASAKI
VULCAN
(2005) — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
May 16, 2005
Incident date: Apr 26, 2005
2005 KAWASAKI VULCAN 2000 EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS TANK AS WELL AS THE FRONT TIRE IS INSTALLED BACKWARDS.*MR. GAS TANK CAP LEAKS FLUID AND FUMES, CAUSES POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD AND HEALTH PROBLEMS. HEADLIGHTS WON'T ADJUST AND MOVE DOWN, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR CONSUMER TO SEE ROAD AT NIGHT. ALSO, FRONT TIRE WAS INSTALLED BACKWARDS. *AK
Incident date: Apr 26, 2005
2005 KAWASAKI VULCAN 2000 EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS TANK AS WELL AS THE FRONT TIRE IS INSTALLED BACKWARDS.*MR. GAS TANK CAP LEAKS FLUID AND FUMES, CAUSES POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD AND HEALTH PROBLEMS. HEADLIGHTS WON'T ADJUST AND MOVE DOWN, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR CONSUMER TO SEE ROAD AT NIGHT. ALSO, FRONT TIRE WAS INSTALLED BACKWARDS. *AK
Incident date: Apr 26, 2005
2005 KAWASAKI VULCAN 2000 EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS TANK AS WELL AS THE FRONT TIRE IS INSTALLED BACKWARDS.*MR. GAS TANK CAP LEAKS FLUID AND FUMES, CAUSES POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD AND HEALTH PROBLEMS. HEADLIGHTS WON'T ADJUST AND MOVE DOWN, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR CONSUMER TO SEE ROAD AT NIGHT. ALSO, FRONT TIRE WAS INSTALLED BACKWARDS. *AK
Incident date: Jun 17, 2002
THE DIFFERENTIAL ON MY DRIVESHAFT ON KAWASAKI ,2000, VULCAN CLASSIC 1500 - E HAS BEEN MAKING STRANGE NOISES FOR SOME TIME. DEALERSHIP AND KAWASAKI ITSELF STATED THAT SOME NOISE FROM THE FINAL DRIVE IS NORMAL. I FEEL IT IS EXCESSIVE. WEB SEARCHES HAVE TURNED UP MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS OF SIMILAR PROBLEMS THAT ULTIMATELY LED TO OIL LEAKING AND OTHER FAILURES. A CATASTROPHIC FINAL DRIVE FAILURE COULD BE... Read more
Incident date: Mar 27, 2005
ONLY ON LEFT HAND TURNS WOULD THE TROTTLE STICK. ACCELATED VERY FAST. THE DEALER HAS ONLY LOOKED AT IT, AND CAN'T GET IT TO STICK.
Crash
Incident date: Jan 1, 2005
THE VEHICLE LEAKED FUEL AND STALLED WHILE STOPPED OR MAKING TURNS. *NM RECALL# 04V008000. *SC
Incident date: Feb 7, 2005
I FOUND A BROKEN IDLER LEVER ON MY 2004 A18 KAWASAKI KLR 650.*AK
Incident date: Jan 1, 2005
KAWASAKI CONCOURS MOTORCYCLE WOBBLED ON FRONT INCREASES AND IS DANGEROUS ON THE FREEWAY. *BF THE CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE VERY SLOW ON THE FREEWAY FOR FEAR THAT HE MAY BE KNOCKED OFF OF THE MOTORCYCLE BY THE WOBBLE. *TC
Incident date: Jan 8, 2005
BALANCER TENSIONER SPRING FAILED. I HAD READ REPORTS ON THE INTERNET DESCTIBING THE BALANCER TENSIONER SYSTEM AS BEING PRONE TO FAILURE. I FOUND THAT THE TENSIONER SPRING HAD BROKEN WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE ENGINE CASE. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS 6706 MILES ON IT. I AM REPLACING THE SPRING AND TENSION ADJUSTER WITH AN IMPROVED AFTERMARKET KIT. THE FAILURE WAS FOUND BEFORE THERE WAS ANY MAJOR DAMAGE T... Read more
Incident date: Oct 23, 2004
2004 KAWASAKI KLR650 1) VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND RIDDEN ACCORDING TO BREAK-IN SCHEDULE. THE VEHICLE WAS RIDDEN MOSTLY ON THE SURFACE STREETS AND HIGHWAYS, AND ABOUT 100 MILES OFF-ROAD. THE BOLT,IDLER LEVER PN 92150-1923 WAS ADJUSTED AT THE INTERVAL RECOMMENDED BY THE MANUAL. 2) AT 4,932 MILES, THE SPRING,IDLER SHAFT, PN 92144-1860 IS MISSING. IT MAY BE IN THE ENGINE, OR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN IN... Read more
Incident date: Dec 8, 2001
THE CLASSIC KAWASAKI KLR 650 BALANCE SHAFT TENSIONER FAILURE. 2000 MODEL YEAR MOTORCYCLE MAINTAINED AS PER FACTORY RECOMMENDATIONS BROKE A BALANCE SHAFT SYSTEM. OCCURRED AT LOW SPEED SO IT WAS NOT DANGEROUS AS IF IT HAPPENED AT SPEED. THAT WAS THE FIRST FAILURE. RECENTLY I FOUND IT WAS CRACKED DURING SERVICE OF THE WATER PUMP. INSTALLED THE 3RD ADJUSTER AT THAT POINT. RECENTLY I FOUND AFTERM... Read more
Incident date: Nov 7, 2004
THE CONSUMER'S SON WAS DRIVING A MOTORCYCLE WHEN HE LOST CONTROL AND STRUCK THE CURB. HE WAS THROWN FROM THE MOTORCYCLE AND STRUCK HIS HEAD ON THE CONCRETE AND WAS KILLED INSTANTLY. THE CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW IF NHTSA RECALL 04V373000: REPAIRS ON THE FRONT WHEEL WAS PERFORMED. THE CONSUMER WILL CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. *AK *JB *SC
Crash
1 deaths
Incident date: Nov 11, 2004
ISSUE: A FAILURE OF THE WATER TEMPERATURE SENSOR CAUSES A SURGE IN POWER. DESCRIPTION OF EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE: WAS MOVING A 2004 KAWASAKI NINJA ZX-6RR IN A PARKING LOT, COLD WEATHER (35 DEGREES). AT A CONSTANT SPEED, THE BIKE SURGED IN RPM, CAUSING THE REAR TIRE TO BREAK TRACTION, CRASHING THE BIKE. NO ONE ELSE WAS INVOLVED. AS PER THE DEBUG STEPS IN THE SERVICE MANUAL, THE EFI COMPUTER... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Aug 16, 2004
THE REPLACEMENT WHEELS FOR FRONT WHEEL RECALL 04V373000 HAVE NOT BEEN AVAILABLE FOR 3 MONTHS, AND DEALERSHIP DOESN'T KNOW WHEN THEY WILL BECOME AVAILABLE.*AK
Incident date: Aug 30, 2004
1) NORMAL USE (VEHICLE IS A BOAT TRAILER) LOAD RITE DOUBLE PWC TRAILER 2)A) TAIL LIGHTS FAILED UNDER NORMAL USE WATER CAUSED CORROSION OF CONTACTS FROM NORMAL LAUNCHING AND RETRIEVAL. B) GALVANIZED BRACKET HOLDING STEEL FENDER IN PLACE CRACKED AT BEND, ENSUING VIBRATION BROKE SIDE SAFETY LIGHT. POTENTIAL FOR HIGHWAY LOSS AND DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLES FROM FLYING DEBRIS. C) GALVANIZED BRACKET HOL... Read more