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: 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
Incident date: Jul 11, 2003
OIL LEAK LEFT FRONT CORNER OF FRONT CYLINDER. *BF ENGINE HAD TO BE REMOVED TO REPLACE THE CAM. RESEALED REAR CYLINDER HEAD COVER. *TT
Incident date: Oct 23, 2004
KAWASAKI HAD REBUILT MY MOTORCYCLE, BUT HAD DENTED THE TANK THEY REPLACED IT. BUT FOUR MONTHS LATER GAS LEAKS OUT OF THE REAR RIGHT VENT HOSE WHICH DRIPPED ON TO THE EXHAUST PIPE AND IGNITED. FIRE WAS PUT OUT WITH LITTLE DAMAGE, THE VENT LINE IS CRACKED INSIDE THE NEW TANK CAUSING GAS TO LEAK IN TO THE VENT LINE AND OUT THE DRAIN HOSE ON TO THE EXHAUST PIPE. KAWASAKI DENIES ANY PART OF THIS TYPE O... Read more
Fire
Incident date: Oct 4, 2004
AFTER A 15 MPH FRONTAL CRASH FUEL TANK STARTED TO LEAK. MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL ABOUT THE MUFFLER BRACKET CRACKING. *SC
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Jul 15, 2004
I WAS TRAVELING AROUND 40 TO 50 MPH WHEN THE FRONT WHEEL OF MY MOTORCYCLE SEEMED TO JUST GIVE WAY AND SHHOOT ME AND THE BIKE INTO A CURB THEREFORE HIGHSIDEING ME. THE ONLY INJURY I HAD WAS TO MY LEFT AND RIGHT ANKLES. 3 WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE NOT TO RIDE MY MOTORCYCLE DUE TO CASTING FLAWS. MY BIKE IS DESTROYED.*AK
1 injured
Incident date: Oct 11, 2004
CHANGED OIL AND DISCOVERED PIECES OF METAL IN CRANKCASE. HAD A BROKEN IDLER SHAFT LEVER THAT SPLIT IN TWO. LUCKILY IT DID NOT GIVE WAY WHILE I WAS RUNNING AND SEIZE THE ENGINE. DESIGN FLAW IN THE IDLER SHAFT LEVER WELD RESULTED IN FAILURE. *NM
Incident date: Oct 2, 2004
(1) FRONT TIRE RAPIDLY LOST AIR CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. (2) I DISLOCATED MY LEFT KNEE AND LEFT HIP. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE METAL INNER TUBE VALVE HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE RUBBER TUBE. (3) I REPLACED THE TUBE AND TIRE AND GOING TO SELL THE MOTORCYCLE. *NM
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Oct 3, 2004
A HAIR LINE CRACK (LATERALLY) ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRAME OF MY 2001 KAWASAKI ZX9R. CONCERNED BECAUSE OF SAFETY ISSUE, POSSIBLY CAN CAUSE FRAME FAILURE AND ACCIDENT.*AK
Incident date: Sep 11, 2004
I OWN A 2003 KAWASAKI ZR 750H3 MOTORCYCLE. THREE WEEKS AGO, WHILE DRIVING UP MY DRIVEWAY, THE THROTTLE DID NOT GO BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION WHEN I RELEASED IT LEADING TO CONTINUED ACCELERATION OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND FINALLY I COLLIDED WITH A TRUCK IN THE DRIVEWAY. WHEN I RELEASED THE THROTTLE THERE WAS SO LITTLE TIME TO REACT BEFORE I WAS TO HIT SOMETHING AND NOT ENOUGH AREA TO BRAKE FULLY TO... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Sep 20, 2004
CRACKING FRAME AT BEND 12" BEHIND STEERING HEAD. *AK.
Incident date: Sep 19, 2004
THE FRAME HAS CRACKED ON THE LH SIDE 10-12" BACK FRM THE STEERING HEAD. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY HAVE NO DEFECTS WITH THEIR FRAMES. THE BIKE HAS NOT BEEN ABUSED AND I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OFTHE BIKE. THE MFG HAS DENIED REPLACEMENT BECAUSE IT'S OUT OF WARRANTY. THE CRACK HAS MY SAFETY IN CONCERN... HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE THIS SAME PROBLEM WITHOUT KNOWING ABOUT IT????*AK
Incident date: Sep 13, 2004
A RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED ON THE FRONT WHEEL REPLACEMENT. DEALER COULD NOT DO REPAIRS SINCE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE.*AK
KAWASAKI
ZX636 B2
(2004) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
Sep 20, 2004
Incident date: Sep 17, 2004
EXHAUST BOLT FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. MUFFLER FELL INTO THE STREET. DEALER FILED A CLAIM WITH THE MANUFACTURER, WHO STATED THIS WAS NOT A MANUFACTURING ISSUE.*AK
KAWASAKI
NINJA ZX-10R
(2004) — STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
Sep 14, 2004
Incident date: Aug 28, 2004
CONSUMER WAS OPERATING SUBJECT MOTORCYCLE ON AUGUST 28, 2004, LOST CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE, HIT A CURB, AND WAS THROWN FROM THE MOTORCYCLE. THE CONSUMER WAS THROWN INTO A TREE AND DIED UPON IMPACT. RECALL NOTIFICATION LETTER (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V-373000) WAS POSTMARKED (CA) 2 DAYS PRIOR TO DATE OF FATALITY INCIDENT; HOWEVER, RECALL NOTIFICATION LETTER WAS NOT DELIVERED TO NEW JERSEY ADDRESS... Read more
Crash
1 deaths
Incident date: Aug 24, 2004
REAR DRIVE SPLINES ON 2003 KAWASAKI VULCAN 750 MOTORCYCLE WERE INSUFFICIENTLY LUBRICATED AT FACTORY. DEALER FAILED TO CHECK LUBRICATION AS REQURED AT 6000MI MAINTENANCE. READ DRIVE FAILED (SPLINES SHEARED) AT 9900 MILES. FORTUNATLY RIDER WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD WITH OUT INJURY. REAR DRIVE WAS REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. VULCAN-RIDING COMMUNITY HAS NOTED THIS PROBLEM MULTIPLE TI... Read more
Incident date: Aug 31, 2004
9-12-04 I BROUGHT MY 1994 KAWASAKI NINJA ZX-9 MOTORCYCLE IN FOR A REAR TIRE CHANGE AND MINI TUNE,TO INCLUDE ONLY SPARK PLUG CHANGE AND OIL CHANGE,COOLANT CHECK,TO THE FOLLOWING DEALER/SERVICE SHOP ON 8-31-04:CASCADE MOTOR SPORTS OF OREGON 20445 CADY WAY, BEND OR. 97701 PH; 541-389-0088, OWNER/PRES WILLIAM R. HOWARD.I ASKED THAT I BE RETURNED MY USED REAR TIRE, USED SPARK PLUGS, AND A SAMPLE OF M... Read more
Incident date: Sep 7, 2004
ON 2 OCCASIONS MY 2001 KAWASAKI VULCAN 800 WAS LEAKING FUEL IN MY GARAGE. HIS MOTORCYCLE USES A KEIHN CVK-36 CARBURATOR. REPLACED GASKET BETWEEN FUEL BOWL AND CARBURATOR BODY AS WELL AS NEW FLOAT, AND NEEDLE. *AK PROBLEM CONTINUED, WHEN MOTORCYCLE SEEPED FUEL ON A NEAR CONTINUOUS BASIS. IDENTIFIED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PUMP DIAGPHRAGM IN THE CARBURATOR HAS FAILED WITH CRACKS AND RUBBER TO MA... Read more
Incident date: Sep 7, 2004
ON 2 OCCASIONS MY 2001 KAWASAKI VULCAN 800 WAS LEAKING FUEL IN MY GARAGE. HIS MOTORCYCLE USES A KEIHN CVK-36 CARBURATOR. REPLACED GASKET BETWEEN FUEL BOWL AND CARBURATOR BODY AS WELL AS NEW FLOAT, AND NEEDLE. *AK PROBLEM CONTINUED, WHEN MOTORCYCLE SEEPED FUEL ON A NEAR CONTINUOUS BASIS. IDENTIFIED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PUMP DIAGPHRAGM IN THE CARBURATOR HAS FAILED WITH CRACKS AND RUBBER TO MA... Read more
Incident date: Aug 10, 2004
MOTOR WAS DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER HAD THE MOTORCYCLE FOR 1 WEEK AND EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE PROBLEM. IT MADE A KNOCKING NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A ROD WAS DEFECTIVE WITHIN THE ENGINE. THIS NOISE OCCURRED WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE WAS STARTED AND CONTINUED. CONSUMER TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS PURCHASED AND CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE THE DEALER TO GO INTO... Read more
Incident date: Sep 9, 2004
A LOUD BUZZING NOISE CAME FROM THE LEFT CLUTCH LEVER. IT WAS HEARD OVER THE WIND, AND THERE WAS NO WAY CONSUMER HEARD ANY FUNCTIONS OF THE MOTORCYCLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER, AND DEALER STATED THERE WAS NO WAY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *AK
KAWASAKI
VN800-A10
(2004) — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
Sep 7, 2004
Incident date: Mar 4, 2004
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO DO SO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE GAS CAP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE F... Read more
Incident date: Sep 4, 2004
LEFT HAND SIDE FRONT NOISE ON ZX-636 RR NINJA KAWASAKI, DEVELOPED 4-DIRECTIONAL CRACK ORIGINATING FROM SCREW ( ONE OF THE 6 SCREWS ON FRONT NOSE)!!..VEHICLE IS 2003 YEAR MODEL 636 ZXRR, AND PURCHASED ON JUNE 17TH 2004.. THE VEHICLE HAS UNDER 100 MILES SO FAR,TOTALLY GARAGED. AND NO MISUSE/MISHANDLING WHATSOEVER!!!. SEE THE NATURE OF THE CRACK, A MAJOR ACCIDENT POTENTIAL, ESP FACIAL INJURY TO MOT... Read more
KAWASAKI
ZX1000-C1
(2004) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
Aug 18, 2004
Incident date: Jul 6, 2004
WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FLUID WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE CRANKCASE CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
KAWASAKI
NINJA ZX-10R
(2004) — POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
Aug 17, 2004
Incident date: Jun 19, 2004
PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION SHIFTING GEARS. *MR IT WAS HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO THIRD OR SIXTH GEAR. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION THE CONSUMER FOUND IT HARD TO SHIFT TO THE THIRD GEAR AND ALMOST GOT HIT BY A TRACTOR TRAILER BECAUSE HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT IMMEDIATELY. THIS WAS ONE OF SEVERAL INCIDENTS. (KAWASAKI ZX-10R NINJA) *SC CONSUMER SOLD MOTORCYCLE DU... Read more
Incident date: Aug 10, 2004
ON AUGUST 10, 2004 I HAD AN ACCIDENT ON MY KAWASAKI ELIMINATOR MOTORCYCLE WHICH HAS A MOTORCYCLE TOUR CONVERSION VOYAGER KIT ATTACHED. I WAS LUCKY NOT TOO GET KILLED. I RECEIVED STITCHES, LACERATIONS & BRUISES. KIT WILL BE REMOVED FROM MY BIKE AND IS AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING. *JB
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Aug 10, 2004
ON AUGUST 10, 2004 I HAD AN ACCIDENT ON MY KAWASAKI ELIMINATOR MOTORCYCLE WHICH HAS A MOTORCYCLE TOUR CONVERSION VOYAGER KIT ATTACHED. I WAS LUCKY NOT TOO GET KILLED. I RECEIVED STITCHES, LACERATIONS & BRUISES. KIT WILL BE REMOVED FROM MY BIKE AND IS AVAILABLE FOR VIEWING. *JB
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Aug 12, 2004
THE CONSUME RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE(04V-373-000) FOR REPLACEMENT FOR THE FRONT WHEEL. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *JB
Incident date: Jul 7, 2004
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED FOR AN URGENT STOP MOTORCYCLE FLIPPED OVER. ALSO, EXCESSIVE VIBRATION THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BODY. THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT THE FRAME WAS STRESSED WHEN THE MOTOR WAS MOUNTED. *AK
Crash
Incident date: Jul 7, 2004
WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED FOR AN URGENT STOP MOTORCYCLE FLIPPED OVER. ALSO, EXCESSIVE VIBRATION THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE BODY. THE CONSUMER FOUND OUT THAT THE FRAME WAS STRESSED WHEN THE MOTOR WAS MOUNTED. *AK
Crash
Incident date: Nov 20, 2002
NAR 03/05/2003 AFTER THREE CONSECUTIVE TRIPS TO THE REPAIRS SHOP WITHIN 30 DAYS FOR ENGINE OIL LEAK THE CONSUMER NO LONGER WANTS THE VEHICLE. *CB
Incident date: Jul 16, 2004
THE REAR SEALS ON THE WHEEL LEAKED. IT WAS DISCOVERED WHEN OIL WAS SEEN ON THE GROUND. THE VIBRATION INCREASED AND A PASSENGER COULD NOT RIDE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TORN DOWN, AND THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR IT. THE DEALER INSISTED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRABLE. THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO REIMBURSE THE CONSUMER. *AK *SC *JB
KAWASAKI
VULCAN CLASSIC
(2001) — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Aug 3, 2004
Incident date: Jan 1, 1901
FAILED HPK SEPARATOR ON 2001 KAWASAKI VULCAN CLASSIC 800.*MR IT HAS BEEN SIX MONTHS SINCE THE CONSUMER'S LAST CORRESPONDENCE AND SEVEN MONTHS SINCE HIS INITIAL LETTER NOTIFYING KAWASAKI OF THE SEPARATOR INCIDENT. *NM
Incident date: Aug 2, 2004
OIL LEAKAGE TO ELECTRICAL CONNECTION,WILL CAUSE FIRE OR LOSS OF CONTROL ON MOTORCYCLE NOT GOOD.*AK
Incident date: Jul 28, 2004
KAWASAKI KLR650 CAM CHAIN BALANCER/IDLER SHAFT LEVER FAILED PREMATURELY. THE BIKE HAD ONLY 13,000 MILES AND IS A 2002 MODEL YEAR.*AK
Incident date: May 5, 2004
WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN OUT OF STORAGE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT TIRES SIDEWALL DEVELOPED WEATHER CHECKS. THESE WERE SMALL CRACKS THAT WENT AROUND THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRES. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS DRIVEN FOR 6 MONTHS, THEN STORED FOR 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING. DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED BUT COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHAT CAUSED THE CRACKS TO OCCUR BECAUSE THE MOTORCYCLE WASN'T STORED NEXT ... Read more
Incident date: Jun 21, 2004
A FEW MONTHS AGO THE CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL #04V023000 REGARDING HIGH OIL PRESSURE. THE DEALERSHIP STILL DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT THE RECALL. THIS IS THE CONSUMER'S ONLY FORM OF TRANSPORTATION. *NM *NM
KAWASAKI
VULCAN NOMAD
(1999) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Jun 23, 2004
Incident date: Jun 8, 2004
LODGED ORIGINAL COMPLAINT UNDER SUBCATEGORY 'OTHER'. PLASTIC (NYLON) OIL GEAR FAILURE. MINE FAILED AT 41000 MILES. MOST HAVE FAILED AT EARLIER MILEAGE. FAILURE OCCURRS WITHOUT WARNING, RESULTS IN SUDDEN LOSS OF ALL OIL PRESSURE, CAN LEAD TO ENGINE LOCK-UP, AND LOSS OF CONTROL. NO INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED AS YET. KAWASAKI IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT ARE WAITING FOR FAILURE BEFORE REPLACEMENT. F... Read more
KAWASAKI
VULCAN NOMAD
(1999) — POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Jun 9, 2004
Incident date: Jun 8, 2004
PLASTIC OIL GEAR FAILURE RESULTS IN TOTAL LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE, WHICH COULD LEAD TO ENGINE FAILURE, WHICH WOULD RESULT IN TOTAL LOSS OF CONTROL. MINE STARTED AND WARMED NORMALLY, BUT THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON LESS THAN FIVE MILES DOWN THE ROAD. I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND COASTED ONTO A SIDE ROAD, WHERE A CHECK OF MY OIL LEVEL SHOWED IT WAS FULL BUT NO PRESSURE. SEEMS TO ONLY INVOLVE 1999 A... Read more
KAWASAKI
ZX1200-A1
(2000) — STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
Jun 4, 2004
Incident date: May 30, 2004
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STATOR WIRE CONNECTION IS LEAKING OIL UNDER THE REAR SEAT, CAUSING OIL TO LEAK ONTO REAR TIRE, AND CREATE A SHORT TO THE REAR CONNECTOR, RESULTING IN A FIRE HAZARD. LEAKING OIL CAUSED THE CONNECTOR TO MELT. *AK
Incident date: Jul 22, 2003
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED RUMBLING SOUND COULD BE HEARD THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED AT LEAST 10 TIMES SINCE HE OWNED THE CYCLE. THE DEALER HAS EXAMINED THE CYCLE FIVE TIMES BUT COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *NM *NM
Incident date: Sep 27, 2003
CONSUMER WAS RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE WHEN THE FRONT FORKS DISENGAGED. *LA THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO BE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT OF THE MECHANISM WHICH SECURED THE FRONT FORKS TO THE VEHICLE. (MODEL ZX900) *SC *JB
Crash
1 injured
KAWASAKI
VULCAN CLASSIC
(1997) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
May 26, 2004
Incident date: Feb 21, 2004
I WAS RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE A 1997 KAWASAKI VULCAN CLASSIC AT APPROXIMATELY 35 -40 MPH WHEN IT STARTED TO MAKE A TAPPING NOISE. I PULL OVER AS SOON AS I HEARD THE NOISE. THE BIKE WAS PURCHASE USED FROM RUA MOTORCYCLES INDIAN TRAIL NC. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS RETURNED TO RUA CYCLES FOR REPAIRS THAT SAME DAY FEB 21 2004. AFTER RUA CYCLES WAS ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE... Read more
LETTER REGARDING A POSSIBLE DEFECT IN THE DIAPHRAGM IN THE FUEL TAP. *PH THE BIKE DID NOT RUN DUE TO TRASH GETTING INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. THE BIKE ALSO STALLED WHEN IT REACHED A SPEED OF 53 MPH. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THERE WAS NO GAS IN THE FUEL LINE, FUEL FILTER OR THE CARBURETORS. THE CONSUMER FIXED THE PROBLEM BY REMOVING THE DIAPHRAGM AND REPLACING IT WITH A SOLID RUBBER SEAL AND RE-TI... Read more
Incident date: Feb 11, 2003
AFTER RECALL WAS PERFORMED, MOTORCYCLE CONTINUED TO LEAK OIL. *PH THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL HAD BEEN PERFORMED, HOWEVER LESS THAN A MONTH LATER, HE CHECKED THE CONNECTOR AND FOUND OIL IN IT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED, HOWEVER TO THIS DAY, THE CONNECTOR IS STILL LEAKING OIL. THE CONSUMER EVEN TRIED TO USE SILICON SEALANT WHICH WAS ADVISED BY... Read more
THE MOTORCYCLE HAS AN OIL LEAK. IT IS FORCING THE OIL INTO THE POURES INSTALLATION AND DRIPS ONTO THE REAR WHEEL. THE OWNER DROVE THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALER WHO GAVE HIM A REPAIR KIT WHICH INCLUDED A TUBE OF GLUE AND A INSTRUCTION PACKET. THE DEALER ALSO INFORMED THE OWNER THAT THE REPAIR KIT WILL NOT PREVENT THIS PROBLEM FROM RECURRING. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM
KAWASAKI
ZX1200-A1L
(2000) — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Mar 18, 2004
NHTSA RECALL 00V36000 CONCERNING FUEL VENT LEAKAGE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. AFTER REPAIRS WERE DONE THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Incident date: Jun 25, 2002
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS RIDING A MOTORCYCLE, THE KNUCKLE THAT HELD THE FRAME TO THE SHOCK ABSORBER BROKE. WHEN THIS PART BROKE, THE PASSENGER WAS THROWN OFF THE MOTORCYCLE, WHICH THEN ROLLED DOWN A HIL AND LAND ON THE WHEELS. WHILE ROLLING DOWN THE HILL, THE MOTORCYCLE ROLLED OVER THE CONSUMER'S WIFE, AND CAUSED MINOR INJURIES. AFTER FINDING THE PART THAT BROKE OFF AT THE T... Read more
Crash
1 injured
Incident date: Sep 22, 2003
BALANCER IDLER LEVER FAILURE. FOUND IT BROKEN IN MY ENGINE WHILE PERFORMING MAINTENANCE. THIS WOULD LEAD TO ENGINE SEIZURE AND A POSSIBLE LOST OF VEHICLE CONTROL IF LEFT UNCHECKED. I HAVE SINCE REPLACED WITH HIGHER QUALITY COMPONENT. *JB
Incident date: Jan 2, 2004
WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOST OF DRIVING FORCE TO THE REAR WHEEL AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED SLOWING DOWN. *LA UPON INSPECTION OF THE MOTORCYCLE, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO LUBRICATE THE SPLINED COUPLING THAT WENT BETWEEN THE DRIVESHAFT OUTPUT AND THE FINAL DRIVE GEARBOX PINION ASSEMBLY. (2003 KAWASAKI, VULCAN 750A19). *JB
KAWASAKI
VULCAN CLASSIC
(2001) — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
Feb 10, 2004
THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED SOMETHING SHOCKING AND ALARMING WHEN HE REMOVED THE KEYED SIDE COVER. *PH A GOLF BALL SIZE HOLE WAS BURNT INTO THE HPK SEPARATOR WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN COMPONENT FAILURE. *MR THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A PLAUSIBLE EXPLANATION OF THE PROBLEM AND REIMBURSEMENT OF THE MONIES SPENT FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART. *SC THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THERE WAS A SEVERE DESIGN DEFE... Read more