Kawasaki KL650E problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
20 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
3,593 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 to 2012 model years. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 20 complaints (30.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 30.0% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 10.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 6 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
Exterior Lighting: 6; Electrical System: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 17 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 17; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 2 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
2008: 11; 2009: 3; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 2; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10240480 · 2008-08-31 (August 31, 2008)
1. THREE (3) TURN SIGNAL MOUNTS HAVE FAILED TO DATE, DURING NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION. 2. FAILURES OCCURRED AT 1,800 MILES, 4,000 MILES, AND 7,300 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. MOUNTS FAIL IN NORMAL HIGHWAY OPERATION, LEADING TO TURN SIGNAL BULB/LENS/HALF-STALK DANGLING FROM THE WIRING. NO ACCIDENTS OCCURRED DUE TO THE FAILURES. 3. FIRST ONE REPLACE AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE, SECOND REPLACED AT DEALERS EXPENSE, THIRD BEING DEBATED BY DEALER. THIRD UNIT STILL IN OWNER'S POSSESSION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 7,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10240480 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10465463 · 2012-07-12 (July 12, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KAWASAKI KL650E. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED OF THE RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V062000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING) AND STATED THAT HE EXPERIENCED EVERYTHING THE RECALL LISTED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 11,700.
Owner-reported narrative. 11,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10465463 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10353770 · 2010-09-03 (September 3, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KAWASAKI KL650E MOTORCYCLE. WHILE TRAVELING AT NIGHT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENGINE COMPLETELY STALLED WITH THE LOSS OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THERE WAS RECALL RELATED TO THE DEFECT UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V062000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: WIRING). THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DEFECT AND THE REPAIR WOULD BE AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,500.
Owner-reported narrative. 8,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10353770 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10472954 · 2012-08-29 (August 29, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KAWASAKI KL650E MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V062000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING) HOWEVER, WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,600.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10472954 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2012 | 0 |
2006: 0; 2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2012: 0