2008 Kawasaki KLR650 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
116 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
2,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 110 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 79 of 116 complaints (68.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 7.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 0.9% |
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 | 79 |
| Structure | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 6 |
| Suspension:Rear:Shock Absorber | 6 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 2 |
Exterior Lighting: 79; Structure: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal: 6; Suspension:Rear:Shock Absorber: 6; Electrical System: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 110 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 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: 110; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 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 (110). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 95 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
2007: 4; 2008: 95; 2009: 3; 2010: 7; 2011: 1; 2012: 3; 2018: 3
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 10235076 · 2008-07-20 (July 20, 2008)
CERTAIN RUBBER COMPONENTS ON THE MOTORCYCLE HAVE DRIED OUT AND ARE CRUMBLING. THE FOLLOWING ARE EXAMPLES A) TURN SIGNAL STALKS HAVE FALLEN OFF WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE OTHER TRAFFIC NOT SEEING YOUR TURN SIGNAL B) WINDSHIELD RETAINING WELL NUTS HAVE CRUMBLED AND THE WINDSHIELD COULD COME LOOSE OR OFF AT HWY SPEEDS CAUSING INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT C) RUBBER BOOT ON THE POSITIVE TERMINAL OF THE STARTER HAS DRYROTTED AND IS CRUMBLING. THIS COULD CAUSE A POSSIBLE SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTE…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10235076 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10235148 · 2008-07-21 (July 21, 2008)
2008 KAWASAKI KLR650 MOTORCYCLE. -SUBJECT: TURN SIGNAL DEGRADATION AND ULTIMATE FAILURE OF MANUFACTURED MATERIAL. -THE RIGHT REAR TURN SIGNAL ON MY MOTORCYCLE FAILED WITHOUT WARNING OR DUE CAUSE. I ARRIVED AT MY OFFICE TO FIND THE REAR INDICATOR HANGING BY THE WIRES WITH NO STRUCTURAL SUPPORT LEFT BY THE MATERIAL USED TO MANUFACTURE IT. IT APPEARS THE MATERIAL WAS WEAK AND ROTTED FROM EXPOSURE TO VIBRATION AND UV LIGHT. THE SIGNAL REMAINED OPERATIONAL, BUT COULD NOT BE LEFT ATTACHED BY ONLY THE ELECTRICAL WIRING. -DEALER REPLACED THE INDICA…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10235148 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10236574 · 2008-07-31 (July 31, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KAWASAKI KLR650. HE WAS DRIVING 55MPH ON HIS MOTORCYCLE AND IT SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE WIRES WERE RUBBING UNDERNEATH THE GAS TANK. WHEN THE WIRES RUBBED TOGETHER THEY BLEW A FUSE AND CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SHUT OFF. THE MECHANIC HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL AT REPAIRING THE MOTORCYCLE FOR TWO WEEKS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 1,600.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10236574 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10240891 · 2008-09-04 (September 4, 2008)
SHORTED WIRING HARNESS UNDER GAS TANK RESULTING IN FAILURE OF 20 AMP MAIN FUSE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10240891 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10334599 · 2010-06-04 (June 4, 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
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10334599 at NHTSA ↗