Kawasaki NINJA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
38 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
950 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 to 2021 model years. Data snapshot: . 16 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 38 complaints (15.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 7.9% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 7.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 7.9% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 5.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 5.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 2.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 3 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 2 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe | 2 |
| Steering | 2 |
Power Train: 6; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 3; Structure:Body: 3; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 2; Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe: 2; Steering: 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 | 16 |
| 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: 16; 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 (16). 22 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 4 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2000: 4; 2001: 7; 2002: 3; 2003: 7; 2004: 8; 2005: 1; 2007: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 2; 2018: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 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 867383 · 2000-08-10 (August 10, 2000)
WHEN CHANGING GEARS CLUTCH SLIPS. CLUTCH HAS BEEN ADJUSTED SEVERALTIMES, AND REPLACED ONCE. OWNER IS NO LONGER EXPERIENCING CLUTCH PROBLEM, BUT SECOND AND FOURTH GEARS ARE GONE IN THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 867383 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018664 · 2003-05-14 (May 14, 2003)
2003 KAWASKI EX500-D10---I WAS RIDING DOWN THE ROAD AND AS I WAS DOWN SHIFTING THE FRONT WHEEL WENT ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WHEN THE HANDLE BARS BROKE OFF IN MY HANDS, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO TURN AND I RAN INTO THE DITCH AND WAS THROWN FROM THE BIKE AND BROKE MY WRIST. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DEFECTED MOTORCYCLE PART[ THIN HANDLE BARS ] THAT MY BODY WEIGHT COULD MAKE THEM BREAK WE HAVE FROM THE ER TO NIGHT THAT THERE HAS BEEN OTHER ACCIDENTS LIKE MINE CAUSED BY THE NINJA BIKES. THAT IS A DIFFIDENT DESIGN DEFECT. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018664 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8002201 · 2002-01-15 (January 15, 2002)
AFTER DRIVING MOTORCYCLE FOR 5-10 MINUTES IT STALLS OUT AND WILL NOT RESTART RIGHT AWAY. MOTORCYCLE AT DEALER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8002201 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 880117 · 2001-02-08 (February 8, 2001)
WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 35-30 MPH MOTORCYCLE STALLED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, FORCING OCCUPANT OFF MOTORCYCLE. ALSO RECALL 00V384000 DUE TO INCORRECT FUEL READING. PROBLEM AND DAMAGE TO MOTORCYCLE WAS DUE TO RECALL DEFECT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 880117 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 864611 · 2000-06-30 (June 30, 2000)
GAS TANK RUSTING,CAUSING GAS TO POUR OUT, AND RESULTING IN A FIRE HAZARD,POSSIBLY DUE TO IMPROPER COATING AT THE FACTORY.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 864611 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 9003983 · 2001-09-06 (September 6, 2001)
HANDLEBARD WOULD NOT STRAITEN OUT, CAUSING ME TO LAY THE BIKE DOWN, DAMAGING THE GAS TANK, HANDLEBARS. NOTICED THE DISCONNECTED SPEEDOMETER CABLE AND SCRATCH EVIDENCE OF WHERE IT SNAGGED THE STEERING FORK.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 9003983 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 862822 · 2000-05-31 (May 31, 2000)
WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AT 45-50 MPH COMMENCED TO APPLY BRAKES AND THEY RELEASED, CAUSING BRAKES TO LOCK UP. DRIVER WAS THROWN OFF, AND SUSTAINED HEAD AND KNEE INJURIES. DRIVER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED AT THIS TIME. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 862822 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11099460 · 2018-06-04 (June 4, 2018)
ISSUES SHIFTING... IM SUSPECTING ITS THE BRAKE IN OIL CAUSING THIS BECAUSE AT LEAST 15 TIMES UP UNTIL MY FIRST OIL CHANGE YOU WOULD BE SHIFTING GEARS AND THE GEAR WOULDN'T FULLY ENGAGE UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING THE BIKE TO RAPIDLY SLOW DOWN WITH CARS BEHIND ME HAVING TO SLAM ON BRAKES. AND ALSO AT LEAST ONCE A DAY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DOWN SHIFT THE SHIFTIER WILL FEEL SOLID AS A ROCK LIKE ITS IN FIRST GEAR AND THEN YOU'LL TRY AGAIN AND THEN IS GOES INTO GEAR FINE. ALSO ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN TRYING TO START BIKE ILL TURN IGNITION ON, THEN HALF…
Owner-reported narrative. 3 miles reported. Look up ODI 11099460 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10030786 · 2003-08-04 (August 4, 2003)
OIL LEAKING OUT OF THE TAIL SECTION OF MY MOTORCYCLE (2001 KAWASAKI ZX-12R) CORRECTED BY DEALER. CONTINUED OIL IN THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR HAS CAUSED OVERHEATING AND MELTING OF THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. THERE IS A HOLE BURNT THROUGH THE CONNECTOR. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10030786 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004211 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, VEHICLE'S SPEED WILL START DECEASING, UNTIL VEHICLE LOSSES ALL POWER. THE DEALERSHIP HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX PROBLEM, BUT IT STILL EXIST. TS RADIATOR OVERFLOWED. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. DEALER COULD NOT FIND A REMEDY. VEHICLE WAS ALSO JUMPING OUT OF 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. MAJOR SERVICE REVEALED ENGINE WAS THROWING OIL. 2 BOLTS WERE TIGHTENED. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004211 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
2005: 0; 2014: 0; 2018: 2; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 0