2012 Kawasaki CONCOURS 14: complaints, problems and recalls

UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, USE OF THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL CAN CAUSE AN UNEXPECTED, SUDDEN GRAB OF THE BRAKES. THIS PROBLEM CAN BE DEMONSTRATED BY APPLYING THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL AFTER LIGHTLY APPLYING THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER. BASED ON MANY DISCUSSION THREADS ON THE COG-ONLINE.ORG AND ZGGTR.ORG WEB FORUMS, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE REPORTED FOR THE CONCOURSE MODEL MOTORCYCLES SINCE THEY BEGAN BEING DELIVERED WITH A LINKED BRAKING SYSTEM. THE RIDER DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DISABLE THE LINKED BRAKING SYSTEM. IN A LIMITED TRACTION SITUATION, I BELIEVE…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10546434 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14, EQUIPPED WITH A NATIONAL CYCLE V STREAM WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD BEGAN TO MOVE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BOLTS WERE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10598048 at NHTSA ↗

IN NOVEMBER 2013 I PURCHASED A NEW NON-CURRENT INVENTORY 2012 KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14 MOTORCYCLE. PRIOR TO RIDING IT THIS SPRING I INSTALLED A LARGER AFTERMARKET NATIONAL CYCLE V-STREAM WINDSHIELD FOR INCREASED WIND PROTECTION. DURING MY FIRST RIDE I WAS SURPRISED AT THE AMOUNT THAT THE NATIONAL CYCLE V-STREAM WINDSHIELD FLEXED IN WIND. WITHIN 20 MILES OF RIDING THE EXCESSIVE FLEXING RESULTED IN THE ORIGINAL KAWASAKI PLASTIC WINDSHIELD MOUNTS BREAKING. I PURCHASED ANOTHER SET OF KAWASAKI MOUNTS, THEY LASTED 35 MILES AND ALSO CRACKED. WHEN COM…

Owner-reported narrative. 35 miles reported. Look up ODI 10598459 at NHTSA ↗

Back Brake pedal locks up at times locking the rear brakes and seems to lock the left front brake. Have had back brakes replaced and front pads replaced. The issue happened within one week of purchasing the bike used from a Florida Dealership. When the brakes lock up, you are almost thrown from the bike. Front left pads wear to the metal while the right side is barely worn. Sometimes, the brake pedal just goes all the way down and I have nothing. This would probably KILL a rookie rider. I also ride a 2008 Honda Goldwing with 96,000 miles. I bou…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11418248 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2012-03-30 (March 30, 2012)

KAWASAKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2012 CONCOURS 14 POLICE MOTORCYCLES. THE ADDITIONAL POLICE ACCESSORIES MAY CAUSE THE 30-AMP MAIN FUSE TO BLOW. ALSO, THE ADDITIONAL POLICE WIRING HARNESS MAY CHAFE LEADING TO A SHORT, WHICH MAY BLOW THE MAIN FUSE.

Consequence: IF THE FUSE BLOWS, THE ENGINE MAY STALL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: KAWASAKI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONS TO MITIGATE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 5, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-866-802-9381.

Reported: 2012-07-20 (July 20, 2012)

Kawasaki is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Concours 14 (ZG1400 A/B/C/D) motorcycles. Due to a gap between the brake pedal and guard, small stone or debris can become trapped, creating a brake drag. This can cause the rear brake to overheat, leading to rear brake damage and lock-up or failure of the rear brakes. The front brakes may also be affected on ZG1400C models.

Consequence: If the brakes lock up or fail, there is an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kawasaki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear master cylinder rod end and remove the brake guard (if installed), free of charge. The safety recall began on July 37, 2012. Owners may contact Kawasaki at 1-866-802-9381.

Reported: 2013-08-16 (August 16, 2013)

Kawasaki is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Concours 14 police motorcycles. The additional police accessories may cause the 30-amp main fuse to blow. Also, the additional police wiring harness may chafe leading to a short, which may blow the main fuse.

Consequence: If the fuse blows, the engine may stall increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kawasaki will notify owners, and dealers will correct the electrical system problems, free of charge. The recall began on September 3, 2013. Owners may contact Kawasaki at 1-866-802-9381. This campaign is an expansion of recall 12V-134.

Reported: 2013-08-27 (August 27, 2013)

Kawasaki is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Concours 14 police motorcycles. The improper installation of additional police accessories may cause multiple safety issues such as fuel leaks, reduction of braking ability and loss of electrical power to the engine, resulting in a stall.

Consequence: These issues increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kawasaki has notified that affected police departments and will send trained factory personnel to the departments to repair the motorcycles. The recall began on August 21, 2013. Owners may contact Kawasaki at 1-866-802-9381. This campaign is being conducted independent of recalls 12V134 and 13V370 for blown fuses on authority bikes.

Reported: 2015-02-27 (February 27, 2015)

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (Kawasaki) is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Kawasaki Concours 14 and 14ABS motorcycles manufactured May 8, 2008, to February 20, 2013, and modified for police authority use. The additional police accessories may cause the 30-amp main fuse to blow. Also, the additional police wiring harness may chafe leading to a short, which may blow the main fuse.

Consequence: If the fuse blows, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kawasaki has notified the affected police departments and will send trained personnel to repair the motorcycles, free of charge. The recall began April 13, 2015. Owners may contact Kawasaki customer service at 1-866-802-9381. Kawasaki 's number for this recall is MC15-02. Note: This recall is an expansion of recalls 12V-134, 13V-370 and 13V-387.