2005 Kawasaki KL650A19: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
10 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
7,625 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 10 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Steering | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Crankcase (Pcv) | 1 |
| Steering:Linkages:Arm:Idler And Attachment | 1 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Steering: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Crankcase (Pcv): 1; Steering:Linkages:Arm:Idler And Attachment: 1; Structure:Frame And Members: 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 | 8 |
| 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: 8; 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 (8). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2010 | 1 |
2006: 5; 2007: 4; 2010: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10147119 · 2006-01-06 (January 6, 2006)
FAILURE OF THE IDLER SHAFT SPRING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 3,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147119 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10148840 · 2006-01-27 (January 27, 2006)
2005 KAWASAKI KLR 650 1,500 MILES. THE IDLER SHAFT LEVER (DOOHICKEY) RETENTION / RETURN SPRING WAS BROKEN. I OPENED THE CASE TO REPLACE THIS PART THAT HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH FAILURE AND SURE ENOUGH MINE WAS BROKEN! GOOD THING I WAS DOING THE STITCH IN TIME. HAD I NOT DONE THIS PREVENTIVE UPGRADE AND ADJUSTED THE LEVER AS PER MY REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. I COULD HAVE RUINED MOTOR DUE TO THE BROKEN PART! WITH ENOUGH OF THESE FAILING THAT THIRD PARTY MANUFACTURES CAN ACTUALLY TURN A PROFIT MAKING REPLACEMENT PARTS, YOU WOULD…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10148840 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160063 · 2006-06-17 (June 17, 2006)
THE BALANCER CHAIN ADJUSTER SPRING BROKE AND LODGED IN THE OIL SCREEN. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 6,306 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160063 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10160773 · 2006-06-26 (June 26, 2006)
INDEPENDENT KAWASAKI KLR650 WEB SITES DESCRIBE INHERENT PROBLEMS WITH THE IDLER SHAFT LEVER AND SPRING WITHIN THE ENGINE. I OPENED UP THE ENGINE ON MY 2005 KLR 650 WITH 8795 MILES AND DISCOVERED THAT THE SPRING WAS BROKEN AND NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL. THIS CAN LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE AS THE CAMSHAFT CHAIN IS NO LONGER BEING TIGHTENED CORRECTLY. I THEN REPLACED THE IDLER SHAFT LEVER AND THE SPRING WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 8,795 miles reported. Look up ODI 10160773 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163888 · 2006-07-29 (July 29, 2006)
I AM VERY UPSET WITH KAWASAKI'S KLR 650'S IDLER SHAFT ASSEMBLY EVERYONE I TALK TO HAS OR WILL HAVE TO REPLACE IT. THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE FROM A COMPANY AS BIG AS KAWASAKI. IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED A LONG TIME AGO. I TOO, WILL BE SPENDING THE $200 TO FIX SOON. SOMETHING MUST BE DONE. THANK,YOU. I HOPE YOU WILL DO SOMETHING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 7,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163888 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10187854 · 2007-04-14 (April 14, 2007)
BROKEN BALANCE SHAFT ADJUSTER SPRING , THREE PIECES , ON THE INSIDE OF THE MOTOR ON A 2005 KAWASAKI KLR 650 MOTORCYCLE WITH 9,034 MILES. THE BREAKING OF THIS SPRING OR THE ADJUSTER WAS WELL DOCUMENTED ON INTERNET SITES AND WILL UNDOUBTEDLY CAUSE SOMEONE TO BE INJURED OR KILLED AT SOME POINT. IF IT HAS NOT ALREADY HAPPENED. FORTUNATELY FOR ME AN UPGRADED ADJUSTER AND SPRING WAS PURCHASED, AS WELL AS THE NECESSARY TOOLS, AFTER THE PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION FROM VARIOUS WEB SITES. I DISCOVERED THE BROKEN PARTS, ( FORTUNATELY ), AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,034 miles reported. Look up ODI 10187854 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10191274 · 2007-05-20 (May 20, 2007)
2005 KAWASAKI KLR 650 8,250 MILES. THE IDLER SHAFT LEVER (DOOHICKEY) RETENTION / RETURN SPRING WAS BROKEN. I OPENED THE CASE TO REPLACE THIS PART THAT HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH FAILURE AND SURE ENOUGH MINE WAS BROKEN! HAD I NOT DONE THIS PREVENTIVE UPGRADE AND ADJUSTED THE LEVER AS PER MY REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. I COULD HAVE RUINED THE MOTOR DUE TO THE BROKEN PART! THIS IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE TO KLR RIDERS THAT THIS IS A DEFECT THAT KAWASAKI NEEDS TO ADDRESS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10191274 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10191804 · 2007-05-26 (May 26, 2007)
WHILE DOING PM ON THE 2005 KAWASAKI KLR650 I FOUND THAT THE TENSION IDLER ARM, KNOWN IN THE KLR COMMUNITY AS THE DOOHICKEY WAS AND HAS BEEN BROKEN. WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE STILL RAN MOST SERIOIULY FAILED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10191804 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.