1999 Kawasaki KLR650: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
19,400 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 7 complaints (42.9%). 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 | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 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 (3). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2006: 2; 2011: 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 10000978 · 2003-01-12 (January 12, 2003)
BALANCER CHAIN BROKE CAUSING ENGINE TO LOCK UP AND LOCK UP THE REAR WHEEL
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000978 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000992 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
WITH LESS THAN 3,000 MILES ON MY 1999 KAWASAKI KLR 650, DURING A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, A FAILED LEVER, IDLER SHAFT AND SPRING WAS DISCOVERED AND REPLACED WITH AN AFTER-MARKET PRODUCT. DURING THIS SAME MAINTENANCE ACTIVITY, TWO OTHER KLR 650'S WERE FOUND TO HAVE SUFFERED THE SAME FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000992 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10146794 · 2006-01-03 (January 3, 2006)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DOOHICKEY CRACKED ON THE MOTORCYCLE. THE DOOHICKEY IS AN IDLER SHAFT LEVER WHICH PUTS TENSION ON THE CHAIN INSIDE THE ENGINE. THERE WERE NO WARNING OR INDICATORS OF A PROBLEM. THIS WAS DISCOVERED BY THE CONTACT WHEN DOING ROUTINE SERVICE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED. *AK UPDATED 1/25/2006. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10146794 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150299 · 2006-02-15 (February 15, 2006)
1999 KAWASAKI KLR650 MOTORCYCLE BALANCER ADJUSTER FAILURE >ENGINE LOCKUP & LOSS OF CONTROL . PARTS & LABOR TO REPAIR $1211.81 REPAIR DATE INVOICE DATE 5/24/05 INVOICE#99079450 HILLSIDE MOTORSPORTS RT14 WHITE RIVER JCT , VT 05001 MAYBE SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO SUDDEN ENGINE LOCK UP, BIKES NEED RECALL FOR IMPROVED BALANCER,TENSIONER ASSY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 19,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150299 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10399440 · 2011-05-07 (May 7, 2011)
THE 1986-2007 KAWASAKI KLR650 MOTORCYCLE'S TENSIONING SYSTEM FOR THE ENGINE BALANCER SHAFT DRIVE CHAIN IS UNRELIABLE, AND A FAILURE COULD LEAD TO SUDDEN ENGINE LOCK-UP AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN INJURY OR FATALITY. THE MOST TROUBLESOME PARTS OF THE BALANCER DRIVE ADJUSTING SYSTEM ARE THE IDLER SHAFT LEVER, P/N 13168-1436 AND THE SPRING, 92144-1860. THE BALANCER ADJUSTER IDLER RIDES ON AN ECCENTRIC SHAFT P/N 39115-1077, AND WHEN THE SHAFT ROTATES IT CHANGES HOW THE TENSION IDLER RELATES TO THE BALANCER CHAIN, ALLO…
Owner-reported narrative. 49,247 miles reported. Look up ODI 10399440 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 763615 · 2002-06-28 (June 28, 2002)
IN 1993 I BOUGHT A NEW SKAWASAKI KLR650IT WAS ALWAYS MAINTAIND AS PER FACTORY SPEC. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 763615 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 763847 · 2002-07-05 (July 5, 2002)
I WAS RIDING ALONG IN TRAFFIC WHEN THE MOTOR SIZED UP LOCKING THE REAR WHEEL ALMOST GETTING ME KILLED FROM THE TRUCK BEHIND ME. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAPPEND. IN 1993 I BOUGHT A NEW KLR650 AND RODE IT TILL 1999 WHEN THE MOTOR LOCKED UP ONE DAY WHEN COMMING HOME FROM WORK. IT COST ME $200.00 TOHAVE MY DEALER TELL ME THAT SOMETHING BROKE IN THE MOTOR AND WOULD COST ME ANOTHER $2000.00 TO FIX. SO I SOLD IT FOR PARTS. IT HAD 36000.MILES ON IT AND WENT OUT AND BOUGTT A LOW MILAGE 99. KNOW IT HAPPEND AGAIN I CONTACTED KAWASAKI THEY TOLD ME TO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 763847 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.