2001 Kawasaki KLR650: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
19 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
12,800 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 19 complaints (42.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 5.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle) | 1 |
| Suspension:Rear | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Engine: 1; Power Train:Clutch Assembly:Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle): 1; Suspension:Rear: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 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 | 13 |
| 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: 13; 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 (13). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2001: 1; 2002: 2; 2003: 6; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 3; 2007: 1; 2009: 1; 2012: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10000072 · 2002-12-15 (December 15, 2002)
KAWASAKI KLR650 BALANCER TENSIONER AND CAM SPRING ON MOTORCYCLE LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD WITH LOW MILEAGE. AFTER READING OF SIMILAR FAILURES IN OTHER MOTORCYCLES SOME OF WHICH REPORTEDLY RESULTED IN INJURY, I DECIDED TO OPEN THE ENGINE HOUSING TO INVESTIGATE. BOTH COMPONENTS HAD SHATTERED RESULTING IN METALIC FRAGMENTATION RESIDUE DRAWN INTO THE OIL PUMP MECHANISM (BUT STOPPED BY OIL PUMP METALIC SCREENING).
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000072 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000454 · 2003-01-01 (January 1, 2003)
BALANCER IDLER SHAFT, TENSIONER LEVER FAILURE ON A 2001 KAWASAKI KLR 650 MOTORCYCLE, RESULTING IN PIECES OF STEEL ENTERING OIL SUMP, CRANKCASE AND TRANSMISSION OF ENGINE.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,810 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000454 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005395 · 2003-02-06 (February 6, 2003)
FAILURE OF COUNTERBALANCE ADJUSTER. PART SHATTERED INTO THREE PIECES. ONE PIECE LOST IN CRANKCASE, REQUIRING FURTHER DIASSAMBLY OF ENGINE TO RECOVER
Owner-reported narrative. 12,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005395 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005592 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)
BROKEN BALANCER CHAIN TENSIONER ON A 2001 KAWASAKI KLR650 MOTORCYCLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,032 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005592 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018988 · 2003-05-20 (May 20, 2003)
COUNTER BALANCER ADJUSTER FAILURE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 14,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018988 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033071 · 2003-08-18 (August 18, 2003)
I HAVE NOTICED RATTLE IN ENGINE ALMOST SINCE NEW. AT 21000 MILES I OPENED UP THE L SIDE ENGINE CASE. THERE WAS A BROKEN ENGINE BALANCER CHAIN ADJUSTER AND MANY CHUNKS OF METAL IN CRANKCASE. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND APPARENTLY THIS IS VERY COMMON. I BELIEVE THIS FAILURE COULD CAUSE A REAL WHEEL LOCKUP/SEIZED ENGINE AND CONSEQUENT LOSS OF CONTROL WITH DEVISTATING CONSEQUENCES. BOTH MY DEALER AND KAWASAKI USA INDICATE THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN DEFECT IN ALL KLR650'S BUILT SINCE 1986!*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033071 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038975 · 2003-09-16 (September 16, 2003)
IDLER SHAFT LEVER RETAINER CAME APART INSIDE ENGINE, CAUSED SPRING TO FAIL EARLY WHICH ALSO CAME APART INSIDE ENGINE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE MACHINES SO I DID A CHECK TO SEE AND DISCOVERED THIS. I FOUND ALL THE LITTLE PIECES READY TO BE SUCKED UP INTO THE OIL PUMP WHICH WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE ENGINE TO SEIZE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038975 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052462 · 2004-01-06 (January 6, 2004)
BALANCER SHAFT FAILURE ON A 2001 KAWASAKI KLR 650 MOTORCYCLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 19,357 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052462 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.