vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

2003 Kawasaki KLR650: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

6 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

10,265 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 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.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 6 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Engine operation116.7%

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.

Engine And Engine Cooling
3
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
Steering
1
Tires
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine And Engine Cooling3
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine2
Steering1
Tires1

Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Steering: 1; Tires: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
4
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0004
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 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 (4). 1 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.

2003
1
2004
1
2006
1
2007
1
2009
1
2010
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20031
20041
20061
20071
20091
20101

2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. 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 10038446 · 2003-10-12 (October 12, 2003)

THE MOTORCYCLE CAM CHAIN ADJUSTER SPRING BROKE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING. SAUSAGE, KLR 650, 2003. *AK WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A GRINDING SOUND FROM THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE BROKEN SPRING BENT THE INTAKE VALVE AND DAMAGED VALVE GUIDES (SAUSAGE 630 2003). *TS *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 10,265 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038446 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10081619 · 2004-07-09 (July 9, 2004)

WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN OUT OF STORAGE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT TIRES SIDEWALL DEVELOPED WEATHER CHECKS. THESE WERE SMALL CRACKS THAT WENT AROUND THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRES. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS DRIVEN FOR 6 MONTHS, THEN STORED FOR 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING. DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED BUT COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHAT CAUSED THE CRACKS TO OCCUR BECAUSE THE MOTORCYCLE WASN'T STORED NEXT TO ANY CHEMICALS. THE FRONT TIRE SIZE WAS 90/90-21 AND THE REAR TIRE SIZE WAS 130/80-17. THE MODEL NAME LISTED ON TIRE WAS K750.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10081619 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10147202 · 2006-01-08 (January 8, 2006)

I JUST CHECKED MY IDLER SHAFT LEVER (DOOHICKEY) ON MY 2003 KLR 650. THE DOOHICKEY WAS INTACT BUT, THE SPRING WAS BROKE. I CAN'T FIND THE END OF THE SPRING THAT BROKE OFF AND THE CHAIN WORE PART WAY THROUGH THE SPRING LEAVING METAL SHAVINGS THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE NOT GOOD!!! JUST ORDERED NEW DOOHICKEY AND SPRING FROM ARROWHEAD MOTORSPORTS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 8,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10147202 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10197781 · 2007-07-30 (July 30, 2007)

I HAVE A 2003 KAWASAKI KLR650 AND THE BALANCER LEVER ADJUSTER IS BROKEN. IT MAKES A LOUD NOISE AND THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF ENGINE SEIZURE. I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO FIX THIS YET AND AM DRIVING AN ALTERNATE VEHICLE. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 2,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197781 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10266451 · 2009-04-23 (April 23, 2009)

KAWASAKI KLR 650 MOTORCYCLE CHAIN TENSIONER COUNTER BALANCER AND RETAINER SPRING BROKEN AND MISSING. THE BROKEN PIECES CAN CAUSE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE INCLUDING ENGINE SEIZURE WHILE IN OPERATION. REPLACED THE PARTS FROM AFTERMARKET SUPPLIER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 25,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10266451 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10358886 · 2010-10-02 (October 2, 2010)

KLR650 ENGINE IDLE LEVER ADJUSTER SPRING FAILED SENDING METAL FRAGMENTS THROUGH OUT THE ENGINE THAT I HAD TO FISH OUT - VERY VERY COMMON PROBLEM TO THE POINT THAT IT IS THE FIRST THING PEOPLE DO WHEN THEY BUY A KLR OF ANY YEAR. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10358886 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.