2008 Kawasaki KLR650: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
116 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
2,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 110 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 79 of 116 complaints (68.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 7.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 0.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 79 |
| Structure | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 6 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 6 |
| Suspension:Rear:Shock Absorber | 6 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 2 |
Exterior Lighting: 79; Structure: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal: 6; Suspension:Rear:Shock Absorber: 6; Electrical System: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 110 |
| 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: 110; 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 (110). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 95 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2018 | 3 |
2007: 4; 2008: 95; 2009: 3; 2010: 7; 2011: 1; 2012: 3; 2018: 3
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 9 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting 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 10202918 · 2007-09-13 (September 13, 2007)
SHOCK PRELOAD ADJUSTER ON MY 2008 KAWASAKI KLR 650 BROKE. EVERY 08 KLR I KNOW OF, THIS PART HAS FAILED. AT THIS TIME THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE FAILING JUST AS FAST. KAWASAKI SO FAR IS REPLACEING THE PARTS UNDER WARENTY, HOW EVER THEY HAVENT UPGRADED THE THE PART TO PREVENT FAILER, YET. I HOPE THIS IS THE CORRECT ACTION TO INITIATE A RECALL.
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10202918 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10203570 · 2007-09-20 (September 20, 2007)
REAR PRE-LOAD ADJUSTER ON 2008 KAWASAKI KLR650 SPINS FREELY. CANNOT ADJUST SUSPENSION TO RIDERS WEIGHT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203570 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10204319 · 2007-09-27 (September 27, 2007)
REAR SHOCK PRELOAD ADJUSTER FAILS TO ADJUST PRELOAD, THIS CAN LEAD TO DANGEROUS LOADING CONDITIONS IF USER IS UNABLE TO PROPERLY ADJUST SUSPENSION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 7 miles reported. Look up ODI 10204319 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10204411 · 2007-09-28 (September 28, 2007)
PRELOAD ADJUSTER ON THE REAR SHOCK OF A 2008 KAWASAKI KLR650 FAILED. PRELOAD ON REAR SHOCK WAS NOT ADJUSTABLE AND STUCK IN THE FIRST POSITION OF FIVE. ENTIRE SHOCK WAS WARRANTED AND REPLACED WITH A FUNCTIONING SHOCK BY KAWASAKI. *JB *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10204411 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10221315 · 2008-03-15 (March 15, 2008)
REAR SHOCK ABSORBER PRELOAD ADJUSTER BROKEN. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,388 miles reported. Look up ODI 10221315 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10221640 · 2008-03-19 (March 19, 2008)
WHILE ADJUSTING THE PRELOAD ADJUSTER ON MY REAR SHOCK ON MY 2008 KLR650 THE PRELOAD ADJUST BROKE. ALL IT DOES NOW IS SPIN AND WON'T ADJUST THE SHOCK AT ALL. I ONLY HAVE 1500 MILES ON THIS BIKE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,508 miles reported. Look up ODI 10221640 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10221816 · 2008-03-19 (March 19, 2008)
REAR SHOCK ADJUSTER BOLT BROKE WHEN I TRIED TO SET THE PRELOAD. COULD NOT SET THE SHOCK FOR A HEAVIER LOAD. KAWASAKI REPLACED THE SHOCK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10221816 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10221989 · 2008-03-21 (March 21, 2008)
I TRIED TO ADJUST THE SPRING PRELOAD TO A STIFFER SETTING ON MY REAR SHOCK AND THE ADJUSTER MECHANISM FAILED AND THE SHOCK REMAINS ON THE SOFTEST SETTING, UNABLE TO BE ADJUSTED. I WANTED FOR THE FIRST TIME TO TAKE A PASSENGER FOR A RIDE AND NOW THE STIFFER SETTING REQUIRED IS NOT OBTAINABLE. RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE WITH A PASSENGER COULD BE A HAZARD AT THE CURRENT SOFTEST SETTING. I HAVE YET TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE SITUATION, BUT IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON FAULT WITH THIS NEW MOTORCYCLE, AND I WAS HOPING FOR A RECALL ON THE SHOCK BEFORE I HAD …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,589 miles reported. Look up ODI 10221989 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
07V244000 · Structure:Motorcycle:Kickstand/Center Stand
Reported: 2007-06-07 (June 7, 2007)
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE SPRING RETAINING PIN ON THE FRAME MAY NOT HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY WELDED IN PLACE AND COULD FALL OUT, ALLOWING THE SIDESTAND TO DROP INTO THE "PARKING" POSITION.
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: KAWASAKI WILL REPURCHASE THESE MOTORCYCLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 1, 2007. ALL DEALERS/OWNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗