2008 Kawasaki ZG1400A8F: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
28,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 6 complaints (66.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 100.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
Service Brakes: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 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: 2; 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). 0 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2009: 2; 2012: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 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 10274896 · 2009-06-24 (June 24, 2009)
2008 KAWASAKI CONCOURS FRONT BRAKE ROTOR WARP. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10274896 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10290065 · 2009-10-28 (October 28, 2009)
THE CURRENT BRAKE PADS HAD 9000 MILES ON THEM, VERY BROKEN IT WITH PLENTY OF FREE PLAY. WHEEL SPINS FINE WHEN BRAKES NOT APPLIED. REAR BRAKE DRAGGING ALMOST TO LOCK UP. BURNED THE ROTOR AND MELTED THE BRAKE PADS. THIS HAPPENED VERY SUDDENLY AFTER ONE DAYS RIDE. WHEN NOTICED THE REAR WHEEL STILL WAS FAIRLY FREE SPINNING. SOMETHING IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM CAUSED THIS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10290065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10468502 · 2012-07-31 (July 31, 2012)
REAR BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT DEPRESS. REAR BRAKE DOES NOT ENGAGE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10468502 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10980896 · 2017-04-26 (April 26, 2017)
ANTILOCK BRAKE UNIT FAILURE, RESULTING IN TOTAL REAR BRAKE LOSS. THE ABS UNIT IS COMPOSED OF 2 SEPARATE HALF'S. ONE HALF CONTROLS THE FRONT BRAKES, AND ONE FOR THE SINGLE REAR CALIPER. THE MAGNETIC SOLENOID IN THE DISTRIBUTION BLOCK OF THE UNIT, STUCK IN IT'S BORE. THIS RESULTS IN A TOTAL FLUID BLOCKAGE, WITH ZERO LINE PRESSURE ON THE OUTPUT SIDE OF THE UNIT. I WAS ABLE TO DISASSEMBLE THE UNIT, (CONSIDERED A NON SERVICEABLE PART) AND REPAIR THE ISSUE. THE FRIGHTENING THING IS, ON A BIKE, WHAT HAPPENS IF THE FRT SUFFERS THE SAME FAILURE? THIS FA…
Owner-reported narrative. 32,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10980896 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11092126 · 2018-05-06 (May 6, 2018)
EXITING EXIT 115 NORTHBOUND ON I-75 AND WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES I FOUND I HAD NO REAR BRAKES WHATSOEVER. LIKEWISE, AS I CONTINUED ON TO A SAFE SPOT TO PARK THE BIKE THE BACK WHEEL WOULD OCCASIONALLY FEEL AS IF IT WAS TRYING TO LOCK UP. IT WAS AS IF THE ABS WAS MALFUNCTIONING WHEN I WAS MAKING LOW SPEED TURNS. NO ABS WARNING LIGHTS OR FAULT CODES APPEARED ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL TO PROVIDE ANY WARNING THAT I HAD AN ISSUE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO STOP IN TIME HOWEVER THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ABS MODULE HAD FAILED. RESEARCHING THE ISSU…
Owner-reported narrative. 62,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11092126 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11223070 · 2019-06-27 (June 27, 2019)
WHEN RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE I BRAKED HARD TO TEST OUT THE ABS SYSTEM. THE ABS SYSTEM TRIGGERED AS IT SHOULD MODULATING THE BRAKING. WHEN I LET OFF THE BRAKES, THE REAR BRAKE DID NOT RELEASE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SLOW COMING TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE REAR BRAKE WOULD NOT RELEASE AND I COULD NOT GO. EVENTUALLY I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND TURNED IT BACK ON WHICH SOLVED THE ISSUE LEADING ME TO BELIEVE IT IS A FAULTY ABS SYSTEM. I WAS IN A LOCATION IN ORDER TO SPECIFICALLY TEST OUT THE MOTORCYCLE WHICH IS NEW TO ME. HAD I BEEN …
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11223070 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
08V047000 · Equipment
Reported: 2008-01-31 (January 31, 2008)
KAWASAKI IS RECALLING 4,645 MY 2008 ZG1400A8F, ZG1400A8FL, ZG1400B8F, AND ZG1400B8FL MOTORCYCLES. THE PIVOT PIN FOR THE LATCHES THAT SECURE THE SADDLEBAGS TO THE VEHICLE CAN BREAK IF FORCE IS APPLIED TO EITHER SADDLEBAG SUCH AS IN THE EVENT THE VEHICLE FALLS OVER WHILE PARKED OR IF THE SADDLEBAG IS IMPROPERLY ATTACHED.
Consequence: CONTINUED USE OF THE VEHICLE WITH EITHER SADDLEBAG LATCH BROKEN CAN RESULT IN THE SADDLEBAG COMING FREE OF ITS MOUNT DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, CREATING THE POSSIBILITY OF A CRASH RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SADDLEBAG LATCH ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE WITH REINFORCED LATCHES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 866-802-9381.
NHTSA campaign record ↗08V048000 · Equipment
Reported: 2008-01-31 (January 31, 2008)
KAWASAKI IS RECALLING 3,611 MY 2008 ZG1400A8F, ZG1400A8FL, ZG1400B8F, AND ZG1400B8FL MOTORCYCLES. THE REAR CARRIER PLATFORM COULD BREAK IF A KAWASAKI GENUINE ACCESSORY LUGGAGE SYSTEM IS INSTALLED ON THE CARRIER PLATFORM AND A PASSENGER LEANS AGAINST IT.
Consequence: THE CARRIER PLATFORM AND LUGGAGE SYSTEM COULD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE REAR CARRIER PLATFORM IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 866-802-9381.
NHTSA campaign record ↗08V623000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages
Reported: 2008-11-26 (November 26, 2008)
KAWASAKI IS RECALLING 4,628 MY ZG1400A8F/A8FL, AND ZG1400B8F/B8FL MOTORCYCLES. TRAPPED ROAD DEBRIS MAY INTERFERE WITH FREE MOVEMENT OF THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL, PREVENTING FULL RELEASE OF THE REAR BRAKE WHICH CAN LEAD TO OVERHEATING DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE BRAKE FAILURE.
Consequence: BRAKE FAILURE COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: KAWASAKI WILL INSTALL A COVER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 8, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 866-802-9381.
NHTSA campaign record ↗