2008 Zap XEBRA: complaints, problems and recalls

THERE IS WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE A DESIGN FLAW IN THE NEWER SUNL VIP MOTOR SCOOTERS. THE ORIENTATION OF THE THROTTLE CAM RETRACTION SPRING END, THE LENGTH OF THE THROTTLE CAM RETRACTION SPRING END AND THE LONG DISTANCE FROM THE THROTTLE CABLE MOUNT TO THE THROTTLE CAM (ALLOWING SLACK IN THE METAL BRAIDED THROTTLE CABLE) ALL CONTRIBUTE TO ALLOW THE END OF THE CAM RETRACTION SPRING TO SNARE THE THROTTLE CABLE, HOLDING THE THROTTLE OPEN DURING OPERATION. THESE SCOOTERS DO NOT HAVE A WAY OF DISENGAGING THE DRIVE DUE TO THE USE OF A CENTRIFUGAL C…

Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10280347 at NHTSA ↗

HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/RECALLS/RESULTS.CFM?RCL_ID=09V177000&SEARCHTYPE=QUICKSEARCH&SUMMARY=TRUE&REFURL=RSS COMPANY STILL ADVERTISING THESE VEHICLES ON CRAIGLIST & EBAY FOR SALE WITHOUT ADEQUATE DISCLOSURE ABOUT THE PROBLEM. IS THIS LEGAL? HTTP://SFBAY.CRAIGSLIST.ORG/NBY/BAR/1344519387.HTML. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10282701 at NHTSA ↗

PETITION FOR DETERMINATION OF INCONSEQUENTIAL NONCOMPLIANCE FOR ALL 2008 MODEL YEAR XEBRA VEHICLES FOR FMVSS NO. 122 MOTORCYCLE BRAKE SYSTEMS; THIS PETITION RELATES TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NO. 09V-385000 ONLY. SECOND RECALL # 09V177000.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10292808 at NHTSA ↗

TL*-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ZAP XEBRA MOTORCYCLE. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V177000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO THE UNAVAILABILITY OF THE REPAIR PARTS. WHEN THE MANUFACTURER REPORTED THE SAFETY RECALL THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REMEDY REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER CONTINUOUSLY REASSURED THE CONTACT THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE WITHIN TWO WEEKS. THERE HAD BEEN A LENGTHY WAITING PERIOD FOR THE RECALL DEFECT SERVICE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE RE…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10320166 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 ZAP XEBRA MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V385000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: FOUNDATION: MASTER CYLINDER) IN OCTOBER 2009 AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE AS OF 2011. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR EXPECTATION DATE HAD GREATLY EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. UPDATED 09/08/11*LJ UPDATED 2/21/12 *CN

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10415384 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE BEEN SENT A RECALL NOTICE AND HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT EVERYONE WHO HAS AN EXTENSION. I HAVE SPOKEN TO A MIKE RINGSTAND ONLY TO BE DISCONNECTED. THEN WHEN I CALLED BACK HE DID NOT ANSWER. I HAVE ALSO TRIED TO EMAIL HIM BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CAR HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASE. I WOULD LIKE RESTITUTION. PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10482019 at NHTSA ↗

IN OCTOBER OF 2012 I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM ZAP ABOUT THE RECALLS DUE TO THE BRAKES ON THIS VEHICLE. THAT WAS THE FIRST AND ONLY NOTICE THAT I HAVE EVER RECEIVED EVEN THOUGH I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE 2008. THE NOTICE SAID THAT ZAP WOULD COMMUNICATE AGAIN BY DECEMBER 31, 2012. I HAVE YET TO HEAR FROM ZAP. SINCE JANUARY 1, 2013 I HAVE TRIED TO CONTACT ZAP AND HAD NO RESPONSE. I AM SURE THAT THERE ARE NOT MANY OF THESE VEHICLES OUT THERE TO GENERATE MANY COMPLAINTS BUT SURELY THE COMPLETE LACK OF ACTION FROM ZAP SHOULD GENERATE SOME SO…

Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10507525 at NHTSA ↗

RECEIVED NOTICE ~ OCT 8, '12 FROM ZAP RE: VEHICLE'S FAILURE TO MEET BRAKE SYSTEM & STOPPING DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS. IT SAID A REMEDY WOULD BE IN PLACE ~ DEC 31, '12, BUT I RECEIVED NO FURTHER NOTIFICATION. I LEFT 6 VOICE MESSAGES FOR ZAP JAN 31 TO FEB 14, '13: NO ONE CALLED BACK. FEB 20, '13, I GOT AN EMAIL FROM [XXX] STATING IT WOULD TAKE 30+ DAYS TO COMPLETE TESTING & SUBMIT A REMEDY TO DOT, AFTER WHICH THEY WOULD PERFORM A REMEDY TO MY VEHICLE. MARCH 26, '13, I SENT ANOTHER EMAIL TO [XXX] REQUESTING STATUS & TIMEFRAME OF REMEDY: NO RESPONSE. …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10510845 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2009-05-26 (May 26, 2009)

QINGQI IS RECALLING 738 MY 2008 ZAP XEBRA MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY AND DECEMBER 2008. THESE MOTORCYCLES DO NOT CONFORM TO THE STOPPING DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 122, "MOTORCYCLE BRAKE SYSTEMS."

Consequence: THESE MOTORCYCLES REQUIRE LONGER DISTANCES TO STOP THAN THE STANDARD ALLOWS. EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: QINGQI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND ZAP DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE BRAKE ROTORS, PADS, MASTER CYLINDERS, AND FRONT TIRE IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ZAP TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-251-4555.

Reported: 2009-10-02 (October 2, 2009)

QINGQI IS RECALLING 738 MY 2008 ZAP XEBRA MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY AND DECEMBER 2008. THESE MOTORCYCLES DO NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 122, "MOTORCYCLE BRAKE SYSTEMS." THEY DO NOT HAVE A SEPARATE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR FOR THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES.

Consequence: WITHOUT A SEPARATE RESERVOIR FOR EACH BRAKE, HAVING ITS OWN COVER, SEAL, AND COVER RETENTION DEVICE, FLUID FOR ONE BRAKE CIRCUIT MAY MOVE TO THE OTHER. IF THIS HAPPENS, BOTH RESERVOIRS COULD LOOSE FLUID AS A RESULT OF A FLUID LEAK IN ONE BRAKE CIRCUIT AND COMPROMISE THE STOPPING ABILITY OF BOTH BRAKES.

Remedy: ZAP WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR OR REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 29, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ZAP TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-251-4555.

Reported: 2012-05-21 (May 21, 2012)

QINGQI GROUP MOTORCYCLE CO, LTD, THROUGH ITS DESIGNATED AGENT, ZAP USA, IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 ZAP XEBRA ALL ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 1, 2008, THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2008. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE BRAKING DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 122, "MOTORCYCLE BRAKE SYSTEMS."

Consequence: THESE VEHICLES TAKE LONGER DISTANCES TO STOP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: ZAP, THE DESIGNATED AGENT OF QINGQI GROUP MOTORCYCLE CO, LTD, WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND ZAP DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 8, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ZAP AT 1-707-525-8658.

Reported: 2012-07-27 (July 27, 2012)

QingQi Group Motorcycle Co. Ltd., through its designated agent ZAP, is recalling all model year 2008 ZAP Xebra motorcycles manufactured from January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2008. These motorcycles do not conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 122, "Motorcycle Brake Systems." The motorcycles were produced without a separate brake fluid reservoir for each brake circuit, with each reservoir filler opening having its own cover, seal, and cover retention device.

Consequence: Without a separate reservoir for each brake, having its own cover, seal, and cover retention device, fluid for one brake circuit may move to the other. If this happens, both reservoirs could lose fluid as a result of a fluid leak in one brake circuit and compromise the stopping ability of the braking system, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: ZAP will notify owners and ZAP will install or send each owner a remedy kit to bring the vehicles into compliance. ZAP has not provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact ZAP Customer Service at 1-800-251-4555.