Zero DS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
12 distinct recall campaigns
459 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 to 2025 model years. Data snapshot: . 4 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 5 complaints (60.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 2 | 40.0% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 40.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 20.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 1 |
| Suspension | 1 |
Electrical System: 3; Engine: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 1; Suspension: 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 | 4 |
| 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: 4; 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 (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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2014: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10654803 · 2014-11-13 (November 13, 2014)
A FEW MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THE BIKE, I HAD NOTICED A THAT IT WOULD RUN A LITTLE ROUGH FOR A WHILE. THE PROBLEM WOULD AUTO CORRECT AFTER THE NEXT RIDE SO I DIDN'T GET TOO CONCERNED ABOUT IT. HOWEVER AFTER DAYS WOULD GO I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE SYSTEM WOULD KICK BACK TO NORMAL AFTER PHYSICALLY TURNING THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION AND RESTARTING AFTER A FEW MINUTES . NO WARNING AS TO WHEN THIS WOULD OCCUR. UP HILL, DOWN HILL, AT THE START OF MY RIDE OR AT THE END OF IT. FAST OR SLOW. IT DID NOT MATTER. I TOOK IN TO THE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10654803 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11020325 · 2017-08-29 (August 29, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 ZERO DSZF6. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WAITED APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES, AND THE MOTORCYCLE RESTARTED. A FLASHING QUESTION MARK DISPLAYED ON THE MESSAGE CENTER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BIKE HAD A SOFTWARE UPDATE PERFORMED IN 2014 BY AN UNKNOWN DEALER IN FLORIDA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 917.
Owner-reported narrative. 917 miles reported. Look up ODI 11020325 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11100650 · 2018-06-09 (June 9, 2018)
BOUGHT USED 2013 ZERO DS. BIKE WOULD EMIT NOISE WHILE COMING TO A STOP THAT SOUNDED LIKE RUBBING METAL BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE SOURCE. NOW I'M PRETTY SURE IT WAS THE FORKS. WAS ADJUSTING SUSPENSION AND DISCOVERED FORK OIL LEAKING OUT OF LEFT FORK AT THE BOTTOM AFTER SHORT RIDE. FORTUNATELY, ABLE TO CLEAN UP OIL BEFORE IT GOT ON FRONT ROTOR. LEAKED A TEASPOON AMOUNT IN A SHORT TIME. DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH WEB SEARCH, THAT COULD LEAD TO FORK BECOMING LOOSE (SEE YOUTUBE VIDEO IN FIRST LINK). HTTP://ELECTRICMOTORCYCLEFORU…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11100650 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11564464 · 2024-01-09 (January 9, 2024)
The contact called on behalf of a client who owns a 2024 Apollo Street Bike. The contact stated that while his client was sitting on the motorcycle with a hand on the throttle, he pressed the button for Rocket Mode simultaneously with the blue button on the brake lever on the handlebar. The contact stated that there was a defect that was not disclosed in the Owner’s Manual if the blue button on the mode and the brake lever on the handlebar were pressed simultaneously, the engine would not disengage. The engine engaged and the motorcycle took of…
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 11564464 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11130690 · 2018-09-21 (September 21, 2018)
POSSIBLY RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 16V610000. ELECTRICAL PPWER CUT OFF. IT SHUT OFF LIGHTS, PANEL INSTRUMENT, MOTOR.
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 11130690 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 0; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2021: 1; 2023: 0; 2024: 3; 2025: 1