RoadVitals

2008 Kawasaki Concours 14

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
27
Latest Sep 20, 2018
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Jul 20, 2012
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 27 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Kawasaki Concours 14, most frequently naming the brakes, interior & seats and other / unspecified categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes1133.3%
  • Interior & seats515.2%
  • Other / unspecified515.2%
  • Body & structure412.1%
  • Engine26.1%
  • Suspension26.1%
  • Fuel system13.0%
  • Powertrain (other)13.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
12V343000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC; STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

Jul 20, 2012
13,289 units potentially affected
The defect: Kawasaki is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Concours 14 (ZG1400 A/B/C/D) motorcycles. Due to a gap between the brake pedal and guard, small stone or debris can become trapped, creating a brake drag. This can cause the rear brake to overheat, leading to rear brake damage and lock-up or failure of the rear brakes. The front brakes may also be affected on ZG1400C models.
The risk: If the brakes lock up or fail, there is an increased risk of a crash.
The remedy: Kawasaki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear master cylinder rod end and remove the brake guard (if installed), free of charge. The safety recall began on July 37, 2012. Owners may contact Kawasaki at 1-866-802-9381.
KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP., U.S.A.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 27
Brakes
Filed Sep 20, 2018

ON OR ABOUT JUNE 20, 2016 I NOTICED THAT MY REAR BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEGINNING TO GET HARDER TO PUSH TO APPLY BRAKE TO THE REAR ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. ON DECEMBER 20, 2017 I TOOK MY CONCOURS TO MY DEALER AND HAD 2 TIRES R&R AND ALSO REQUESTED THE DEALER TO CHECK THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THE REAR. THERE WAS NO NOTICE FROM THE ABS SYSTEM THAT ALERTED ME TO ANY MALFUNCTIONING HARDWARE VIA THE IDIOT LIGHTS. (SEE ATTACHMENTS) I FEEL THE LIGHT NOT WORKING AND THE DEFECTIVE ABS CORE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH KAWASAKI AND THEY HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE. ON MARCH 6, 2018 I WROTE THROUGH THE ONLINE KAWASAKI PRODUCT FEEDBACK TO KAWASAKI ABOUT THE LACK OF RESPONSE TO PRESSING THE BACK BRAKE PEDAL AND A NATE DEPAUW FROM KAWASAKI WROTE BACK TO KEEP WORKING WITH MY LOCAL DEALER FOR A RESOLVE. THERE HAS STILL BEEN NOTHING RESOLVED. I HAVE SCANNED IN AND ATTACHED THE INFORMATION I HAVE BEEN USING TO TRY TO GAIN SATISFACTION. -

NHTSA ID
11130342
Incident
Jun 20, 2016
Mileage
43,680 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 25, 2016

THE REAR BRAKE ON MY MOTORCYCLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY GET STUCK IN THE UP POSITION. IN ORDER FOR ME TO GET IT TO WORK AGAIN, I HAVE PRESS DOWN ON THE PEDAL WITH MORE THAN NORMAL OPERATING PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I AM NEVER SURE IF THE BRAKE IS GOING TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED DUE TO IT GETTING STUCK. IT COULD CAUSE A CRASH BECAUSE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP IN TIME WITH ONLY THE FRONT BRAKES. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE TO HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL OF MOTORCYCLE

NHTSA ID
10851652
Incident
Mar 16, 2016
Mileage
29,500 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jun 19, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14 EQUIPPED WITH PIRELLI ANGEL GT TIRES (NA), SIZE 120/70ZR/17 (NA). WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AFTER DRIVING 35 MPH, THE FRONT TIRE BECAME DISTORTED AND RESULTED IN A LOSS OF STABILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE TIRE DID NOT MEET THE SPECIFICATIONS OF THE BIKE WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURES. THE TIRE COULD NOT BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE SPEC MODELS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE LATTER PART OF 2015. THE TIRE WAS RE-BALANCED. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE REPLACEMENT TIRES. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,922 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,100.

NHTSA ID
10726273
Incident
Apr 21, 2015
Mileage
21,922 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 30, 2014

REAR BRAKE CEASED TO FUNCTION. PEDAL TRAVEL TO FULL DEFLECTION BUT NO REAR BRAKE. DROPPED BIKE AT NAPLES KAWASAKI DEALERSHIP, AND A WEEK LATER THEY SAID IT WAS FIXED UNDER THE RECALL MC12-05 (BRAKE ROD END). I PICKED UP THE BIKE ONLY TO FIND THERE WAS STILL NO BRAKE. THIS RECALL DID NOT ADDRESS THE BRAKE FAILURE BUT PERTAINED TO PREVIOUS ISSUES. I THEN LEFT THE BIKE AT THE DEALER FOR CORRECTION OF THE BRAKE PROBLEM. THEY RAN TESTS AND COULD NOT FIND ANY ABS OR BRAKE RELATED READ OUTS IN THE INTERNAL DIAGNOSIS SYSTEM. I WAS TOLD THAT WHILE THEY DID NOT KNOW WHY THE BAKE BRAKE DID NOT WORK, THE ONLY "FIX" WAS TO REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC UNIT AND ALL RELATED LINES AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF $2500.00 (EST). AFTER THE SERVICE MANAGER TALKED TO KAWASAKI SERVICE SUPPORT, KAWASAKI SAID A COMPLETE REBUILD OF MASTER CYLINDERS, BRAKE CALIPERS, AND ALL LINES AT A NEW ESTIMATE OF $4000.00. I CALLED KAWASAKI SUPPORT DIRECT AND THEY SAID THAT BECAUSE I COULD NOT PRODUCE DOCUMENTATION THAT BRAKE FLUID WAS CHANGED AT 20,000 MILES, THEY HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY. THE FAILURE OF THIS ABS UNIT LEFT ME WITH NO BRAKE AT ALL. SINCE THE ABS IS ACTIVE ONLY DURING A WHEEL SKID STOP, IT IS HARD TO BELIEVE THAT TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING SHOULD BE CONSIDERED "NORMAL" UNDER NON EMERGENCY STOPS. AGAIN, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE DEALER COULD FIND NOTHING IN THE ABS SELF DIAGNOSIS COMPUTER GIVING ANY INDICATION OF A HYDRAULIC UNIT FAILURE. I HAVE COMPLETE FUNCTION OF THE FRONT BRAKE...THIS ONLY EFFECTED THE REAR BRAKE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10640187
Incident
Sep 9, 2014
Mileage
35,471 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 23, 2014

OIL LEAKING FROM THE CAM POSITION SENSOR O-RING(S). FLUID LEAKS ONTO HOT CYLINDER BLOCK AND EXHAUST. I HAVE NOT HAD A FIRE YET, BUT THE POTENTIAL IS THERE IF ENOUGH FLUID ESCAPES ONTO THE EXHAUST. THE MOTORCYCLE IS CURRENTLY IN FOR THE SAME REPAIR FOR A THIRD TIME (AS OF 22 SEPTEMBER 2014). THE SECOND TIME WAS THE 14TH OF MAY 2014. CONVERSATIONS WITH SHOP PERSONNEL INDICATE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AT KAWASAKI AND THE LEAK PROBLEM IS CURRENT AND ONGOING AMONG OWNERS OF THIS PARTICULAR MODEL MOTORCYCLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10638408
Incident
Jun 22, 2012
Mileage
7,800 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 30, 2013

BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN WARPING UNDER NORMAL RIDING CONDITIONS. PRESENTS UNSAFE, LESS THAN OPTIMAL BREAKING ABILITY. FRONT END LUNGES AT LOW SPEEDS AND VIBRATES AT HIGH SPEEDS, UNDER BREAKING. KAWASAKI REPLACED WARPED ROTORS TWICE AND I AM NOW IN NEED OF MY THIRD PAIR.

NHTSA ID
10538158
Incident
Aug 15, 2009
Mileage
5,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 3, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE REAR WHEEL SUDDENLY SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT ALL THE DRIVER GEAR CASES WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10523093
Incident
Jun 18, 2013
Mileage
57,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 6, 2013

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAVE WARPED UNDER NORMAL USE, CAUSING VERY NOTICEABLE STEERING VIBRATIONS. WHICH MAY LEAD TO A LOSS OF CONTROL AND A POSSIBLE CRASH. I FEEL THIS MATTER TO BE A SAFETY CONCERN TO THE OPERATORS OF THIS MOTORCYCLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10491597
Incident
Jul 2, 2012
Mileage
18,500 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

MC 08-10

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

KAWASAKI: REPAIR ONLY AS REQUIRED ON HEADLIGHT AIMING KNOB FOR 2008 CONCOURS 14/14ABS (ZG1400A8F/L, B8F/L). *PE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Kawasaki Concours 14 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2021100—
2017200—
2016400—
2014100—
2013330—
2012450—
2011340—
2010040—
2009740—
2008Viewing271038.2

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.