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2012 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.
4
Latest May 23, 2021
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.
5
Latest Feb 27, 2015
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

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2012 Kawasaki Concours 14, most frequently naming the brakes and visibility categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year.

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

  • Brakes250.0%
  • Visibility250.0%

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

5 campaigns cover this model year

View all 5

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
15V117000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

Feb 27, 2015
194 units potentially affected
The defect: Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (Kawasaki) is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Kawasaki Concours 14 and 14ABS motorcycles manufactured May 8, 2008, to February 20, 2013, and modified for police authority use. The additional police accessories may cause the 30-amp main fuse to blow. Also, the additional police wiring harness may chafe leading to a short, which may blow the main fuse.
The risk: If the fuse blows, the engine will stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Kawasaki has notified the affected police departments and will send trained personnel to repair the motorcycles, free of charge. The recall began April 13, 2015. Owners may contact Kawasaki customer service at 1-866-802-9381. Kawasaki 's number for this recall is MC15-02. Note: This recall is an expansion of recalls 12V-134, 13V-370 and 13V-387.
Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.Manufacturer number MC15-02View on NHTSA.gov
13V387000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE; SERVICE BRAKES

Aug 27, 2013
337 units potentially affected
The defect: Kawasaki is recalling certain model year 2009-2013 Concours 14 police motorcycles. The improper installation of additional police accessories may cause multiple safety issues such as fuel leaks, reduction of braking ability and loss of electrical power to the engine, resulting in a stall.
The risk: These issues increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Kawasaki has notified that affected police departments and will send trained factory personnel to the departments to repair the motorcycles. The recall began on August 21, 2013. Owners may contact Kawasaki at 1-866-802-9381. This campaign is being conducted independent of recalls 12V134 and 13V370 for blown fuses on authority bikes.
Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.View on NHTSA.gov
13V370000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Aug 16, 2013
61 units potentially affected
The defect: Kawasaki is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Concours 14 police motorcycles. The additional police accessories may cause the 30-amp main fuse to blow. Also, the additional police wiring harness may chafe leading to a short, which may blow the main fuse.
The risk: If the fuse blows, the engine may stall increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Kawasaki will notify owners, and dealers will correct the electrical system problems, free of charge. The recall began on September 3, 2013. Owners may contact Kawasaki at 1-866-802-9381. This campaign is an expansion of recall 12V-134.
Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Brakes
Filed May 23, 2021

Back Brake pedal locks up at times locking the rear brakes and seems to lock the left front brake. Have had back brakes replaced and front pads replaced. The issue happened within one week of purchasing the bike used from a Florida Dealership. When the brakes lock up, you are almost thrown from the bike. Front left pads wear to the metal while the right side is barely worn. Sometimes, the brake pedal just goes all the way down and I have nothing. This would probably KILL a rookie rider. I also ride a 2008 Honda Goldwing with 96,000 miles. I bought it new. Both have LINKED brakes. I have never had an issue with my Honda. This is definitely a SERIOUS issue on the Kawasaki. It has apx. 32,000 miles. This should be on the RECALL list for a replacement rod on the rear master cylinder. DEATH TRAP. I am an experienced rider with easily 250,000 miles driven. Please advise.

NHTSA ID
11418248
Incident
May 23, 2021
Visibility
Filed Jun 16, 2014

IN NOVEMBER 2013 I PURCHASED A NEW NON-CURRENT INVENTORY 2012 KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14 MOTORCYCLE. PRIOR TO RIDING IT THIS SPRING I INSTALLED A LARGER AFTERMARKET NATIONAL CYCLE V-STREAM WINDSHIELD FOR INCREASED WIND PROTECTION. DURING MY FIRST RIDE I WAS SURPRISED AT THE AMOUNT THAT THE NATIONAL CYCLE V-STREAM WINDSHIELD FLEXED IN WIND. WITHIN 20 MILES OF RIDING THE EXCESSIVE FLEXING RESULTED IN THE ORIGINAL KAWASAKI PLASTIC WINDSHIELD MOUNTS BREAKING. I PURCHASED ANOTHER SET OF KAWASAKI MOUNTS, THEY LASTED 35 MILES AND ALSO CRACKED. WHEN COMPARING THE THICKNESS OF THE OEM ORIGINAL KAWASAKI WINDSHIELD TO THE NATIONAL CYCLE V-STREAM AFTERMARKET WINDSHIELD I FOUND THE NATIONAL CYCLE V-STREAM WINDSHIELD TO BE .018 INCHES THINNER THAN THE ORIGINAL KAWASAKI WINDSHIELD. THE LARGER SURFACE AREA AND THINNER CONSTRUCTION OF THE NATIONAL CYCLE V-STREAM WINDSHIELD COUPLED WITH THE REDUCED CLAMPING PRESSURE PROVIDED BY THE OEM KAWASAKI WINDSHIELD MOUNTS (DUE TO THE NATIONAL CYCLE V-STREAM WINDSHIELDS THINNER CONSTRUCTION) APPEAR TO CAUSE EXCESSIVE FLEXING RESULTING IN WINDSHIELD MOUNT FAILURES. I AM FEARFUL THE MOUNTS COULD COMPLETELY FAIL CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD TO BECOME DISLODGED RESULTING IN A POTENTIAL CRASH. I HAVE SINCE REINSTALLED THE OEM KAWASAKI WINDSHIELD AND ANOTHER SET OF NEW PLASTIC MOUNTS AND HAVE RIDDEN THE BIKE 1500 MILES IN IT'S STOCK CONFIGURATION WITHOUT ISSUE OR SAFETY CONCERNS. I BELIEVE THE NATIONAL CYCLE V-STREAM WINDSHIELD FOR THIS MODEL POSES A POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10598459
Incident
May 28, 2013
Mileage
35 mi
Visibility
Filed Jun 13, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14, EQUIPPED WITH A NATIONAL CYCLE V STREAM WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE WINDSHIELD BEGAN TO MOVE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BOLTS WERE FRACTURED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10598048
Incident
May 13, 2014
Mileage
10 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 1, 2013

UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, USE OF THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL CAN CAUSE AN UNEXPECTED, SUDDEN GRAB OF THE BRAKES. THIS PROBLEM CAN BE DEMONSTRATED BY APPLYING THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL AFTER LIGHTLY APPLYING THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER. BASED ON MANY DISCUSSION THREADS ON THE COG-ONLINE.ORG AND ZGGTR.ORG WEB FORUMS, THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE REPORTED FOR THE CONCOURSE MODEL MOTORCYCLES SINCE THEY BEGAN BEING DELIVERED WITH A LINKED BRAKING SYSTEM. THE RIDER DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DISABLE THE LINKED BRAKING SYSTEM. IN A LIMITED TRACTION SITUATION, I BELIEVE THIS GRAB COULD BE SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE RIDER TO CRASH. ON THE ABOVE MENTIONED FORUMS, MANY RIDERS COMMENT THAT THEY HAVE STOPPED USING THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL TO CIRCUMVENT THE SITUATION. THIS IS A DANGEROUS ACTION BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO MAKE USE OF THE FULL CAPABILITIES OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THEIR CONCOURS., AND FOR RIDERS WHO ALSO OWN MOTORCYCLES WITH NON-LINKED BRAKE SYSTEMS, IT IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOW TRAINED THEMSELVES TO NOT INTENTIONALLY APPLY ANY REAR BRAKE. OTHER POSTERS ON THE FORUMS HAVE REPLUMBED THEIR BRAKE SYSTEMS TO REDUCE THE IMPACT OF THIS CONDITION, AND SEARCHED FOR A THIRD PARTY WHO CAN POTENTIALLY UPDATE APPLICABLE PROGRAMMING TO CORRECT THE CONDITION. I BELIEVE KAWASAKI NEEDS TO REPROGRAM THEIR LINKED BRAKING SYSTEM TO BETTER ALLOCATE BRAKING FORCE, THUS ELIMINATING THIS DANGEROUS GRAB, AND PROVIDE THE RIDER WITH THE ABILITY TO COMPLETELY DISABLE THE LINKED BRAKING FUNCTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10546434
Incident
Sep 27, 2013
Mileage
1,200 mi

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—
2012Viewing450—
2011340—
2010040—
2009740—
2008271038.2

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.