RoadVitals

2013 Kawasaki EX300 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
14
Latest Nov 26, 2013
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
7
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.
1

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2013 Kawasaki EX300, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Engine836.4%
  • Fuel system522.7%
  • Powertrain (other)418.2%
  • Body & structure29.1%
  • Electrical14.5%
  • Steering14.5%
  • Suspension14.5%

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

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

8
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

PULLING IN THE CLUTCH CAUSES THE RPMS TO DROP BELOW 1000 RPM CAUSING THE ENGINE TO DIE OR STALL. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. IT CAN OCCUR SEVERAL TIMES IN A ROW OR IT CAN BE SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I'VE TRIED TO INCREASE IDLE SPEED TO 2000 RPM, MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS 1300, WHICH DID NOT HELP. I WOULD ESTIMATE IT HAS OCCURRED 50+ TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE NEW ON JUNE 28, 2013. *TR

NHTSA ID 10533126 · filed Aug 1, 2013

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW NINJA300 FOR MY WIFE, WITH NO PROBLEMS RIDING IT HOME. THE NEXT TIME OUT, WHICH WAS A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER. I WARMED UP THE BIKE AS I USUALLY DO. RODE JUST DOWN THE STREET, WHILE IN 4TH GEAR I PULLED IN THE CLUTCH TO DOWN SHIFT AND THE BIKE JUST DIED. DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT, BUT IT HAPPENED AGAIN THE NEXT DAY, SO I INCREASED THE ENGINE IDLE A BIT THINKING THIS WOULD HELP. THE ISSUE WAS NOT RESOLVED. SO I DID SOME READING ON FORUMS AND FOUND THIS IS COMMON. SO AGAIN DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT AND DEFINITELY HADN'T EVEN THOUGHT OF THIS AS A SAFETY CONCERN BUT AFTER REALIZING HOW THIS MAY BE A POTENTIAL DISASTER, I'M HESITANT TO LET MY WIFE RIDE IT KNOWING SHE MAY BE AT RISK AT ANY GIVEN TIME. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED, ACKNOWLEDGED AND CONTINUE INVESTIGATIONS UNTIL KAWASAKI CAN REALIZE THE POTENTIAL HAZARDS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID 10524290 · filed Jul 11, 2013
All 8 reports naming engine

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

AFTER PARKING MY MOTORCYCLE IN THE SUN FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS I RETURNED AND STARTED IT UP. EVERYTHING APPEARED NORMAL. I ACCELERATED TO ABOUT 15 MPH AND THEN AS I PREPARED TO COME TO A STOP I STARTED BRAKING AND PULLED IN THE CLUTCH. THE ENGINE RPM'S DROPPED LOWER THAN THE IDLE SPEED AND THE ENGINE STALLED AS THE BIKE WAS STILL MOVING. I COASTED TO A STOP. I PLACED THE BIKE IN NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED THE MOTOR. IT STARTED UP FINE AND I CONTINUED ON TO AN INTERSECTION WHERE I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A U-TURN. THERE THE BIKE STALLED ON ME AGAIN WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING THE U-TURN AS SOON AS I PULLED THE CLUTCH IN. I BARELY ESCAPED BEING REAR ENDED BY A SUV THAT WAS ALSO MAKING THE U-TURN AND THAT DID NOT EXPECT ME TO COME TO SUDDEN STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. I IMMEDIATELY TRIED TO RESTART THE ENGINE MEANWHILE I HAD TWO OTHER VEHICLES STUCK BEHIND ME BLOCKING THE INTERSECTION FROM ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE STALLED AGAIN AT THE NEXT STOP LIGHT. AFTER ABOUT 2 OR 3 MILES OF CONSTANT MOVEMENT DID THE ISSUE GO AWAY. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN AND ALWAYS AFTER THE MOTORCYCLE HAS SAT IN THE SUN FOR SEVERAL HOURS. IT NEVER OCCURS IN THE MORNING ON A COLD START AND WHEN IT DOES OCCUR IT GOES AWAY AFTER A COUPLE MILES OF RIDING. *TR

NHTSA ID 10524022 · filed Jul 9, 2013

THIS INCIDENT HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE FIRST DAY I HAVE OWNED THE KAWASAKI NINJA 300. I WOULD SLOW DOWN TO A STOP AND THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. I WOULD THEN PUT IT BACK INTO NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE MOTORCYCLE. IT WOULD HAPPEN A FEW TIMES UNTIL THE MOTOR GETS WARM, THEN IT STOPS STALLING. IT HAPPENED TO ME AT LEAST 3-7 TIMES WHEN RIDING IT TODAY. THIS HAPPENED TO ME ABOUT 4 TIMES NOW. *TR

NHTSA ID 10522328 · filed Jun 28, 2013

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHEN COMING TO A STOP WITH CLUTCH DISENGAGED ENGINE STALLED AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED. LUCKILY NO TRAFFIC WAS BEHIND ME OR I MIGHT HAVE HIT FROM BEHIND. *TR

NHTSA ID 10522426 · filed Jun 29, 2013

PULLED THE CLUTCH IN WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND THE BIKE STALLED. HAPPENED 8 MORE TIMES GETTING THE BIKE HOME. I HAVE ADJUSTED THE IDLE TO 1500 RPM AND THE BIKE NOW DROPS TO 1100 RPM WHEN CLUTCHING DURING A STOP THEN RECOVERS TO 1500 RPM AFTER STOPPING. DEALER MOUNTAIN MOTORSPORTS CLAIMED THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF IT HAPPENING ON ANY OTHER NINJA 300S. THEY CONTACTED ME BACK STATING THAT THEY HAD CONTACTED KAWASAKI AND KAWASAKI IS AWARE OF IT BUT HAVE NO CURE FOR IT AS OF THIS TIME. THEY CLAIM IT IS AN IDLE STOP PROBLEM. THIS COULD BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO A NEW/NEWER RIDER. *TR

NHTSA ID 10521588 · filed Jun 24, 2013

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHEN BIKE IS IN THE SUN ALL DAY THE BIKE WILL STALL WHEN THE CLUTCH IS PULLED IN. ALSO LEFT FAIRING POPS OUT CALLED KAWASAKI ABOUT BOTH THINGS AND WAS TOLD WE HAVE NO RECORD OF THIS GO TO THE DEALER SO I WENT TO THE DEALER AND AGAIN GIVEN THE RUN AROUND THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM FOR THE SAFETY OF THE RIDER. *TR

NHTSA ID 10521959 · filed Jun 26, 2013

I WAS GOING THROUGH A SLIGHT CURVE, NOT A BIG ONE JUST A NORMAL CURVE GOING ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR WHEN I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN THE BIKE SORT OF STALLED SO I WENT STRAIGHT INTO THE CURB INTO WHERE I HIT A TREE. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT SAW E INCIDENT AND FOUND IT VERY STRANGE AS WELL AS I DID. I HAVE ENOUGH EXPERIENCE INTO WHICH I KNOW IT WASN'T MY FAULT I LOST CONTROL OF THE BIKE. GOING 20 MILES PER HOUR WITH NOTHING THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS PRETTY STRANGE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10521599 · filed Jun 25, 2013

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW NINJA300 FOR MY WIFE, WITH NO PROBLEMS RIDING IT HOME. THE NEXT TIME OUT, WHICH WAS A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER. I WARMED UP THE BIKE AS I USUALLY DO. RODE JUST DOWN THE STREET, WHILE IN 4TH GEAR I PULLED IN THE CLUTCH TO DOWN SHIFT AND THE BIKE JUST DIED. DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT, BUT IT HAPPENED AGAIN THE NEXT DAY, SO I INCREASED THE ENGINE IDLE A BIT THINKING THIS WOULD HELP. THE ISSUE WAS NOT RESOLVED. SO I DID SOME READING ON FORUMS AND FOUND THIS IS COMMON. SO AGAIN DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT AND DEFINITELY HADN'T EVEN THOUGHT OF THIS AS A SAFETY CONCERN BUT AFTER REALIZING HOW THIS MAY BE A POTENTIAL DISASTER, I'M HESITANT TO LET MY WIFE RIDE IT KNOWING SHE MAY BE AT RISK AT ANY GIVEN TIME. I THINK THIS SHOULD BE RECOGNIZED, ACKNOWLEDGED AND CONTINUE INVESTIGATIONS UNTIL KAWASAKI CAN REALIZE THE POTENTIAL HAZARDS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID 10524290 · filed Jul 11, 2013

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

PURCHASED MY NINJA 300 3/25/13. SIGNS OF FIRST WOBBLE DUE TO POOR HEAD BEARING WAS ON 4/10/13. THAT'S ONLY 15 CALENDAR DAYS! MY NINJA 300 WOBBLES FROM DECEL FROM 50MPH TO 35MPH. THE WOBBLE IS SO BAD, I CAN'T REALLY RIDE THE BIKE ANYMORE UNTIL I GET IT REPLACED, AND KAWASAKI WON'T HONOR A HEAD BEARING REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY. THEY WOULD SIMPLY REPLACE IT WITH THE SAME STOCK POOR QUALITY PART RESULTING IN ANOTHER HEAD BEARING FAILURE AFTER 600-1000 MILES. THIS ISSUE HAS BECOME VERY FRUSTRATING TO ME BECAUSE I NOW HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR A PART ON A BRAND NEW BIKE STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, AND FOR THE CUSTOMERS PAYING OUT OF POCKET, NEED TO BE REFUNDED THE PRICE OF THE PART AND LABOR DUE TO A FACTORY DEFECT / CHOICE OF POOR QUALITY BEARING. *TR

NHTSA ID 10524834 · filed Jul 15, 2013

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KAWASAKI NINJA EX300ADFL MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND DECELERATING TO 35 MPH, THE HANDLE BARS WOULD SHAKE EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800.

NHTSA ID 10553928 · filed Nov 26, 2013

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .