RoadVitals

2006 Kawasaki KL650A6F

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.
9
Latest Nov 3, 2008
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.
0
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
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 9 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2006 Kawasaki KL650A6F, most frequently naming the engine, transmission and electrical categories.

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

  • Engine550.0%
  • Transmission220.0%
  • Electrical110.0%
  • Powertrain (other)110.0%
  • Visibility110.0%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 9
Engine
Filed Nov 3, 2008

UPON DETAILED INTERNAL INSPECTION OF ENGINE, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE BALANCER CHAIN TENSIONING ASSEMBLY HAD FAILED. EVIDENCE SHOWED THAT THE SPRING (POORLY MADE) HAD BEEN BROKEN FOR QUITE SOME TIME. IT WAS ALSO EVIDENT THAT HAD THE SPRING NOT BROKEN, THE VERY POORLY MADE TENSIONER QUADRANT WOULD HAVE BROKEN INSTEAD LEADING TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE DAMAGE AND MOST LIKELY A CRASH AT THE TIME OF ENGINE FAILURE. THE FACTORY PARTS WERE REPLACED WITH UPGRADED AFTERMARKET PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10247505
Incident
Oct 25, 2008
Mileage
11,037 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 16, 2008

2006 KAWASAKI KLR650 MOTORCYCLE. BALANCER CHAIN TENSIONER COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE KLR650 "DOOHICKIE". COASTING DOWN A SLEIGHT GRADE WITH MOTORCYCLE IN GEAR, MOTOR SUDDENLY MADE RAPPING NOISE AND STOPPED. UPON INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SPRING KEEPING TENSION ON THE "DOOHICKIE" HAD FAILED, GOT CAUGHT IN THE TIMING CHAIN WHICH IN TURN BENT BOTH INTAKE VALVES. THE BALANCER CHAIN TENSIONER IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH KLR650'S SINCE THEIR FIRST INTRODUCTION. REPLACED INTAKE VALVES, BALANCER CHAIN TENSIONER, HEAD GASKET, ENGINE SIDE COVER GASKETS, OIL AND ANTIFREEZE. COST $200+. *TR

NHTSA ID
10234532
Incident
Jul 11, 2008
Mileage
9,012 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 29, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KAWASAKI KLR650 (NA). WHILE PERFORMING MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE IDLER SHAFT SPRING FAILED. THE CONTACT REMOVED A PIECE OF THE IDLER SHAFT SPRING FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT WILL BE REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL SYSTEM AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,300. UPDATED 11/15/07 *TR

NHTSA ID
10207300
Incident
Oct 20, 2007
Engine
Filed Jun 25, 2007

AFTER READING ABOUT OTHERS THAT HAD THIS DEFECTIVE PART ON THE EXACT SAME MOTORCYCLE AS I HAVE I DECIDED TO REPLACE THE PART WITH A AFTERMARKET UPGRADE. WHEN I OPENED MY ENGINE CASE I NOTICED THAT PART OF IT WAS ALREADY BROKEN! I HAVE UNDER 3000 MILES ON THE MOTORCYCLE. THE PART THAT I REPLACED WAS COUNTERBALANCED TENSIONER AND SPRING. THE SPRING WA S ALREADY BROKEN, AND PART OF IT WENT INTO THE ENGINE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10194214
Incident
Jun 16, 2007
Mileage
3,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 11, 2007
1 injury reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KAWASAKI KL650A6F. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL IT LUNGED FORWARD AND PRODUCED A GRINDING NOISE. THE CONTACT POSSESSED VIDEO FOOTAGE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CLUTCH MUST BE HELD IN OR THE VEHICLE WILL ALWAYS LUNGE FORWARD WHEN IN NEUTRAL. THE DEALER STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES DURING THESE FAILURES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 9,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 820.*AK

NHTSA ID
10187545
Incident
Jul 5, 2006
Mileage
820 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 22, 2006

FAILURE: THE IDLER SHAFT SPRING (KAWASAKI PART NO. 92144-1860) WAS BROKEN AND UNABLE TO MAINTAIN TENSION ON THE BALANCER IDLER LEVER. THIS CREATES A SITUATION WHERE THE BALANCER CHAIN COULD BECOME LOOSE, JUMP OFF THE GEARING, AND CAUSE THE ENGINE AND FINAL DRIVE SYSTEM TO LOCK-UP. THEORY OF OPERATION: 1) THE BALANCER IDLER LEVER (KAWASAKI PART NO. 13168-1436); AND, 2) THE IDLER SHAFT SPRING (KAWASAKI PART NO. 92144-1860). THE TWO PARTS SERVE TO MAINTAIN TENSION ON THE BALANCER CHAIN. CORRECTION: THE ORIGINAL PARTS WERE REPLACED WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS. THE FAILED PART IS AVAILABLE FROM THE OWNER. *NM

NHTSA ID
10171528
Incident
Oct 21, 2006
Mileage
9,860 mi
ElectricalTransmission
Filed Oct 11, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE MOTORCYCLE FUSES BLEW OUT THREE TIMES. ALSO, THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED IN NEUTRAL WHICH WHEN STARTING THROWS IT OFF THE KICKSTAND. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS UNWILLING TO ASSIST THE CONTACT WITH THESE CONCERNS. YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL: 2006 KAWASAKI KL650A6F. *AK UPDATED 10/31/2006 - THE CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE DEALER AT THE FIRST SERVICE ABOUT STARTING IN GEAR WITH THE NEUTRAL LIGHT ON. THEY DIDN'T FIX IT OR GIVE THE CONSUMER AN EXPLANATIONS ON HOW THEY TRIED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. AFTER TAKING THE MOTORCYCLE BACK HOME IT BLEW THREE FUSES WHICH MADE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS GO OFF, PLUS THE NEUTRAL LIGHT WAS STILL ON. THE FUSE HAS BLOWN TWICE AT NIGHT LEAVING THE CONSUMER IN TRAFFIC WITH NO HEADLIGHTS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10170547
Incident
Sep 1, 2006
Mileage
500 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 6, 2006

THE COUNTER BALANCER ADJUSTMENT LEVER SPRING ON MY 2006 KAWASAKI KLR650 W/ 1700 MILES FAILED. ALTHOUGH NO DAMAGE OR INJURY WAS CAUSED IN THIS CASE, THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGE AND INJURY TO OTHER USERS OF THIS MODEL MOTORCYCLE EXISTS DUE TO FRAGMENTED PARTS FROM THE BROKEN ITEMS CIRCULATING THROUGH THE ENGINE AND CAUSING AN ENGINE SEIZURE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON ALL KLR MODELS. KAWASAKI HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE PROBLEM BY LETTER DATED APRIL 18 2006, DENIES THE PROBLEM, AND REFUSES TO REPLACE THE FAULTY COMPONENTS IN THIS OR ANY OTHER KLR. THEY REFUSED A WARRANTY CLAIM AND THE REPAIR WORK WAS PAID FOR BY ME. I RETAINED THE BROKEN PART. *NM

NHTSA ID
10167425
Incident
Apr 8, 2006
Mileage
1,700 mi