2003 Kawasaki KLR650 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 Kawasaki KLR650, 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
- Engine571.4%
- Steering114.3%
- Tires & wheels114.3%
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
KLR650 ENGINE IDLE LEVER ADJUSTER SPRING FAILED SENDING METAL FRAGMENTS THROUGH OUT THE ENGINE THAT I HAD TO FISH OUT - VERY VERY COMMON PROBLEM TO THE POINT THAT IT IS THE FIRST THING PEOPLE DO WHEN THEY BUY A KLR OF ANY YEAR. *TR
KAWASAKI KLR 650 MOTORCYCLE CHAIN TENSIONER COUNTER BALANCER AND RETAINER SPRING BROKEN AND MISSING. THE BROKEN PIECES CAN CAUSE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE INCLUDING ENGINE SEIZURE WHILE IN OPERATION. REPLACED THE PARTS FROM AFTERMARKET SUPPLIER. *TR
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
I JUST CHECKED MY IDLER SHAFT LEVER (DOOHICKEY) ON MY 2003 KLR 650. THE DOOHICKEY WAS INTACT BUT, THE SPRING WAS BROKE. I CAN'T FIND THE END OF THE SPRING THAT BROKE OFF AND THE CHAIN WORE PART WAY THROUGH THE SPRING LEAVING METAL SHAVINGS THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE NOT GOOD!!! JUST ORDERED NEW DOOHICKEY AND SPRING FROM ARROWHEAD MOTORSPORTS. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN OUT OF STORAGE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT TIRES SIDEWALL DEVELOPED WEATHER CHECKS. THESE WERE SMALL CRACKS THAT WENT AROUND THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRES. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS DRIVEN FOR 6 MONTHS, THEN STORED FOR 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO THIS PROBLEM OCCURRING. DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED BUT COULD NOT IDENTIFY WHAT CAUSED THE CRACKS TO OCCUR BECAUSE THE MOTORCYCLE WASN'T STORED NEXT TO ANY CHEMICALS. THE FRONT TIRE SIZE WAS 90/90-21 AND THE REAR TIRE SIZE WAS 130/80-17. THE MODEL NAME LISTED ON TIRE WAS K750.*AK
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .