2008 Kawasaki KLR650 Owner Complaints

TURNED IN COMPLAINT ON A FEW DAYS AGO. RECEIVED THIS TRACKING NUMBER 11063172. WHAT'S MY NEXT STEP? THE COMPLAINT WAS TURN SIGNALS FALLING OFF.

NHTSA ID

11063854

Incident

Jan 2, 2018

Mileage

21,000 mi

TURN SIGNALS FELL OFF. HANGING ON BY ELECTRIC WIRING

NHTSA ID

11063172

Incident

Jan 14, 2018

Mileage

21,000 mi

EXTERIOR TURN SIGNALS DRYROT,THEREFORE TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS FALLING OFF AND HANGING ON BY WIRE. ONE IN FRONT AND ONE IN BACK. THE ONE IN BACK FELL ON TO MUFFLER MELTING PLASTIC.

NHTSA ID

11061059

Incident

Dec 30, 2017

Mileage

21,000 mi

TURN SIGNALS HAVE A RUBBER MOUNT THAT FALLS OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10474274

Incident

Sep 7, 2012

Mileage

4,200 mi

THE ENGINE BURNS OIL EXCESSIVELY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (60 TO 70 MPH). AN ENGINE LOCKUP DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICANT IS A VERY REAL CONCERN DUE TO THE OIL CONSUMPTION RATE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10462108

Incident

Jun 16, 2011

Mileage

6,022 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KAWASAKI KLR 650 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS RUBBER DETERIORATED AND FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,900.

NHTSA ID

10461869

Incident

Jun 9, 2012

Mileage

4,900 mi

THE STARTER IDLER GEAR SHAFT HOLE/SLEEVE IS BORE/MILLED TO DEEP ON THE OUTSIDE CASING. THE SHAFT MOVES TO THE CASING SIDE AND LOSES CONTACT WITH THE INSIDE BUSHING/SLEEVE, WICH FORMS A GAP AT THE MAIN HOUSING SIDE. THERE IS NOW ENOUGH SPACE FOR THE SPACER WASHER TO FALL INTO THE BOTTOM-END AND CAUSE HUGE/CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10434053

Incident

Apr 15, 2011

Mileage

17,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KAWASAKI KLR650. WHILE TRAVELING 65 MPH THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO OIL LEAKS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 5400.

NHTSA ID

10349235

Incident

Jul 12, 2010

Mileage

5,400 mi

2008 KAWASAKI KLR 650 STARTER GEAR COVER IS IMPROPERLY BORED ALLOWING SUPPORT SHAFT TO BECOME UNSUPPORTED ON ONE END. THIS COULD CAUSE THRUST WASHERS TO DROP INTO THE ROTATING FLYWHEEL AT SPEED, LOCKING THE MOTOR AND CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. OLDER AND NEWER MODELS BOTH HAVE A RIDGE IN THE OUTER ENGINE COVER THAT PREVENTS THE IDLER GEAR SHAFT FROM DRIFTING OUT TOO FAR AND LOOSING SUPPORT IN THE INNER ENGINE COVER. THIS WAS CLEARLY A MACHINING ERROR. I INSERTED A SMALL SPACER IN THE HOLE TO PREVENT THE SHAFT FROM MOVING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10334914

Incident

Jun 5, 2010

Mileage

16,300 mi

THE SAFETY ISSUE IS ON A 2008 KAWASAKI KLR-650. THE STARTED GEAR IS GRINDING WHEN I TRY TO CRANK THE BIKE. THE DEALER WILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE IS A DEEP BORE ON THE SIDE COVER THAT HOLDS THE GEAR. IT IS A MFG ISSUE. MY CONCERN IS WHEN THE GEAR LOCK UP? THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE IT COULD LOCK UP AS I'M RIDING DOWN THE RODE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10334707

Incident

May 23, 2010

COVER SIDE HOLE THAT LOWER STARTER GEAR PIN RIDES IN IS MILLED TOO DEEP AND CAN RESULT IN SEVERE ENGINE DAMAGE. WHILE INSTALLING A BALANCER TENSION SPRING UPGRADE (ANOTHER ISSUE WITH THESE MOTORCYCLES) I FOUND I HAD THIS ISSUE. I HAD TO INSTALL A SPACER TO FIX AND PREVENT THE OTHER SIDE FROM COMING OUT OF ENGINE SIDE HOLE AND CAUSING DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10334646

Incident

May 10, 2010

Mileage

6,100 mi

THE STARTER GEAR SHAFT CAN MIGRATE OUT IN THE LEFT SIDE ENGINE COVER, LEAVING THE GEAR UNSUPPORTED ON THE INBOARD SIDE AND ALLOWING A WASHER TO MIGRATE LOOSE INTO THE ENGINE--POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE TRANSMISSION TO LOCK UP OR THE TIMING CHAIN TO SKIP TEETH AND CAUSE THE INTAKE OR EXHAUST VALVES TO HIT THE PISTON TOP, BENDING VALVES AND MAKING THE ENGINE INOPERABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10334599

Incident

Jun 1, 2010

Mileage

3,500 mi

2008 KAWASAKI KLR 650 MOTORCYCLE. CONSUMER STATES SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH MOTORCYCLE AND HAS RECEIVED RECALLS *TGW SINCE PURCHASING THE MOTORCYCLE, THE CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THREE BATTERIES. WHILE CHANGING THE OIL FOR THE FIRST TIME, HE DISCOVERED THE ENGINE WAS CONSUMING EIGHT TO TEN OUNCES OF OIL PER THOUSAND MILES OF USE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INFORMED THE OIL CONSUMPTION FELL WITHIN THE ACCEPTABLE RANGE AS SPECIFIED BY KAWASAKI ENGINEERS. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PISTONS WERE TOO SMALL FOR THE CYLINDER BORE ON HIS BIKE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10329636

Incident

May 11, 2010

2008 KAWASAKI KLR 650 ENGINE USES AN ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF OIL, LEADING TO ENGINE SEIZURE/FAILURE/COSTLY DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10313024

Incident

Jan 15, 2010

Mileage

7,500 mi

THE 2008 KAWASAKI KLR 650 MOTORCYCLE OIL DRAIN PLUG SHOULD BE RECALLED AND CHANGED TO A LOW-PROFILE DRAIN PLUG. WITH ITS CURRENT HEIGHT, IT PROTRUDES BELOW THE SKID PLATE AND IS PRONE TO DAMAGE. ADDITIONALLY THE SKID PLATE IS MADE OF FLIMSY PLASTIC AND DOES NOT PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION FOR THE ENGINE. WHILE TRAIL RIDING THIS NEW DUAL-SPORT MOTORCYCLE WITH ONLY 1400 MILES ON IT, I RODE OVER A SMALL ROCK, THIS CRACKED THE FLIMSY SKID-PLATE/ENGINE GUARD AND LOOSENED THE OIL DRAIN PLUG. WHILE RIDING HOME LATER ON THE FREEWAY, THE DRAIN PLUG FELL OUT, ALL THE OIL EVACUATED QUICKLY AND THE MOTOR SEIZED. THIS MOTORCYCLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT THE DEALER INSISTED THAT THIS REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED. THE PISTON RINGS WERE SEIZED AND THE REPAIR INVOLVES BORING THE CYLINDER, GETTING A LARGER PISTON AND RINGS, PLUS GASKETS AND LABOR. THE ESTIMATE FOR THIS REPAIR WAS $636.00. THE EVIDENCE OF THE NEED FOR THESE CHANGES TO THE MOTORCYCLE ARE THE PREVALENCE OF THESE PARTS AS AFTERMARKET ACCESSORIES, TO FILL THE OBVIOUS DEFICIENCY. THE LOW PROFILE DRAIN PLUGS ARE ROUGHLY $12.00 AND THE MORE STURDY ENGINE GUARDS ARE AROUND $120.00. *TR

NHTSA ID

10274631

Incident

May 23, 2009

Mileage

1,400 mi

ALL RUBBER GROMMETS AND PROTECTIVE BOOTS ARE DRY ROTTING AT AN ACCELERATED RATE BROUGHT PROBLEM TO DEALERS ATTENTIONS AND HE IS WILLING TO REPLACE ALL THE PARTS AS LONG AS I PAY FOR THEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10265965

Incident

Mar 15, 2009

Mileage

10,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KAWASAKI KLR650. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 09V059000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE) AND IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN BECAUSE THE BOLTS COULD LOOSEN COMPLETELY AND THE MUFFLER COULD POSSIBLY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE, CAUSING A CRASH OR SERIOUS INJURY. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR TOWING. THE CONTACT DOES NOT WANT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED IF HE HAS TO PAY FOR TOWING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 2,500.

NHTSA ID

10260428

Incident

Feb 28, 2009

Mileage

2,500 mi

THE CONDITIONS HEREIN MAY CAUSE AN ENGINE FAILURE. THIS FAILURE COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SEIZE WHICH COULD CAUSE THE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE [MOTORCYCLE]. THE VEHICLE WAS IN USE UNDER NORMAL "STREET" CONDITIONS. HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT/ WORKMANSHIP. 1 QUART+ OF OIL PER 300 MILES, RESULTING IN HIGH AIR POLLUTION & POSSIBLE ENGINE SEIZURE---FROM THE LOSS OF OIL! PISTON RINGS LEAK OIL. THERE IS ALSO A GROOVE IN ENGINE'S CYLINDER WALL [3"L X 5/32"W X 1/64"D] DUE TO IMPROPER PART ASSEMBLY [PISTON'S WRIST PIN CLIP; A FACTORY DEFECT]. THE ENGINE'S EXHAUST VALVES LEAK WHICH ALSO PRODUCES POOR AIR QUALITY CONTROL. THESE CONDITIONS ARE INTERNAL TO THE ENGINE AND WERE CREATED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. THESE FAILURES CAN ONLY BE DETERMINED THROUGH THE DISASSEMBLY OF THE ENGINE. THE ABOVE VEHICLE'S HAS ONLY BEEN USED FOR 2,085 [2K] MILES. IT IS A 2008 MODEL YEAR. THE ABOVE ENGINE FAILS TO MEET AIR QUALITY STANDARDS. THE COST OF REPAIR IS BEING ESTIMATED BETWEEN $800-1000. THIS ENCOMPASSES PARTIAL VEHICLE DISASSEMBLE, UPPER ENGINE DISASSEMBLE, MACHINE SHOP WORK, REPLACEMENT PARTS, ENGINE REASSEMBLE, AND THE REASSEMBLE OF THE AREA AROUND THE ENGINE [IT'S A MOTORCYCLE]. TO CORRECT THE ABOVE FAILURES NEW PARTS MUST BE INSTALLED ALONG WITH NECESSARY MACHINING OF ENGINE'S CYLINDER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10247179

Incident

Oct 25, 2008

Mileage

2,085 mi

RIDING 2008 KAWASAKI KLR-650 AT SPEED LESS THAN 60MPH. AFTER RIDE (2) BLINKERS, ONE FRONT & ONE REAR FELL OFF. THE RUBBER MOUNTING STALK ON EACH BLINKER BROKE AT THE BASE AND THE TURN SIGNALS FELL OFF ONLY TO BE HELD ON BY THE WIRES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10244736

Incident

Apr 18, 2008

Mileage

550 mi

TRAVELING TO WORK. TURN SIGNAL FELL OFF FOR NO REASON. MELTED TO EXHAUST PIPE. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT KAWASAKI IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10243854

Incident

Jun 15, 2008

Mileage

850 mi

WHILE TRAVELING ON MAIN HIGHWAY AT 2AM ENROUTE TO WORK I LOST ENGINE AND LIGHTS. NO WARNING. UNABLE TO SEE ANYTHING LET ALONE OTHER MOTORISTS BEING ABLE TO SEE ME. REPLACED MAIN FUSE & BATTERY...NOT THE PROBLEM. TAKING BIKE TO DEALER TODAY. OUT OF WARRANTY BY APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH. ONLY 1500 MILES ON BIKE. DEALER CLAIMS ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE SOMEWHERE??? COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10243852

Incident

Sep 27, 2008

Mileage

1,500 mi

ALL 4 OF MY TURN SIGNALS HAVE FAILED. THE RUBBER BOOT THAT HOLDS THE TURN SIGNALS ON HAVE ALL FAILED, LEADING TO DANGLING TURN SIGNALS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10243612

Incident

Sep 3, 2008

Mileage

3,500 mi

ALL FOUR TURN SIGNALS FELL OFF IN THE FIRST YEAR OF OWNERSHIP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10243021

Incident

May 12, 2008

Mileage

5,000 mi

I RIDE MY BIKE EVERY DAY TO WORK. IT IS GARAGED AND WHEN OUTSIDE IT IS ALWAYS COVERED. I HAVE NEVER TAKEN THE BIKE OFF ROAD OR DIRT TRAIL RIDING. THE BIKE HAS NEVER FALLEN, BEEN DROPPED OR KNOCKED OVER. WHEN I PULLED THE COVER OFF ON 9/20/2008 AT 1957HRS TO HEAD HOME I FOUND THAT THE LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL WAS SNAPPED OFF AT THE FARING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10243002

Incident

Sep 20, 2008

Mileage

4,400 mi

FRONT AND REAR TURN SIGNALS FALL OFF. THEY ARE DESIGNED TO FALL OFF WHEN STRUCK BY ANOTHER OBJECT, BUT IN REALITY, THEY FALL OFF DURING NORMAL USE OF THE VEHICLE. THE TURN SIGNALS DO NOT HAVE TO TOUCH ANYTHING TO FALL OFF. WHEN THEY FALL OFF THEY ARE HANGING BY A WIRE AND FLOP AROUND. AT THIS POINT, YOUR TURN SIGNALS ARE USELESS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 6 TIMES IN ONE YEAR. I WAS OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE OR ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF THE PROBLEM BY THE DEALER EVEN DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD, SO I REPLACE THE TURN SIGNAL AND WAIT FOR IT TO HAPPEN AGAIN. I HAVE TALKED TO OTHER OWNERS AND THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10242943

Incident

Apr 27, 2008

Mileage

1,400 mi