RoadVitals

2009 Kawasaki KLR650

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.
6
Latest Oct 18, 2016
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.
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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.
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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.
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Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Kawasaki KLR650, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and body & structure categories. 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

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

  • Electrical337.5%
  • Engine337.5%
  • Body & structure112.5%
  • Exterior lighting112.5%

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

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

ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Oct 18, 2016

THE KLR 650 REAR SIGNAL LIGHTS ARE MADE WITH DEFECTIVE RUBBER THAT CAUSES THEM TO BREAK AND DANGLE BY THE ELECTRICAL WIRES. SOME OF THE 2008 MODELS WERE RECALLED, MINE IS A 2009. I CONTACTED KAWASAKI AND THEY SAID THERE IS NOT AN OPEN RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE AND CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD CHECK WITH KAWASAKI FOR A COURTESY FIX. THAT WAS ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND I NEVER HEARD BACK FROM THEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE NOT HAVING WORKING TURN SIGNALS AND WAS HOPING YOU COULD ASSIST ME WITH THIS ISSUE. JUST A QUICK NOTE, THIS BIKE HAS NEVER BEEN WREAKED AND STAYS IN A COVERED AREA. *TR

NHTSA ID
10917186
Incident
Sep 20, 2016
Mileage
6,000 mi
Body & structureEngine
Filed Dec 23, 2015

THIS `09 KLR 650 WAS PURCHASED USED FROM GUY WHO BOUGHT IT NEW HAVING APPROX. 8000 MI. MY BIGGEST COMPLAINT IS POSSIBLY DUE TO ENGINE MOUNTING AND VIBRATION WHEREAS FOUND EXHAUST MANIFOLD CLAMP HAD VIBRATED LOOSE AND DETACHED FROM ENGINE EXHAUST PORT. ANOTHER TIME FOUND ONE OF THE SIDE FRAME BOLTS HAD SHEERED OR OTHERWISE BROKE DUE VIBRATION OR DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. OTHER SIMILAR PROBLEMS INVOLVED HAVING TO REPLACE OR FIX SPEEDO CABLE AND THE PROTECTIVE LEG / HEAT EXHAUST SHIELD DUE TO MATERIAL OR VIBRATION ISSUES.

NHTSA ID
10811996
Incident
Aug 10, 2012
Mileage
9,500 mi
Electrical
Filed Dec 19, 2015

IT IS MY FIRM BELIEF THAT THIS VEHICLE (2009 KLR MANUFACTURED IN OCT. 2008) SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED FOR THE WIRING HARNESS AS THE PREVIOUS MODEL (2008 KLR) WAS. THE VEHICLE WILL LOOSE POWER/ELECTRICITY TO THE SPARK PLUG WHEN THE HANDLEBARS ARE TURNED WHICH IN TURN MOVES THE WIRING/WIRING HARNESS. THE PREVIOUS RECALL WAS INITIATED DUE TO WIRING HARNESS ISSUES. I RECENTLY HAD TO TOW MY KLR FROM THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AS IT LOST POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN THE BUSY CITY OF AUSTIN, TX. LUCKILY, THE VEHICLES THAT WERE NEXT TO ME WERE ABLE TO AVOID ME BUT THIS MAY HAVE LEAD TO ANOTHER FATALITY OR A SERIOUS ACCIDENT/INJURY. AFTER TAKING TIME TO LOOK INTO THE NON-START ISSUE (INITIALLY BELIEVED TO BE A FUEL ISSUE), I NOTICE THAT THE VEHICLE WILL PRODUCE A SPARK WHEN TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND SHUTTING OFF WHEN TURNED TO THE LEFT. I BELIEVE THAT KAWASAKI SHOULD INITIATE A RECALL ON THEIR OWN BEHALF AND REPLACE THE ELECTRICAL HARNESSES FOR THESE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED. I HAVE VIDEO FOOTAGE AVAILABLE WHICH CLEARLY SHOWS THE ISSUE. THANK YOU...I CAN BE REACHED VIA E-MAIL AT [XXX]@GMAIL.COM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB

NHTSA ID
10811287
Incident
Dec 13, 2015
Mileage
30,628 mi
Engine
Filed Dec 19, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KAWASAKI KLR650. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA ID
10667231
Incident
Nov 24, 2014
Mileage
3,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 26, 2014

THIS COMPLAINT DOES NOT REPRESENT AN INCIDENT WITH MY PERSONAL VEHICLE. THE KAWASAKI KLR650 SERIES, ALL MODELS SPANNING ALL MFG YEARS, SUFFER FROM A WEAK CHAIN TENSIONER ASSEMBLY FOR THE COUNTERBALANCE SHAFTS. THIS IS AN INTERNAL ENGINE COMPONENT. ON THE INTERNET, THIS ASSEMBLY IS REFERRED TO AS THE "DOOHICKEY." SEARCHING THE WEB FOR "KLR DOOHICKEY" WILL YIELD LITERALLY THOUSANDS OF RESULTS OF BOTH FIXES AND FAILURES. KAWASAKI HAS NEVER CORRECTED THE ISSUE, AND AN INDUSTRY HAS EVEN EMERGED WITH AFTERMARKET PARTS TO CORRECT THE DEFECT THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS FAILED TO ADDRESS. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE, AS FAILURE OF THE ASSEMBLY HAS SENT METAL FRAGMENTS THROUGH THE ENGINE AND HAS POTENTIAL TO RAPIDLY SEIZE THE ENGINE. WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEED, THIS CAN CAUSE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER, OR EVEN AN UNEXPECTED REAR WHEEL LOCKUP ON THE MOTORCYCLE, EITHER OF WHICH CAN BE DEADLY. THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE MOTORCYCLES ON THE ROAD, YET ONLY THE ENTHUSIAST COMMUNITY IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE, AND I FEAR THERE ARE MANY OWNERS WHO ARE UNAWARE OF THE RISKS. I WOULD LIKE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE FOR POTENTIAL RECALL. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID
10628440
Incident
Aug 26, 2014
Mileage
5,500 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 28, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KAWASAKI KLR650 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V062000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,026.

NHTSA ID
10616825
Incident
Jul 23, 2014
Mileage
10,026 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

MC24-01

STRUCTURE

Service Information about a shipping bracket attaching the motorcycle to the crate can cause damage to the motorcycle fuel tank if removed.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Kawasaki KLR650 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2024100—
2023160038.4
2022100—
2018000—
2017100—
2009Viewing600—
20081161037.3
2007300—
2006100—
2005100—
2003600—
2002110029.0
2001190032.7
2000800—
1999700—
1998600—
1997100—
1995100—
1993200—

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.