RoadVitals

2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300

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.
42
Latest Dec 24, 2020
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.
1
Latest Jul 29, 2013
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.
1
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.
2
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 42 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300, most frequently naming the engine, powertrain (other) and fuel system categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 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

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

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
13V328000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Jul 29, 2013
11,097 units potentially affected
The defect: Kawasaki Motors Corp. is recalling certain model year 2013 Ninja 300 and 300 ABS motorcycles manufactured July 16, 2012, through April 27, 2013. Due to an improper setting in the Electronic Control Unit (ECU), the motorcycle may stall under deceleration.
The risk: A stall under deceleration increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Kawasaki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ECU. The recall began on August 5, 2013. Owners may contact Kawasaki at 1-866-802-9381.
Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE13023ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

Motorcycle stalling

Opened Jun 20, 2013
Closed Sep 20, 2013

ODI opened this PE with eighteen (18) allegations of stalling while riding a subject motorcycle.During the course of gathering information about this subject, Kawasaki decided to address the stalling issue.Kawasaki has informed ODI they intend to remedy approximately 11,097 2013 Model Year Ninja 300 and 300 ABS motorcycles by replacing the Engine Control Unit.Kawasaki's recall (13V-328) resolves the issue raised by this investigation and therefore this investigation is closed.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following 56 complaint identification numbers:10498192,10498532,10503493,10503834,10505012,10505031,10505117, 10505548,10505580,10509113,10509756,10510493,10510706,10512296, 10512579,10513051,10513978,10515717,10519423,10521588,10521827, 10521883,10521889,10521959,10521981,10522157,10522286,10522328, 10522426,10522861,10522984,10522991,10523178,10523506,10524022, 10524290,10525055,10525055,10525289,10525289,10525910,10525910, 10531686,10531686,10532034,10532034,10532226,10532226,10532373, 10532373,10532447,10532447,10532590,10532590,10534559,10536049

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEMLed to recall 13V328000

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 42
Engine
Filed Dec 24, 2020

CONNECTING ROD BOLTS BACK OUT AROUND 6000 MILES ON A LOT OF BIKES INCLUDING MINE STARTS WITH KNOCKING NOISE LET ME KNOW WHAT TO DO

NHTSA ID
11384841
Incident
Nov 14, 2020
Mileage
5,500 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Jan 15, 2014

KAWASAKI IS SELLING THEIR 2012, 2013 AND 2014 NINJA 650S WITH A DEFECTIVE FRONT TIRE. THE TIRE IS DUNLOP'S SPORTSMAX 2, FRONT 120/70ZR17(58. THEY LAST ABOUT 5 MONTHS BEFORE THE TIRE DEVELOPS DRY-ROT IN THE TREAD AREA. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME AND OTHERS ARE REPORTING ON MOTORCYCLE FORUMS. I PURCHASED THE BIKE ON MARCH 1ST AND IT COMES WITH A 1 YEAR WARRANTY. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED KAWASAKI HONORED THEIR WARRANTY AND REPLACED IT WITH THE SAME TIRE ON AUGUST 14TH. ON JANUARY 13TH, 2014 I FILED ANOTHER CLAIM WITH KAWASAKI AND SENT THEM PHOTOGRAPHS OF IT HAPPENING YET AGAIN. IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO REPLACE THE TIRE EVEN THOUGH THE BIKE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE TIRE THEY REPLACED HAS 95% OF ITS TREAD LIFE LEFT AND IT'D SEEM KAWASAKI HAS NO REGARD FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS' SAFETY. EVERY AREA OF THE ENTIRE TIRE TREAD IS SEVERELY DRY-ROTTED A SECOND TIME AND YET I'VE ONLY HAD THE TIRE 5 MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10560034
Incident
Jan 13, 2014
Mileage
5,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 8, 2013
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING DOWN BARKER CYPRESS I WAS APPROACHING A LIGHT. I STARTED DOWNSHIFTING AND APPLYING MY REAR BRAKE. WHEN I PRESSED DOWN ON THE REAR BRAKE, THERE WAS A THUG THEN NOTHING, NO GRIP, NO TIGHTENING, NOTHING BUT AIR. I DID NOT HAVE BRAKES. I REALIZED I WAS GOING TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, I SWERVED BETWEEN THE CAR, HIT MY LEG ON THE BUMPER AND LAID THE BIKE DOWN. I HAD THE BIKE TOWED TO HOUSTON MOTORSPORTS AS THE BIKE IS UNDER WARRANTY. HOUSTON MOTORSPORTS IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE WARRANTY ON THE BIKE FOR DEFECTIVE BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10547180
Incident
Oct 3, 2013
Mileage
1,500 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 19, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KAWASAKI NINJA 300 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,050. *TR

NHTSA ID
10536049
Incident
Aug 16, 2013
Mileage
2,050 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 9, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KAWASAKI NINJA 300 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO DOWN SHIFT BUT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10534559
Incident
Jul 18, 2013
Mileage
20 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 30, 2013

THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES IN TRAFFIC, WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS ENGAGED. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE BUT THE ENGINE ALWAYS RESTARTS IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10532590
Incident
Jul 26, 2013
Mileage
1,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Jul 29, 2013

JUST PURCHASED THE NINJA 300 WITH 2 MILES ON IT, FIRST 2 WEEKS WAS FINE, UNTIL I STARTED TO TAKE IT TO WORK. EVERY TIME I WOULD LEAVE FROM WORK MY MOTORCYCLE WILL STALL AT EVERY STOP LIGHT/SIGN UNTIL I HIT THE FREEWAY (BASICALLY ANY TIME I PULLED IN THE CLUTCH TO SLOW DOWN). AFTER I GET OFF THE FREEWAY THE MOTORCYCLE SEEMS TO BE FINE. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE I HAD TO DO THE FIRST SERVICE, THIS IS MY FIRST BIKE SO I DID NOT KNOW BETTER, WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR THE BREAK IN SERVICE I LET THEM KNOW OF THE PROBLEM, THEY TOLD ME THE RPM'S MIGHT JUST BE A LITTLE LOW AND THEY WOULD RAISE IDLE. I GOT IT BACK TOOK IT TO WORK AND THE PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. ONLY SEEMS TO HAPPEN IN THE AFTERNOON WHEN THE SUN IS OUT, IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME IN THE MORNINGS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10532447
Incident
Jul 13, 2013
Mileage
300 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jul 29, 2013

WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM ALMOST ANY SPEED , AS YOU DOWN SHIFT THE GEARS THE BIKE WILL DIE COMPLETELY, THUS FORCING ME TO STOP AND RESTART THE BIKE, EVEN IN HIGHWAY OCCURRENCES . STEERING BEARINGS ARE FAULTY AFTER ONLY 100 MILES AND ALMOST THROUGH ME OFF THE BIKE IN MULTIPLE TURNS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10532373
Incident
Apr 10, 2013
Mileage
50 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

99931-1533-04

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Assembly and Preparation Motorcycle Manual

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 Ninja 300 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2015100—
2014200—
2013Viewing421142.1

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.