2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300 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 2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300, 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
- Engine3752.1%
- Powertrain (other)1419.7%
- Fuel system1216.9%
- Electrical34.2%
- Steering22.8%
- Tires & wheels11.4%
- Driver assistance11.4%
- Brakes11.4%
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
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
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
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES IN TRAFFIC, WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS ENGAGED. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE BUT THE ENGINE ALWAYS RESTARTS IMMEDIATELY. *TR
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
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
I WAS RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE ON A PUBLIC STREET. A VEHICLE WAS APPROACHING ME ON A NARROW ROAD, WHEN I DOWNSHIFTED FROM 6TH GEAR TO 5TH GEAR TO SLOW DOWN, MY MOTORCYCLE'S ENGINE STALLED OUT. I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE NEW FROM THE DEALER WITH ONLY 5 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. SINCE I'VE OWNED THE BIKE (PURCHASED ON 07/17/2013) THE ENGINE HAS STALLED WHEN ENGINE BREAKING OR DOWNSHIFTING SEVERAL TIMES NOW, WITH THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE'S HAPPENING ON 07/25/2013. *TR
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS DRIVING MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND THE ENGINE STARTED MAKING A LOUD BANGING NOISE. IT MADE IT 3 TIMES AND THE ENGINE JUST CUT OFF. I ALMOST GOT INTO A ACCIDENT. ON TOP OF THAT THE RIGHT FENDER ON MY BIKE KEEPS POPPING OUT OF THE SOCKET AND JUST HANGS THERE I CALLED KAWASAKI DEALERSHIP ABOUT IT SEVERAL TIMES.. THIS IS MY FIRST BIKE.. *TR
THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING WITH THE KAWASAKI NINJA 300 SE IS THE STALLING ISSUE THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED. THE ISSUE NEVER HAPPENS IN THE MORNING, IT HAPPENS AFTER I DRIVE THE BIKE THEN IT SITS OUTSIDE. THE TIME BEFORE I RIDE IT AGAIN COULD BE A HALF HOUR, OR 8 HOURS. I START UP THE BIKE AND LET IT WARM UP A COUPLE MINUTES, THEN BEGIN DRIVING. NO PROBLEMS UP TO THIS POINT. I THEN GET NEAR MY FIRST STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT AND EASE OFF THE THROTTLE AND PULL THE CLUTCH IN TO DOWN SHIFT. THE SECOND I PULL THE CLUTCH IN, THE RPM'S DROP AND THE BIKE STALLS OUT. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 TIMES IN THE LAST THREE DAYS I HAVE DRIVEN IT. ONE TIME I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION TRYING TO START MY BIKE, THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM, BUT IT IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE ON THE HTTP://WWW.KAWASAKININJA300.COM/ FORUM. PLEASE SEE HTTP://WWW.KAWASAKININJA300.COM/FORUM/11-NINJA-300-ISSUES-TROUBLESHOOTING/928-NINJA-300-STALL.HTML WHERE THERE ARE OVER 54 PAGES OF COMPLAINTS. *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
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
BAD WOBBLE THRU HANDLE BARS ON DECELERATION FROM ABOUT 100 KMPH. IF YOU LIFT YOUR HANDS OFF THE BARS ABOUT 1 CENTIMETRE THE BIKE SLOWS DOWN & BARS SHAKE VERY BADLY, HAS MAJOR POTENTIAL TO CAUSE CRASH.THE CURE IS TO REPLACE THE STOCK BEARINGS WITH TAPERED ROLLER BEARINGS.HAS AFFECTED EVERY KAWASAKI NINJA 250 SINCE 1996 & THE SAME IN THE 2012 & ABOVE NINJA 300 DUE TO POOR BEARING CHOICE AT FACTORY & SWAME PATS USED ON THE 250 AS WELL AS 300.USUALLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AROUND THE 5000 KILOMETER MARK WITH TAPERED ROLLER BEARINGS AS WOBBLE/SHAKE IS SO BAD. *TR
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF COASTING APPROACHING A STOP SIGN I PULLED THE CLUTCH IN AND THE RPM DROPPED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SHUTOFF. HAD ABOUT HALF A TANK OF GAS PROPERLY MAINTENANCE WITH THE IDLE SET AROUND 1400 RPM. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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 .