2004 Kawasaki Ninja Zx-10R 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 2004 Kawasaki Ninja Zx-10R, 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
- Body & structure360.0%
- Steering120.0%
- Transmission120.0%
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
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KAWASAKI NINJA ZX10R MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A VERY HEAVY VIBRATION IN THE HANDLE BARS. THE CONTACT LATER NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE MOTORCYCLE TO A DEALER FOR EVALUATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KAWASAKI NINJA ZX-10R MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE FRAME DEVELOPED A CRACK ALONG THE WELDS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000.
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
CONSUMER WAS OPERATING SUBJECT MOTORCYCLE ON AUGUST 28, 2004, LOST CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE, HIT A CURB, AND WAS THROWN FROM THE MOTORCYCLE. THE CONSUMER WAS THROWN INTO A TREE AND DIED UPON IMPACT. RECALL NOTIFICATION LETTER (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V-373000) WAS POSTMARKED (CA) 2 DAYS PRIOR TO DATE OF FATALITY INCIDENT; HOWEVER, RECALL NOTIFICATION LETTER WAS NOT DELIVERED TO NEW JERSEY ADDRESS UNTIL AFTER THE INCIDENT HAD OCCURRED. SERGEANT DENNIS GORMAN (NJ POLICE DEPARTMENT) FURNISHED COMPLAINT INFORMATION. FOR FURTHER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT SERGEANT D. GORMAN AT 732-726-2315. *AK *MJJ
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION SHIFTING GEARS. *MR IT WAS HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO THIRD OR SIXTH GEAR. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION THE CONSUMER FOUND IT HARD TO SHIFT TO THE THIRD GEAR AND ALMOST GOT HIT BY A TRACTOR TRAILER BECAUSE HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT IMMEDIATELY. THIS WAS ONE OF SEVERAL INCIDENTS. (KAWASAKI ZX-10R NINJA) *SC CONSUMER SOLD MOTORCYCLE DUE TO THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED. *MJJ *JB
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 .