RoadVitals

2016 Kawasaki Ninja Zx-10R

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.
3
Latest Jun 28, 2023
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 Feb 23, 2016
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.
0
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2016 Kawasaki Ninja Zx-10R, most frequently naming the powertrain (other) category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year.

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

  • Powertrain (other)3100.0%

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

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
16V102000

STEERING

Feb 23, 2016
544 units potentially affected
The defect: Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (Kawasaki) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ninja ZX-10R and Ninja ZX-10R ABS motorcycles, models ZX1000RGFAL, ZX1000RGFL, ZX1000SGFAL and ZX1000SGFL, manufactured October 28, 2015, to January 18, 2016. In the affected motorcycles, the steering damper bracket mounting bolts may break due to being over tightened.
The risk: If the steering damper bracket mounting bolts break, the steering damper bracket would detach and could interfere with steering the motorcycle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Kawasaki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering damper bracket mounting bolts, free of charge. The recall began February 29, 2016. Owners may contact KMC customer service at 1-866-802-9381. Kawasaki's number for this recall is MC16-03.
Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.Manufacturer number MC16-03View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 28, 2023

2016 Kawasaki ZX-10R, broken gear in transmission. Motorcycle is available for inspection. There has already been a safety recall for this very problem. When researching my VIN through Kawasaki, it states that it has been resolved. I am the third owner of this motorcycle. This could have resulted in serious injury or even death. The motorcycle has not been taken for inspection of malfunctioning part, it is not driveable and requires trailering. There was no warning of transmission failure.

NHTSA ID
11529287
Incident
Jun 21, 2023
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 31, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 KAWASAKI NINJA ZX-10R. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 18V089000 (POWER TRAIN); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO XTREME MACHINES (700 NJ-33, MILLSTONE, NJ 08535, (732) 786-9696), BUT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11099066
Incident
Mar 29, 2018
Powertrain (other)
Filed Mar 15, 2018

MY MOTORCYCLE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM WAS UNABLE TO PROPERLY INSTALL THE "RECALL KIT" PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURE. PER THE RECALL, SPECIFIC TRANSMISSION GEARS WERE TO BE REPLACED WITH GEARS FABRICATED USING A STRONGER MATERIAL. THIS RECALL REPAIR PROCESS WAS COMPLETED, AND UPON DELIVERY OF THE REPAIRED VEHICLE AND IMMEDIATE SUBSEQUENT TEST RIDE ON A STRAIGHT LINE CITY STREET BY THE OWNER IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REPAIR WAS FOULED. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO SHIFT PROPERLY LEAVING THE TRANSMISSION "IN BETWEEN" GEARS, RESULTING IN A FALSE NEUTRAL THROUGH GEARS 2, 3, 4, AND 5 (6TH GEAR WAS NOT TESTED). VIDEO OF THE TEST RIDE IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

NHTSA ID
11079494
Incident
Mar 14, 2018

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Kawasaki Ninja Zx-10R by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000—
2025000—
2024000—
2023000—
2022100—
2021000—
2016Viewing310—
2011200—
2010010—
2009020—
2008010—
2004610—

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.