RoadVitals

2009 Kawasaki Ninja Zx-6R

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.
5
Latest Apr 10, 2015
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 17, 2012
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 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Kawasaki Ninja Zx-6R, most frequently naming the electrical and engine categories. 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

  • Electrical350.0%
  • Engine350.0%

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
12V064000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

Feb 17, 2012
20,512 units potentially affected
The defect: KAWASAKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2011 NINJA ZX-10R, AND 2009-2012 NINJA ZX-6R MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 14, 2007 THROUGH JULY 26, 2011. DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ERROR, THE REGULATOR/RECTIFIER MAY INSUFFICIENTLY CHARGE THE BATTERY.
The risk: IF THE BATTERY DISCHARGES, THE MOTORCYCLE MAY STALL WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: KAWASAKI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 24, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 949-770-0400.
KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP., U.S.A.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 10, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KAWASAKI NINJA 250 (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT AFFECTED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V064000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), ALTHOUGH HE WAS EXPERIENCING THE FAILURE LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT OIL SEEPED OUT AROUND THE FRONT SPROCKET, WHICH CONSTANTLY CREATED SLIPPERY DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,900.

NHTSA ID
10704965
Incident
Apr 8, 2015
Mileage
8,900 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 29, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KAWASAKI NINJA ZX-6R MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,500.

NHTSA ID
10617167
Incident
Jul 27, 2014
Mileage
4,500 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 23, 2014

VEHICLE HAD APPLICABLE RECALL RELATED TO VOLTAGE RECTIFIER PERFORMED IN 2012. THERE WAS NO ISSUE OBSERVED WITH VEHICLE UP UNTIL TODAY. VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND GAUGES WOULD DIM SECONDS LATER UNTIL IT DIED COMPLETELY. A FEW WEEKS EARLIER WHILE RIDING ANOTHER RIDER MADE THE OBSERVATION THAT TAIL LIGHTS WERE FLICKERING. NO NOTICEABLE LOSS IN PERFORMANCE WAS NOTED DURING COURSE OF THAT DAY. BIKE HAD NOT BEEN RIDDEN BETWEEN THEN AND NOW. A FEW MEMBERS OF AN ONLINE FORUM ARE ALSO REPORTING SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THEIR VEHICLES MONTHS AFTER HAVING RECALL PERFORMED. ONE IN FACT REPORTED THAT LOCAL DEALER AGAIN REPLACED RECTIFIER AND STATOR AT NO COST TO THEM. I'VE CONTACTED MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO HAS NO REPORTED INCIDENTS OF FAILING "REPLACEMENT" EQUIPMENT AND STATED THAT KAWASAKI WILL NOT HONOR ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT REPLACEMENT. WILL HAVE TO REPLACE MY CURRENT LIFEPO4 BATTERY BECAUSE THE AT REST VOLTAGE HAS FALLEN FAR BELOW THE MINIMUM ALLOWED VOLTAGE AND PERFORM THE RECOMMENDED PERFORMANCE TEST ON THE RECTIFIER AS OUTLINED BY KAWASAKI. *TR

NHTSA ID
10615863
Incident
Jul 23, 2014
Mileage
8,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 25, 2014

I WAS HEADED TO WORK. I MADE A RIGHT HAND TURN TOWARD THE INTERSTATE THEN MY DASH WENT BLANK. I TRIED TO GIVE THE BIKE GAS AND IT JUST BOGGED DOWN THEN IN JERKED ME FORWARD THEN IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I TRIED TO CUT THE BIKE ON AND IT WOULD TURN OVER THE STARTER. SO THAT FOLLOWING WEEK I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW BATTERY I PUT IT IN THE BIKE IT FIRED UP QUICKLY BUT I DIDN'T RIDE LONG JUST AROUND THE BLOCK A FEW TIMES. THE NEXT DAY I TRIED TO RIDE AND THE DASH WENT BLANK AGAIN THEN THE BIKE CUT OFF ON ME AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10593930
Incident
May 17, 2014
Mileage
6,890 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 30, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KAWASAKI NINJA ZX-6R. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V064000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR). THE CONTACT STATED THAT APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH AFTER THE REPAIR, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHO DIAGNOSE THAT THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.

NHTSA ID
10473059
Incident
Aug 28, 2012
Mileage
9,000 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Kawasaki Ninja Zx-6R by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026110—
2025232056.2
2024182055.1
2023100—
2022100—
2019100—
2015100—
2014100—
2013800—
2012210—
2011110—
2010010—
2009Viewing510—

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.