RoadVitals

2012 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.
2
Latest Oct 23, 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 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2012 Kawasaki Ninja Zx-6R, most frequently naming the driver assistance, 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

  • Driver assistance133.3%
  • Electrical133.3%
  • Engine133.3%

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

Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Oct 23, 2015

COMING TO A STOP LIGHT I NOTICED THAT MY GAUGE CLUSTER WASN'T WORKING (COMPLETELY BLANK), AS I CAME TO A STOP I HONKED MY HORN TO GAUGE IT'S POWER AND THEN MY BIKE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. TRIED JUMPING THE BIKE WHICH WAS SUCCESSFUL IN GETTING IT TO RUN AGAIN, BUT DIED SHORTLY AFTER. WENT TO THE STORE AND PICKED UP A NEW BATTERY AND MADE IT BACK HOME FROM WORK (ABOUT 15 MI) BEFORE IT DIED ON ME AS I PULLED INTO MY PARKING SPOT. I AM UNDER THE ASSUMPTION THAT IT IS AS THE OTHER COMPLAINT SAYS AND THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STATOR OR THE REGULATOR. THERE IS SOME SORT OF PROBLEM WITH KEEPING MY BIKE RUNNING WITHOUT DRAINING THE NEW BATTERY.

NHTSA ID
10785508
Incident
Oct 22, 2015
Mileage
5,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 27, 2015

THE REGULATOR/RECTIFIER FAILED, CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE TO STALL WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP (FORTUNATELY NOT WHILE MOVING) LOOKED UP VIN AND CONFIRMED WITH KAWASAKI THAT THIS MOTORCYCLE IS SUPPOSEDLY NOT ONE OF THE EFFECTED BIKES BUT AM FAIRLY CONVINCED THAT ONE OF THE FAULT PARTS WAS USED FOR THIS BIKE TOO. A NEW BIKE WITH LESS THAN 9000 MILES SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS PROBLEM! ODDLY SUSPICIOUS THAT THE PART THAT FAILED IS THE PART THAT IS UNDER RECALL FOR OTHER BIKES OF THE SAME MODEL MANUFACTURED THE SAME YEAR. BELIEVING THAT RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO ALL BIKES MADE THAT CALENDAR YEAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10713239
Incident
Apr 26, 2015
Mileage
8,300 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—
2012Viewing210—
2011110—
2010010—
2009510—

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.