2002 Kawasaki Ninja 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 2002 Kawasaki Ninja, 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 & structure133.3%
- 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.
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
CONSUMER WAS RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE WHEN THE FRONT FORKS DISENGAGED. *LA THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO BE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT OF THE MECHANISM WHICH SECURED THE FRONT FORKS TO THE VEHICLE. (MODEL ZX900) *SC *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
AFTER RECALL WAS PERFORMED, MOTORCYCLE CONTINUED TO LEAK OIL. *PH THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL HAD BEEN PERFORMED, HOWEVER LESS THAN A MONTH LATER, HE CHECKED THE CONNECTOR AND FOUND OIL IN IT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED, HOWEVER TO THIS DAY, THE CONNECTOR IS STILL LEAKING OIL. THE CONSUMER EVEN TRIED TO USE SILICON SEALANT WHICH WAS ADVISED BY ANOTHER DEALER. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
FOR 4600 MILES OT THE 5500 MILES MY KAWASAKI ZX12R HAS SUCKED SAND THROUGH THE ENGINE. I FIRST LEARNED ABOUT IT WHEN I WENT TO DO SOME UPGRADES TO MY BIKE AT 3475 MILES. I WENT AHEAD AND FINSHED MY UPGRADES AND DID NOT RIDE THE BIKE UNTIL I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY DID A COMPRESSION TEST AND A LEAK DOWN TEST AND DETERMINED FROM THAT THAT THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM AND NO DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. IN ALL MY YEARS OF WORKING ON ENGINES, THE ONLY WAY I COULD TELL IF SAND HAD DONE DAMAGE WAS TO LOOK IN SIDE THE ENGINE. THEY ALSO TOLD ME PER THE KAWASAKI FACTORY REP. THAT MY UPGRADES CAN VOID MY WARRANTY. I ROAD THE BIKE FOR ABOUT 800 MILES TO SEE IF THE UPGRADES HELPED AND NO SAND GOT IN. SO I PUT THE BIKE BACK TO STOCK AS I DID NOT WANT TO LOSE MY WARRANTY AND IT STARTED TO SUCK SAND THROUGHT THE ENGINE AGAIN. ON 11/9/03, I CALLED THE DEALER WHO FIRST LOOKED AT IT AND TOLD THEM IT HAD SUCKED SAND THROUGH THE ENGINE AGAIN, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE REFUSEING TO WORK ON MY BIKE. SO I CALLED KAWASAKI AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALER. I TOLD THEM THE ONLY ONE I TRUSTED, WAS A KAWASAKI DEALER IN RIVERSIDE. BUT EVEN THOUGH I GAVE THEM A LETTER TELLING THEM THE ONLY WORK I WILL ALLOW WAS A NEW TOP END, THEY WENT AHEAD AND ONLY DID ANOTHER COMPRESSION TEST AND LEAK DOWN TEST. THE NEW TOP END WAS DENIED. ALSO THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE BIKE IN TO BE FIXED, I WAS TOLD SAND GOING THROUGH THE ENGINES WOULD NOT AFFECT THEM. IF THIS IS SO, WHY DO THEY TELL YOU IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO NEVER RUN THEM WITH OUT AND AIR FILTER? I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO TRY AND CONTROL A 550+ LB BIKE AT ABOUT 70 TO 75MPH BECAUSE IT LOCKED DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE FILTERS ALLOWING IT TO SUCK SAND INTO THE ENGINE. I HAVE MORE DOCUMENTATION AND PICTURES BUT WILL NEED EMAIL ADDRESS TO SEND THEM TOO. I ALSO KNOW OF SEVERAL OTHERS WHO ALSO HAVE OR HAD THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO LEARNED THAT KAWASAKI KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM WHEN THE FIRST ZX12R'S CAME OUT IN THE YEAR 2000. THANKS FOR YOU HELP. *AK
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 .