RoadVitals

2003 Kawasaki Ninja Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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 Sep 5, 2004
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
5
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.
2

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 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

  • Engine342.9%
  • Body & structure114.3%
  • Electrical114.3%
  • Powertrain (other)114.3%
  • Steering114.3%

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

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN OCTOBER 2003. HE WAS WARNED NOT TO RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE BECAUSE THE MUFFLER WOULD FALL OFF. CONSUMER HAD BEEN WAITING MORE THAN 90 DAYS FOR REPLACEMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID 10052056 · filed Dec 29, 2003

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH MUFFLER FELL OFF WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING MOTORCYCLE TO RUN OFF THE ROAD. AS A RESULT, DRIVER WAS UNCONSCIOUS AND SPRAINED HIS ANKLE. A WEEK LATER, A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THE MUFFLER BRACKETS.*AK

NHTSA ID 10046230 · filed Nov 3, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

LEFT HAND SIDE FRONT NOISE ON ZX-636 RR NINJA KAWASAKI, DEVELOPED 4-DIRECTIONAL CRACK ORIGINATING FROM SCREW ( ONE OF THE 6 SCREWS ON FRONT NOSE)!!..VEHICLE IS 2003 YEAR MODEL 636 ZXRR, AND PURCHASED ON JUNE 17TH 2004.. THE VEHICLE HAS UNDER 100 MILES SO FAR,TOTALLY GARAGED. AND NO MISUSE/MISHANDLING WHATSOEVER!!!. SEE THE NATURE OF THE CRACK, A MAJOR ACCIDENT POTENTIAL, ESP FACIAL INJURY TO MOTORCYCLIST EXISTS.. DEALER INFORMED ON PHONE ON SAT SEPT 4TH 2004, WHO ADVISED TO TAKE IT TO THE SERVICE DEPT, WHICH I SHALL DO ASDAP..HOWEVER, WANTED TO PUT THIS MATTER ON RECORDS PLEASE. THANK YOU. *JB

NHTSA ID 10090467 · filed Sep 5, 2004

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, VEHICLE'S SPEED WILL START DECEASING, UNTIL VEHICLE LOSSES ALL POWER. THE DEALERSHIP HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX PROBLEM, BUT IT STILL EXIST. TS RADIATOR OVERFLOWED. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. DEALER COULD NOT FIND A REMEDY. VEHICLE WAS ALSO JUMPING OUT OF 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. MAJOR SERVICE REVEALED ENGINE WAS THROWING OIL. 2 BOLTS WERE TIGHTENED. *TT

NHTSA ID 10004211 · filed Jan 21, 2003

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, VEHICLE'S SPEED WILL START DECEASING, UNTIL VEHICLE LOSSES ALL POWER. THE DEALERSHIP HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX PROBLEM, BUT IT STILL EXIST. TS RADIATOR OVERFLOWED. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. DEALER COULD NOT FIND A REMEDY. VEHICLE WAS ALSO JUMPING OUT OF 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. MAJOR SERVICE REVEALED ENGINE WAS THROWING OIL. 2 BOLTS WERE TIGHTENED. *TT

NHTSA ID 10004211 · filed Jan 21, 2003

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

2003 KAWASKI EX500-D10---I WAS RIDING DOWN THE ROAD AND AS I WAS DOWN SHIFTING THE FRONT WHEEL WENT ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WHEN THE HANDLE BARS BROKE OFF IN MY HANDS, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO TURN AND I RAN INTO THE DITCH AND WAS THROWN FROM THE BIKE AND BROKE MY WRIST. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DEFECTED MOTORCYCLE PART[ THIN HANDLE BARS ] THAT MY BODY WEIGHT COULD MAKE THEM BREAK WE HAVE FROM THE ER TO NIGHT THAT THERE HAS BEEN OTHER ACCIDENTS LIKE MINE CAUSED BY THE NINJA BIKES. THAT IS A DIFFIDENT DESIGN DEFECT. *NLM

NHTSA ID 10018664 · filed May 14, 2003

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

Data on this page last refreshed .