Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Kawasaki Ninja, most frequently naming the fuel system, body & structure and brakes categories. 1 manufacturer communication is on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 2004 | 1 | 1 |
| Nov 2004 | 2 | 3 |
| Dec 2004 | 1 | 4 |
| Mar 2005 | 1 | 5 |
| Aug 2007 | 1 | 6 |
| Mar 2015 | 1 | 7 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
FRAME CRACKING IN THE EXACT SAME SPOT SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE ARE REPORTING SAME CRACK IN FRAME RIGHT SIDE OF FRAME DIRECTLY UNDER FRONT PORTION OF THE FRAME PAD
KAWASAKI MOTORCYCLE RECALL CUSTOMER STATES THAT KAWASKI DOESN'T WANT HIM TO RIDE THE BIKE TO THE DEALERSHIP SO THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE TOW TRUCK CHARGE **CC *TR
ONLY ON LEFT HAND TURNS WOULD THE TROTTLE STICK. ACCELATED VERY FAST. THE DEALER HAS ONLY LOOKED AT IT, AND CAN'T GET IT TO STICK.
ISSUE: A FAILURE OF THE WATER TEMPERATURE SENSOR CAUSES A SURGE IN POWER. DESCRIPTION OF EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE: WAS MOVING A 2004 KAWASAKI NINJA ZX-6RR IN A PARKING LOT, COLD WEATHER (35 DEGREES). AT A CONSTANT SPEED, THE BIKE SURGED IN RPM, CAUSING THE REAR TIRE TO BREAK TRACTION, CRASHING THE BIKE. NO ONE ELSE WAS INVOLVED. AS PER THE DEBUG STEPS IN THE SERVICE MANUAL, THE EFI COMPUTER HELD A SERVICE CODE FOR A WATER TEMPERATURE SENSOR FAILURE IN THE HISTORY (BIKE HAS 1200 MILES ON IT). AS PER THE KAWASAKI FACTORY SERVICE MANUAL, THE DFI SYSTEM TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE, ONE OF THE THREE CAUSES OF A SURGE IS "WATER TEMPERATURE SENSOR TROUBLE". WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE: THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED KAWASAKI, AND DESPITE THE RECORDED DIAGNOSTICS INFORMATION HAS ATTRIBUTED THIS TO "OPERATOR ERROR". KAWASAKI WILL NOT ADDRESS AN ISSUE UNLESS IT IS CURRENTLY HAPPENING. INJURIES WHERE - HEAD HAD ABRASION (HEALED IN 1 WEEK) - KNEECAP NEEDED TO BE STITCHED UP AND IMMOBILIZED FOR 2 WEEKS (STILL HEALING, BUT SEEMS TO BE JUST FINE.) *JB
THE REPLACEMENT WHEELS FOR FRONT WHEEL RECALL 04V373000 HAVE NOT BEEN AVAILABLE FOR 3 MONTHS, AND DEALERSHIP DOESN'T KNOW WHEN THEY WILL BECOME AVAILABLE.*AK
1) NORMAL USE (VEHICLE IS A BOAT TRAILER) LOAD RITE DOUBLE PWC TRAILER 2)A) TAIL LIGHTS FAILED UNDER NORMAL USE WATER CAUSED CORROSION OF CONTACTS FROM NORMAL LAUNCHING AND RETRIEVAL. B) GALVANIZED BRACKET HOLDING STEEL FENDER IN PLACE CRACKED AT BEND, ENSUING VIBRATION BROKE SIDE SAFETY LIGHT. POTENTIAL FOR HIGHWAY LOSS AND DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLES FROM FLYING DEBRIS. C) GALVANIZED BRACKET HOLDING TAIL LIGHT BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF TAILLIGHT. 3) ALL DEFECTS CORRECTED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT THEIR OCCURRENCE IN THE FIRST SEASON OF OWNERSHIP, WITH LOW USAGE AND LOW MILEAGE (UNDER 1200 MILES) GIVES CONCERN TO QUALITY OF REMAINING STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF TRAILER. *JB
LETTER REGARDING A POSSIBLE DEFECT IN THE DIAPHRAGM IN THE FUEL TAP. *PH THE BIKE DID NOT RUN DUE TO TRASH GETTING INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. THE BIKE ALSO STALLED WHEN IT REACHED A SPEED OF 53 MPH. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED THERE WAS NO GAS IN THE FUEL LINE, FUEL FILTER OR THE CARBURETORS. THE CONSUMER FIXED THE PROBLEM BY REMOVING THE DIAPHRAGM AND REPLACING IT WITH A SOLID RUBBER SEAL AND RE-TIGHTENED THE FOUR BOLTS THAT HELD THE FUEL TAP TOGETHER. *JB
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
STRUCTURE
Service Information about a shipping bracket attaching the motorcycle to the crate can cause damage to the motorcycle fuel tank if removed.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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.