2008 Kawasaki Versys 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 2008 Kawasaki Versys, 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
- Visibility466.7%
- Electrical116.7%
- Other / unspecified116.7%
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
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
2008 KAWASAKI VERSYS MOTORCYCLE MIRRORS COME LOOSE AND SPIN WHILE UNDERWAY. OCCURS RANDOMLY AFTER RE-ALIGNMENT AND TIGHTENING INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL NUTS. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN WHEN RIDING THIS MOTORCYCLE AND THE MANUFACTURER/DEALER SHOULD REPLACE THE EXISTING MIRRORS WITH ONES THAT DO NOT COME LOOSE. *TR
I HAVE A 2008 KAWASAKI VERSYS AND THE MIRRORS MOVE AROUND,THEY WILL NOT STAY AT A FIXED POINT. I THINK IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE ND WOULD LIKE KAWASAKI TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
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
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KAWASAKI VERSYS (NA) MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT DROPPED THE VEHICLE APPROXIMATELY FIVE TIMES WHILE IT WAS STATIONARY. THE IGNITION MODULE WAS SPINNING AND HE COULD NOT REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE THE DROPPING OF THE BIKE WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. CURRENTLY, THE IGNITION IS STUCK IN THE LOCK POSITION, THE KEY CANNOT BE REMOVED, AND THE LIGHTS WILL NOT ILLUMINATE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 2,200.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KAWASAKI VERSYS MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE TIRE SHOP STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE TECH INTERNATIONAL VALVE STEM AND REPLACED THE TIRE. THERE WERE PREVIOUS TIRE FAILURES ON THE FRONT TIRES ON TWO OCCASIONS ALSO CAUSED BY THE VALVE STEMS. THE CONTACT OBSERVED CRACKS IN THE TIRES PRIOR TO THE FAILURE.
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 .