RoadVitals

2008 Zap Xebra

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.
44
Latest Feb 21, 2016
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.
4
Latest Jul 27, 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.
4
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 44 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Zap Xebra, most frequently naming the brakes, body & structure and electrical categories. 4 safety recalls have 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

  • Brakes3986.7%
  • Body & structure24.4%
  • Electrical24.4%
  • Fuel system12.2%
  • Powertrain (other)12.2%

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

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

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
12V363000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

Jul 27, 2012
691 units potentially affected
The defect: QingQi Group Motorcycle Co. Ltd., through its designated agent ZAP, is recalling all model year 2008 ZAP Xebra motorcycles manufactured from January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2008. These motorcycles do not conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 122, "Motorcycle Brake Systems." The motorcycles were produced without a separate brake fluid reservoir for each brake circuit, with each reservoir filler opening having its own cover, seal, and cover retention device.
The risk: Without a separate reservoir for each brake, having its own cover, seal, and cover retention device, fluid for one brake circuit may move to the other. If this happens, both reservoirs could lose fluid as a result of a fluid leak in one brake circuit and compromise the stopping ability of the braking system, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: ZAP will notify owners and ZAP will install or send each owner a remedy kit to bring the vehicles into compliance. ZAP has not provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact ZAP Customer Service at 1-800-251-4555.
QINGQI GROUP MOTORCYCLE CO., LTDView on NHTSA.gov
12V230000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

May 21, 2012
627 units potentially affected
The defect: QINGQI GROUP MOTORCYCLE CO, LTD, THROUGH ITS DESIGNATED AGENT, ZAP USA, IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 ZAP XEBRA ALL ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 1, 2008, THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2008. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE BRAKING DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 122, "MOTORCYCLE BRAKE SYSTEMS."
The risk: THESE VEHICLES TAKE LONGER DISTANCES TO STOP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: ZAP, THE DESIGNATED AGENT OF QINGQI GROUP MOTORCYCLE CO, LTD, WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND ZAP DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 8, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ZAP AT 1-707-525-8658.
QINGQI GROUP MOTORCYCLE CO., LTDView on NHTSA.gov
09V385000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

Oct 2, 2009
738 units potentially affected
The defect: QINGQI IS RECALLING 738 MY 2008 ZAP XEBRA MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY AND DECEMBER 2008. THESE MOTORCYCLES DO NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 122, "MOTORCYCLE BRAKE SYSTEMS." THEY DO NOT HAVE A SEPARATE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR FOR THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES.
The risk: WITHOUT A SEPARATE RESERVOIR FOR EACH BRAKE, HAVING ITS OWN COVER, SEAL, AND COVER RETENTION DEVICE, FLUID FOR ONE BRAKE CIRCUIT MAY MOVE TO THE OTHER. IF THIS HAPPENS, BOTH RESERVOIRS COULD LOOSE FLUID AS A RESULT OF A FLUID LEAK IN ONE BRAKE CIRCUIT AND COMPROMISE THE STOPPING ABILITY OF BOTH BRAKES.
The remedy: ZAP WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR OR REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 29, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ZAP TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-251-4555.
QINGQI GROUP MOTORCYCLE CO., LTDView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 44
Brakes
Filed Feb 21, 2016

HELLO, I'M WRITING ABOUT THE COURT DECREE ON 7/16/13 SIGNED MY JUDGE ROSEMARY COLLYER. ZAP IS SUPPOSED TO REPORT TO NHTSA REGULARLY ABOUT THE STATUS OF THE REFUND AND DISPOSITION OF EACH RECALLED VEHICLE FOR THREE YEARS. SOMEBODY FORM ZAP WORLD CONTACTED ME ABOUT A YEAR AGO. I STILL HAVE THE VEHICLE......HOW CAN YOU HELP. TY.

NHTSA ID
10837385
Incident
Feb 4, 2016
Brakes
Filed Apr 11, 2014

THIS VEHICLE IS ALREADY RECALLED, MY VEHICLE SUFFERED A COMPLETE LOSS OR BRAKE SYSTEMS AND FORTUNATELY WAS ABLE TO BE STEERED TO AN UPHILL AREA BEFORE HITTING A SMALL RETAINING WALL. ZAP PROVIDED DOT RECALL NOTICE FOR BRAKE FAILURES TO STOP, AND RULES FOR RECALL. I HAVE FOLLOWED THESE RULES WHICH WERE DRAWN OUT FROM LATE 2012 UNTIL DECEMBER 2013. IN DECEMBER 2013 ZAP INFORMED ME I WOULD BE PAID FOR THE VEHICLE AND IT WOULD BE PICKED UP AND REMOVED IN Q1. THE VEHICLE IS STILL SITTING AT MY HOME IN OHIO. NO ONE FROM ZAP IS RESPONSIVE. WHAT ACTION SHOULD I BE TAKING? *JS

NHTSA ID
10579086
Incident
Jul 11, 2012
Mileage
1,905 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 17, 2014

AS WITH OTHERS THAT HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS, I WAS NOTIFIED BY ZAP THAT MY VEHICLE WAS ELIGIBLE FOR A RECALL DUE TO INCURABLE FAULTS IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I FILED ALL THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK AND RECEIVED A LETTER THAT I QUALIFIED FOR THE BUY BACK PROGRAM. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE AND MAKE PAYMENT BY 12/31 THEN 1/31. I RECEIVED THE SAME CURT AND UNINFORMATIVE RESPONSE THAT OTHERS RECEIVED AND NOTHING SINCE. I CONTACTED NHTSA, WHO DIRECTED ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE FTC. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE FTC, WHO DIRECTED ME TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB. ZAP DID NOT RESPOND TO THE COMPLAINT WITHIN THE DESIGNATED TIME FRAME, SO THEY WILL RECEIVE A NEGATIVE MARK ON THEIR BBB RATING. NO OTHER CURE HAS BEEN OFFERED TO ME. WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO FILE A CLASS ACTION SUIT? IS THAT OUR ONLY RECOURSE? PLEASE ADVISE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10573013
Incident
Dec 31, 2013
Brakes
Filed Mar 11, 2014

I AGREE WITH OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINTS. WE WERE TOLD THAT WE WERE ELIGIBLE FOR THE RECALL, BUT HAVE HEARD NOTHING TOO. YET, I STILL HAVE THE TRUCK THAT CAN'T BE DRIVEN AND HAVE TO HAVE IT STORED. PLEASE HELP!!! THIS IS NOT RIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10568538
Incident
Aug 8, 2013
Filed Mar 9, 2014

ZAP IS UNDER ORDER TO REPURCHASE THESE VEHICLES FOR THE PALTRY SUM OF $3100.00. THIS WAS TO HAVE BEEN COMPLETED BY 12/31/2013, EXTENDED TO 1/31/2014. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING OFFICIAL FORM THE COMPANY, HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED REGARDING PAYMENT AND/OR TO ARRANGE FOR PICK UP OF SAID VEHICLE. THE LAST COMMUNICATION OF ANY KIND I HAVE HAD WAS FROM [email protected] ON 2/27/2014, WHICH SAID: "NEGOTIATIONS WITH NHTSA HAVE ENDED. THEY ARE WAITING FOR A RESPONSE. SHOULD KNOW BY NEXT WEEK. WILL ADVISE." *TR

NHTSA ID
10568046
Incident
Jan 31, 2014
Brakes
Filed Mar 8, 2014

I WAS NOTIFIED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN RECALLED FOR A BRAKE ISSUE. I WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY ZAP THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I DID MAKE A REQUEST TO THEM VIA CERTIFIED MAIL IN 2013 BUT, HAVE YET TO RECEIVE ANYTHING FROM THEM. WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THIS RECALL? WHAT DO I DO WITH A VEHICLE THAT CAN NOT BE INSURED AND THEREFORE NOT REGISTERED? THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10567985
Incident
Dec 31, 2012
Brakes
Filed Mar 4, 2014

AS WITH EVERYONE ELSE HERE. I HAVEN'T RECEIVED ANY MONEY OR RESPONSE FROM ZAP JONWAY. I CALLED THE NHTSA TO SEE WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY. THE LADY TOLD ME THAT IT LOOKS LIKE THE COMPANY IS NO LONGER IN BUSINESS AND I SHOULD CALL THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION (877-382-4357). I'VE DONE THAT AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THEM. THEY TOLD ME THAT I SHOULD ALSO CALL MY STATES ATTORNEY GENERALS OFFICE. I SUGGEST OTHER ZAP OWNERS DO THE SAME. STUCK WITH A CAR I CAN'T DRIVE OR SELL. IT'S A REAL SHAME HOW THEY HAVE TREATED THEIR CUSTOMERS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10567042
Incident
Mar 4, 2014
Brakes
Filed Mar 1, 2014

THE ZAP COMPANY HAS NOT PICKED UP VEHICLE THE GOV.'T HAS NO TEETH IN ENFORCING THE BUYBACK WHICH ZAP SAID IT WOULD DO ALMOST A YEAR AGO THEY ARE NOT GOING TO ABIDE BY THE LAW BECAUSE THEY KNOW OUR GOV.'T DOES NOTHING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10566598
Incident
Mar 14, 2012