RoadVitals

2010 Zero S

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.
1
Latest Aug 25, 2014
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.
1
Latest May 16, 2011
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2010 Zero S, most frequently naming the driver assistance and engine categories. 1 safety recall has 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

  • Driver assistance150.0%
  • Engine150.0%

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

1 campaign cover this model year

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
11V282000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

May 16, 2011
160 units potentially affected
The defect: ZERO MOTORCYCLES IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 ZERO S MOTORCYCLES BUILT FROM SEPTEMBER 2, 2009 THROUGH DECEMBER 22, 2009; MODEL YEAR 2009 ZERO DS MOTORCYCLES BUILT FROM JULY 27, 2009 THROUGH DECEMBER 28, 2009; MODEL YEAR 2010 ZERO S MOTORCYCLES BUILT FROM FEBRUARY 1, 2010 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2011; AND MODEL YEAR 2010 ZERO DS MOTORCYCLES BUILT FROM JANUARY 20, 2010 THROUGH MARCH 31, 2011. THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER BRACKET MAY EXPERIENCE PERMANENT DEFORMATION WHEN SUBJECTED TO HIGH BRAKING LOADS. THIS CONDITION COULD INDUCE MISALIGNMENT OF THE FRONT BRAKE PADS WITH RESPECT TO THE FRONT BRAKE ROTOR.
The risk: MISALIGNMENT OF THE BRAKE PADS IN RELATION TO THE ROTOR MAY CAUSE REDUCED FRONT BRAKING PERFORMANCE, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A POSSIBLE CRASH AND POTENTIAL INJURY OR DEATH OF THE RIDER.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER BRACKET WITH A RE-DESIGNED COMPONENT, AND REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE PADS IN CASE THE EXISTING PADS EXPERIENCED ABNORMAL WEAR. THE FRONT BRAKE FLUID WILL ALSO BE INSPECTED AND, IF SIGNS OF OVERHEATING ARE NOTED, IT WILL BE REPLACED AND THE SYSTEM WILL BE FLUSHED. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 31, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ZERO MOTORCYCLES AT 1-888-786-9376 EXT 45.
ZERO MOTORCYCLES INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Aug 25, 2014

TWO COMPONENTS OF THIS MOTORCYCLE, THE DRIVE MOTOR AND THE THROTTLE CONTROL ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING. BOTH HAVE FAILED TWICE ON MY MOTORCYCLE, THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 1800 MILES ON IT TODAY. MOTOR FAILURES WERE WHILE TRAVELING ON THE ROAD AND CAUSED AN INSTANT AND IRRECOVERABLE LOSS OF POWER. LUCKILY, IN BOTH CASES IT WAS IN A 30 OR 35 MPH SPEED ZONE WITHOUT MUCH TRAFFIC, SO I COULD SAFELY RETIRE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AT HIGHER SPEEDS AND WITH MORE TRAFFIC, THIS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN AS EASY TO ACCOMPLISH. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, THE MANUFACTURER REPAIRED THE MOTOR, SAYING THAT THE BRUSHES HAD FAILED. THEY TOLD ME THAT UPGRADED MOTOR BRUSHES HAD BEEN PUT INTO THE REBUILT MOTOR. THESE NEW BRUSHES LASTED PERHAPS ANOTHER 1000 MILES OF TRAVEL BEFORE THE SAME TYPE OF FAILURE OCCURRED. THROTTLE CONTROL, IN BOTH CASES, SEEM TO HAVE FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT REST, SO I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE POTENTIAL IS FOR THIS TO OCCUR WHILE IN MOTION. THE THROTTLE CONTROLS, UPON TURNING ON THE ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLE, DID NOT RESPOND TO INPUT, I.E. THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD NOT MOVE. THE FIRST TIME, THE MANUFACTURER REPLACED THE THROTTLE CONTROL. THE SECOND OCCURRENCE WAS YESTERDAY, SO I DON'T KNOW HOW IT WILL BE RESOLVED. THIS LAST OCCURRENCE IS WHAT FINALLY PROMPTED ME TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT ABOUT THE REAL RISK OF SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND THE POSSIBLE CONSEQUENCES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10628246
Incident
Nov 15, 2010
Mileage
200 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Zero S by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026100—
2025000—
2024000—
2023000—
2021010—
2020000—
2019000—
2018110—
2017020—
2016000—
2015010—
2014010—
2013110—
2012100—
2011120—
2010Viewing110—
2009010—

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.