RoadVitals

2020 Zero Sr/F

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 May 8, 2024
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.
2
Latest Oct 13, 2021
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 2020 Zero Sr/F, most frequently naming the electrical and fuel system categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 15 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

  • Electrical150.0%
  • Fuel system150.0%

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

2 campaigns 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
21V795000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

Oct 13, 2021
411 units potentially affected
The defect: Zero Motorcycles Inc. (Zero) is recalling certain 2020 SR/F motorcycles. The rear rotor bolts were insufficiently tightened.
The risk: The loose bolts may damage the caliper or swingarm, reducing rear braking capability and increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will correctly tighten and replace the rear rotor bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 1, 2021. Owners may contact Zero customer service at 1-888-841-8085. Zero's number for this recall is SV-ZMC-020-417.
Zero Motorcycles Inc.Manufacturer number SV-ZMC-020-417View on NHTSA.gov
20V704000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

Nov 13, 2020
659 units potentially affected
The defect: Zero Motorcycles Inc. (Zero) is recalling certain 2020 SR/F and SR/S motorcycles. The front brake switch can fail from water getting into the switch.
The risk: An inoperable front brake switch will not illuminate the brake light when the rider applies the front brakes. Following vehicles may not realize the motorcycle is braking. Cruise control will not shut off with the application of the front brakes. Both conditions increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Zero will notify owners, and dealers will the replace the front brake switch, free of charge. The recall began November 30, 2020. Owners may contact Zero customer service at 1-888-841-8085. Zero's number for this recall is SV-ZMC-021-020.
Zero Motorcycles Inc.Manufacturer number SV-ZMC-021-020View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

ElectricalFuel system
Filed May 8, 2024

My 2020 Zero SR/F is BEV motorcycle. I purchased it new in July 2020 and by February 2023 the total range on a full battery charge was approximately 25% of the original specifications. Where I would get between 100 and 160 miles on a full charge depending on speed in 2020, in February 2023 I was consistently getting 30 miles on a full charge at 55mph. The motorcycle was also recharging on level 1 charging at 11A from 10% to 100% in less than an hour, which should not be possible normally using a 5-15 household outlet to charge the 14.4kWh battery. The manufacturer warrantied battery capacity to be ≥ 80% of original capacity for 5 years/200,000miles. The manufacturer replaced the original 14.4kWh battery pack in October 2023 with ~2200 miles on the odometer with a new chemistry battery pack. This followed range tests by two authorized dealers and an engineer from the manufacturer. The safety risk was being stranded by the motorcycle because the battery pack was failing prematurely. I have had no range/capacity issues with the replacement battery pack that has a different capacity than the original battery pack.

NHTSA ID
11587697
Incident
Feb 3, 2023

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

Cypher III OTA Firmware

ENGINE; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

CYPHER III OTA FIRMWARE RELEASE Coming Soon The latest firmware release (MBB V45, BMU V21, BMS V27) for 2020+ Cypher III motorcycles will be available Over The Air to customers on June 17. This release includes: Bug fixes Security improvements General system stability enhancements While customers may simply see an update notification, dealers should be aware that this release marks an important transition toward the Tuner diagnostic tool. For motorcycles running the latest Cypher III firmware, Tuner will become the primary tool for many service and maintenance functions moving forward. If your dealership hasn't explored Tuner yet, now is the perfect time to get started.

ZMDN-052026

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

New diagnostic tool Tuner is available for 2017 and newer model.s On May 15th, a new firmware will be released for our FST / Cypher III models, primarily focused on improving cybersecurity.

ZMDN-022026

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Dealer notification announcing new firmware for certain models of Zero Motorcycles.

Dealer News 102925

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Dealer notification of release of new firmware for specific motorcycles.

Firmware Release

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

Dealer notification of new firmware for motorcycle models.

New Firmware 5-2

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; POWER TRAIN

Today, May 2, 2023, Zero Motorcycles has released a new firmware version for all motorcycles utilizing the Cypher III operating system.

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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Zero Sr/F by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026000—
2025000—
2024000—
2023000—
2022020—
2021000—
2020Viewing120—

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.