2004 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 6 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the structure › body. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Structure › Body2
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Structure › Frame and Members1
000
Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System1
100
Power Train › Manual Transmission1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Wheels04V373000
Filed Jul 22, 20044,995 vehiclesKawasaki Motors Corp., U.s.a.

Defect. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE FRONT WHEEL MAY CONTAIN A CASTING FLAW WHICH COULD RESULT IN A WHEEL FAILURE.

Risk. THIS WHEEL FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT WHEEL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 9, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-866-802-9381.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 13, 201838,000 milesAL

THE FRAME HAS CRACKED AT WHERE THE MOTOR MOUNT IS LOCATED,,I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE AND NEEDS TO BE FIXED ..IT FELL OVER ONE NIGHT ..I DON'T HAVE PHOTOS RIGHT NOW

Structure › Body
Filed Jun 14, 201232,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KAWASAKI NINJA ZX10R MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A VERY HEAVY VIBRATION IN THE HANDLE BARS. THE CONTACT LATER NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS CRACKED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE FAILURE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE MOTORCYCLE TO A DEALER FOR EVALUATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Structure › Body
Filed Jun 11, 201218,000 milesNY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KAWASAKI NINJA ZX-10R MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE FRAME DEVELOPED A CRACK ALONG THE WELDS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Dec 5, 20056,053 milesCA

DT: THE CONTACT NOTICED THE MAIN FRAME AND SWING ARM CRACKED THREE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. AS A RESULT, THE REAR TIRE WAS TILTED TWO DEGREES TO THE LEFT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. *AK UPDATED 1/4/2006 - *NM

Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist SystemCrash1 killed
Filed Sep 14, 2004NJ

CONSUMER WAS OPERATING SUBJECT MOTORCYCLE ON AUGUST 28, 2004, LOST CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE, HIT A CURB, AND WAS THROWN FROM THE MOTORCYCLE. THE CONSUMER WAS THROWN INTO A TREE AND DIED UPON IMPACT. RECALL NOTIFICATION LETTER (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 04V-373000) WAS POSTMARKED (CA) 2 DAYS PRIOR TO DATE OF FATALITY INCIDENT; HOWEVER, RECALL NOTIFICATION LETTER WAS NOT DELIVERED TO NEW JERSEY ADDRESS UNTIL AFTER THE INCIDENT HAD OCCURRED. SERGEANT DENNIS GORMAN (NJ POLICE DEPARTMENT) FURNISHED COMPLAINT INFORMATION. FOR FURTHER ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT SERGEANT D. GORMAN AT 732-726-2315. *AK *MJJ

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Aug 4, 2004PA

PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION SHIFTING GEARS. *MR IT WAS HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO THIRD OR SIXTH GEAR. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION THE CONSUMER FOUND IT HARD TO SHIFT TO THE THIRD GEAR AND ALMOST GOT HIT BY A TRACTOR TRAILER BECAUSE HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT IMMEDIATELY. THIS WAS ONE OF SEVERAL INCIDENTS. (KAWASAKI ZX-10R NINJA) *SC CONSUMER SOLD MOTORCYCLE DUE TO THE PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED. *MJJ *JB

6 of 6 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2004
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20221000Routine
20163100Routine
20112010Routine
20100100Routine
20090200Routine
20080100Routine
2004 — this page6101Fatalities reported

Compare every Ninja ZX-10R year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jul 22, 2004. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.