2018 Kawasaki Ninja

Do not drive

Owners filed 2 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train1
000
Engine1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Electrical System › Software20V676000Do not drive
Filed Nov 2, 2020799 vehiclesKawasaki Motors Corp., U.s.a.

Defect. Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (KMC) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Ninja H2 SX, Ninja H2 SXSE, and 2019-2020 Ninja H2 SXSE+ motorcycles. In the event of a gear misengagement the engine electronic control unit (ECU) programming doesn't have the capability to suppress high RPM during transmission. If the transmission gears are not properly engaged while shifting into 4th or 5th gear, high engine RPM can cause the output gears of 4th or 5th to fracture when the gears re-engage.

Risk. Damaged gears and the inability to shift can cause the engine to lock up, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. KMC will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the FI-ECU software, free of charge. Owners are advised to not ride their motorcycle until the repair has been completed. The recall began November 16, 2020. Owners may contact KMC customer service at 1-866-802-9381. KMC's number for this recall is MC20-10.

Structure › Motorcycle › Kickstand/Center Stand18V580000
Filed Aug 30, 2018390 vehiclesKawasaki Motors Corp., U.s.a.

Defect. Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (Kawasaki) is recalling certain 2018 Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE (ZXT02BJ) motorcycles. The pin for the center stand spring may have been improperly welded, and, as a result, the pin may shift or fall off resulting in the spring detaching and the center stand dropping to the ground unexpectedly and dragging while riding.

Risk. The dragging center stand can cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Kawasaki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left center stand bracket, free of charge. Owners may contact Kawasaki customer service at 1-866-802-9381. Kawasaki's number for this recall is MC18-05.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine
Filed Jun 4, 20183 milesMI

ISSUES SHIFTING... IM SUSPECTING ITS THE BRAKE IN OIL CAUSING THIS BECAUSE AT LEAST 15 TIMES UP UNTIL MY FIRST OIL CHANGE YOU WOULD BE SHIFTING GEARS AND THE GEAR WOULDN'T FULLY ENGAGE UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING THE BIKE TO RAPIDLY SLOW DOWN WITH CARS BEHIND ME HAVING TO SLAM ON BRAKES. AND ALSO AT LEAST ONCE A DAY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DOWN SHIFT THE SHIFTIER WILL FEEL SOLID AS A ROCK LIKE ITS IN FIRST GEAR AND THEN YOU'LL TRY AGAIN AND THEN IS GOES INTO GEAR FINE. ALSO ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHEN TRYING TO START BIKE ILL TURN IGNITION ON, THEN HALF CLICK SHIFTIER UP TO GET IT IN NEUTRAL AND WITH THE SHIFT INDICATOR SAYING ITS IN NEUTRAL I'LL HIT THE START BUTTON AND THE BIKE WILL RIDE THE STARTER CAUSING THE BIKE TO LEAP FORWARD LIKE ITS STILL IN GEAR. IVE CONTACTED KAWASAKI AND WAS TIOLD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER, I TOLD THEM THAT IVE ALREADY DONE THAT AND WAS TOLD THEY DIDN'T FIND AN ISSUE AND AHVENT HEARD A RESPONSE FROM KAWASAKI SINCE

Power Train
Filed May 16, 20184 milesMI

ON MY WAY HOME FROM THE DEALER IT POPPED OUT OF GEAR AND ACTED LIKE IT MISSED A GEAR TWICE. HAVE HAD IT ABOUT 20 DAYS NOW AND ITS MISSED OUT POPPED OUT OF GEAR AT LEAST 20 OR 25 TIMES NOW. THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING ON A NEW BIKE

2 of 2 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2000
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20211000Routine
20200100Do not drive
20191100Do not drive
2018 — this page2200Do not drive
20141000Routine
20051000Routine
20047000Routine
20035100Routine
20023100Routine
20017100Routine
20008300Routine
19992100Routine
19982000Routine
19962000Routine
19950200Routine

Compare every Ninja year →

Reading this record

NHTSA has issued a do-not-drive warning for a recall on this vehicle.

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: Nov 2, 2020. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.