2013 Kawasaki EX300

The defect

Kawasaki Motors Corp. is recalling certain model year 2013 EX300BDFAL motorcycles manufactured August 16, 2012, through April 2, 2013. Due to a manufacturing error, the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) may malfunction and lose anti-lock functionality.

The risk

The anti-lock function may not perform properly allowing for wheel lock up and skidding, increasing the risk of a crash.

The remedy

Kawasaki will notify owners and dealers will replace the affected ABS pumps with a new assembly. The recall began on August 5, 2013. Owners may contact Kawasaki at 1-866-802-9381.

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. · up to 1,083 vehicles across all model years covered

Closed preliminary evaluation · opened June 20, 2013 · closed September 20, 2013 · led to recall 13V328000

the fuel system

ODI opened this PE with eighteen (18) allegations of stalling while riding a subject motorcycle.During the course of gathering information about this subject, Kawasaki decided to address the stalling issue.Kawasaki has informed ODI they intend to remedy approximately 11,097 2013 Model Year Ninja 300 and 300 ABS motorcycles by replacing the Engine Control Unit.Kawasaki's recall (13V-328) resolves the issue raised by this investigation and therefore this investigation is closed.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following 56 complaint identification numbers:10498192,10498532,10503493,10503834,10505012,10505031,10505117, 10505548,10505580,10509113,10509756,10510493,10510706,10512296, 10512579,10513051,10513978,10515717,10519423,10521588,10521827, 10521883,10521889,10521959,10521981,10522157,10522286,10522328, 10522426,10522861,10522984,10522991,10523178,10523506,10524022, 10524290,10525055,10525055,10525289,10525289,10525910,10525910, 10531686,10531686,10532034,10532034,10532226,10532226,10532373, 10532373,10532447,10532447,10532590,10532590,10534559,10536049

crash · 44 miles

I WAS GOING THROUGH A SLIGHT CURVE, NOT A BIG ONE JUST A NORMAL CURVE GOING ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR WHEN I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN THE BIKE SORT OF STALLED SO I WENT STRAIGHT INTO THE CURB INTO WHERE I HIT A TREE. THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE THAT SAW E INCIDENT AND FOUND IT VERY STRANGE AS WELL AS I DID. I HAVE ENOUGH EXPERIENCE INTO WHICH I KNOW IT WASN'T MY FAULT I LOST CONTROL OF THE BIKE. GOING 20 MILES PER HOUR WITH NOTHING THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS PRETTY STRANGE. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10521599. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

800 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KAWASAKI NINJA EX300ADFL MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND DECELERATING TO 35 MPH, THE HANDLE BARS WOULD SHAKE EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER BUT NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800.

NHTSA complaint 10553928. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

235 miles

PULLING IN THE CLUTCH CAUSES THE RPMS TO DROP BELOW 1000 RPM CAUSING THE ENGINE TO DIE OR STALL. THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. IT CAN OCCUR SEVERAL TIMES IN A ROW OR IT CAN BE SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE IT HAPPENS AGAIN. I'VE TRIED TO INCREASE IDLE SPEED TO 2000 RPM, MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDS 1300, WHICH DID NOT HELP. I WOULD ESTIMATE IT HAS OCCURRED 50+ TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE NEW ON JUNE 28, 2013. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10533126. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

600 miles

PURCHASED MY NINJA 300 3/25/13. SIGNS OF FIRST WOBBLE DUE TO POOR HEAD BEARING WAS ON 4/10/13. THAT'S ONLY 15 CALENDAR DAYS! MY NINJA 300 WOBBLES FROM DECEL FROM 50MPH TO 35MPH. THE WOBBLE IS SO BAD, I CAN'T REALLY RIDE THE BIKE ANYMORE UNTIL I GET IT REPLACED, AND KAWASAKI WON'T HONOR A HEAD BEARING REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY. THEY WOULD SIMPLY REPLACE IT WITH THE SAME STOCK POOR QUALITY PART RESULTING IN ANOTHER HEAD BEARING FAILURE AFTER 600-1000 MILES. THIS ISSUE HAS BECOME VERY FRUSTRATING TO ME BECAUSE I NOW HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR A PART ON A BRAND NEW BIKE STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, AND FOR THE CUSTOMERS PAYING OUT OF POCKET, NEED TO BE REFUNDED …

NHTSA complaint 10524834, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

12 miles

I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW NINJA300 FOR MY WIFE, WITH NO PROBLEMS RIDING IT HOME. THE NEXT TIME OUT, WHICH WAS A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER. I WARMED UP THE BIKE AS I USUALLY DO. RODE JUST DOWN THE STREET, WHILE IN 4TH GEAR I PULLED IN THE CLUTCH TO DOWN SHIFT AND THE BIKE JUST DIED. DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT, BUT IT HAPPENED AGAIN THE NEXT DAY, SO I INCREASED THE ENGINE IDLE A BIT THINKING THIS WOULD HELP. THE ISSUE WAS NOT RESOLVED. SO I DID SOME READING ON FORUMS AND FOUND THIS IS COMMON. SO AGAIN DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT AND DEFINITELY HADN'T EVEN THOUGHT OF THIS AS A SAFETY CONCERN BUT AFTER REALIZING HOW THIS MAY BE A POTENTIAL DISASTER, I'M HESITANT TO LET MY WIFE RIDE IT KNOWING SHE MAY BE AT RISK …

NHTSA complaint 10524290, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

1,000 miles

AFTER PARKING MY MOTORCYCLE IN THE SUN FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS I RETURNED AND STARTED IT UP. EVERYTHING APPEARED NORMAL. I ACCELERATED TO ABOUT 15 MPH AND THEN AS I PREPARED TO COME TO A STOP I STARTED BRAKING AND PULLED IN THE CLUTCH. THE ENGINE RPM'S DROPPED LOWER THAN THE IDLE SPEED AND THE ENGINE STALLED AS THE BIKE WAS STILL MOVING. I COASTED TO A STOP. I PLACED THE BIKE IN NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED THE MOTOR. IT STARTED UP FINE AND I CONTINUED ON TO AN INTERSECTION WHERE I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A U-TURN. THERE THE BIKE STALLED ON ME AGAIN WHILE IN THE MIDDLE OF MAKING THE U-TURN AS SOON AS I PULLED THE CLUTCH IN. I BARELY ESCAPED BEING REAR ENDED BY A SUV THAT WAS ALSO MAKING THE U-TURN AND THAT …

NHTSA complaint 10524022, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

600 miles

WHEN COMING TO A STOP WITH CLUTCH DISENGAGED ENGINE STALLED AND HAD TO BE RESTARTED. LUCKILY NO TRAFFIC WAS BEHIND ME OR I MIGHT HAVE HIT FROM BEHIND. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10522426. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.