The Recall Desk
SevereNHTSA·20V676000·Announced 2020-11-02

Kawasaki Recalls 2018-2020 Ninja H2 SX Motorcycles Due to Gear Fracture Risk

Kawasaki is recalling 2018-2020 Ninja H2 SX motorcycles because a software defect may cause gear fracture and engine lockup, increasing crash risk.

NHTSA safety advisory

Do not drive this vehicle

NHTSA advises owners to stop driving this vehicle until the recall repair has been completed.

This is the agency’s own advisory, not our assessment. Contact the manufacturer or a dealer, and see the official NHTSA notice for the current guidance.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect (gear fracture) that can cause engine lockup and increase the risk of a crash, meeting the criteria for a Severe rating.

Plain-English summary

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. is recalling certain 2018-2020 Ninja H2 SX, Ninja H2 SXSE, and 2019-2020 Ninja H2 SXSE+ motorcycles. The recall involves 799 vehicles. The defect involves the engine electronic control unit (ECU) programming, which lacks the capability to suppress high RPM during a gear misengagement. If transmission gears are not properly engaged while shifting into 4th or 5th gear, high engine RPM can cause the output gears to fracture when they re-engage.

This defect can result in damaged gears and the inability to shift, which may cause the engine to lock up. This condition increases the risk of a crash. Owners are advised not to ride their motorcycles until the repair has been completed.

Kawasaki will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the FI-ECU software free of charge. The recall began on November 16, 2020. Owners may contact KMC customer service at 1-866-802-9381 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
KAWASAKI ZX1002A, NINJA, ZX1002B, ZX1002D
Brand
KAWASAKI
Manufacturer
Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.
Category
Vehicle — Motorcycle
Hazard
Affected units
799

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (5)

  • ZX1002A
  • NINJA
  • ZX1002B
  • ZX1002D
  • NINJA H2 SX

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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