The 2001 Kawasaki Ninja has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 9,787 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the power train. Last updated July 5, 2026.
ON CERTAIN 2000 ZX1200-A1/A1-L, 2001 ZX1200-A2/A2-L, AND 2002-2003 ZX1200-B1/B1-L MOTORCYCLES, OIL LEAKING FROM THE ALTERNATOR LEAD ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR CAN BE DEPOSITED ONTO THE REAR TIRE.
Consequence
THIS CAN CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A LOSS OF TRACTION FOR BRAKING OR CORNERING, AND CAN LEAD TO A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL SEAL THE ALTERNATOR LEAD WIRES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN BEGIN DECEMBER 16, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-949-770-0400.
Complaints by component
POWER TRAIN
4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
1
STEERING
1
11injuries
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER
1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1
Total complaints9
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“A hair line crack (laterally) on the right side of the frame of my 2001 kawasaki zx9r. Concerned because of safety issue, possibly can cause frame failure and accident.*ak”
“Oil leaking out of the tail section of my motorcycle (2001 kawasaki zx-12r) corrected by dealer. Continued oil in the electrical connector has caused overheating and melting of the electrical connector. There is a hole burnt through the connector. *ak”
“The motorcycle leaked oil out of the shocks.*jb”
“Left side shifter peg bracket broke while backing motorcycle out of driveway, motorcycle was totaled, dealer has yet to be contacted. Please provide further details.*ak”
“Handlebard would not straiten out, causing me to lay the bike down, damaging the gas tank, handlebars. Noticed the disconnected speedometer cable and scratch evidence of where it snagged the steering fork.”
“The speedometer is inaccurate up to about 10% at 70 mph, consumer states this causes him not to know the actual speed, also the odometer is accruing miles on the motorcycle that are not actually being driven.*jb”
“Consumer states the speedometer is off approximately 10%, this causes consumer not to know the actual speed that is being driven, and the manufacturer is not willing to help.*yh”
“The speedometer is inaccurate up to about 10% at 70 mph, consumer states this causes him not to know the actual speed, also the odometer is accruing miles on the motorcycle that are not actually being driven.*jb”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2001 Kawasaki Ninja as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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