The 2008 Zap Xebra has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 2,794 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 51 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC12V3630002012-07-27691 affected
Defect
QingQi Group Motorcycle Co. Ltd., through its designated agent ZAP, is recalling all model year 2008 ZAP Xebra motorcycles manufactured from January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2008. These motorcycles do not conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 122, "Motorcycle Brake Systems." …
Consequence
Without a separate reservoir for each brake, having its own cover, seal, and cover retention device, fluid for one brake circuit may move to the other. If this happens, both reservoirs could lose fluid as a result of a fluid leak in one brake circuit and compromise the stopping ability of the braking system,…
Remedy
ZAP will notify owners and ZAP will install or send each owner a remedy kit to bring the vehicles into compliance. ZAP has not provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact ZAP Customer Service at 1-800-251-4555.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC12V2300002012-05-21627 affected
Defect
QINGQI GROUP MOTORCYCLE CO, LTD, THROUGH ITS DESIGNATED AGENT, ZAP USA, IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 ZAP XEBRA ALL ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 1, 2008, THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2008. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE BRAKING DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD…
Consequence
THESE VEHICLES TAKE LONGER DISTANCES TO STOP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
ZAP, THE DESIGNATED AGENT OF QINGQI GROUP MOTORCYCLE CO, LTD, WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND ZAP DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 8, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ZAP AT 1-707-525-8658.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC09V3850002009-10-02738 affected
Defect
QINGQI IS RECALLING 738 MY 2008 ZAP XEBRA MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY AND DECEMBER 2008. THESE MOTORCYCLES DO NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 122, "MOTORCYCLE BRAKE SYSTEMS." THEY DO NOT HAVE A SEPARATE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR FOR THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES.
Consequence
WITHOUT A SEPARATE RESERVOIR FOR EACH BRAKE, HAVING ITS OWN COVER, SEAL, AND COVER RETENTION DEVICE, FLUID FOR ONE BRAKE CIRCUIT MAY MOVE TO THE OTHER. IF THIS HAPPENS, BOTH RESERVOIRS COULD LOOSE FLUID AS A RESULT OF A FLUID LEAK IN ONE BRAKE CIRCUIT AND COMPROMISE THE STOPPING ABILITY OF BOTH BRAKES.
Remedy
ZAP WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR OR REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 29, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ZAP TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-251-4555.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC09V1770002009-05-26738 affected
Defect
QINGQI IS RECALLING 738 MY 2008 ZAP XEBRA MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY AND DECEMBER 2008. THESE MOTORCYCLES DO NOT CONFORM TO THE STOPPING DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 122, "MOTORCYCLE BRAKE SYSTEMS."
Consequence
THESE MOTORCYCLES REQUIRE LONGER DISTANCES TO STOP THAN THE STANDARD ALLOWS. EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy
QINGQI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND ZAP DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE BRAKE ROTORS, PADS, MASTER CYLINDERS, AND FRONT TIRE IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ZAP TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-251-4555.
Complaints by component
SERVICE BRAKES
33
2crashes
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
6
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2
1fires
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
1
1crashes1injuries
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
1
1crashes1injuries
STRUCTURE:BODY
1
1crashes
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
1
Total complaints51
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Hello, I'm writing about the court decree on 7/16/13 signed my judge rosemary collyer. Zap is supposed to report to nhtsa regularly about the status of the refund and disposition of each recalled vehicle for three years. Somebody form zap world contacted me about a year ago. I still have the…”
“As with everyone else here. I haven't received any money or response from zap jonway. I called the nhtsa to see what they had to say. The lady told me that it looks like the company is no longer in business and I should call the federal trade commission [REDACTED]). I've done that and filed a…”
“This info may be going to the wrong place, but after reading some of the complaints on the '08 zebra, I just now found out that there are recalls that I have not been informed of. "not one". I also am informed that the company has offered a buy back on the vehicle. As the one owner that bought the…”
“The 2008 zap recall was not honored by the zap-jonway company. It was to be picked up by 12/31/2013. That did not happen. I was told via the zap group on yahoo groups that a person in the group was told the recall period had been extended to 01/30/2014. My zap was not picked up. Please notify the…”
“Failure of zap to comply with nhtsa recall order. *tr”
“Zap was supposed to pick up my vehicle and pay me after failure to honor a brake recall. Original pickup was supposed to be by december 31, 2013 but it was my understanding that nhtsa extended this to january 31, 2014. *tr”
“Zap is under order to repurchase these vehicles for the paltry sum of $3100.00. This was to have been completed by 12/31/2013, extended to 1/31/2014. I have heard nothing official form the company, have not been contacted regarding payment and/or to arrange for pick up of said vehicle. The last…”
“Qingqi group motorcycle co., ltd recalled of the 2008 zap xebra vehicle. I completed all the documents required in certified mail during the summer of 2013. On sept 17, I picked up a certified letter dated sept 12, 2013 that said I had completed all the refund request requirements and I was found…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2008 Zap Xebra as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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