NHTSA vehicle safety data

2006 Kawasaki KL650A Recalls & Complaints

The 2006 Kawasaki KL650A has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 3 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Kawasaki dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2006 Kawasaki KL650A. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2006 Kawasaki KL650A owner complaints

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Kawasaki KL650A, describing incidents dated April 15, 2008 to July 31, 2009.

Most-cited components

Engine 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint
Suspension 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10279022 · Filed August 1, 2009
2006 KAWASAKI KLR 650 BALANCER TENSIONER SPRING FAILURE. SYMPTOMS LOUD ENGINE NOISE AND POOR ENGINE OPERATION. THE FAILURE WAS CAUGHT IN TIME BEFORE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE COULD TAKE PLACE. I PURCHASED A BALANCER LEVER UPGRADE KIT FROM EAGLE MANUFACTURING OF CALIFORNIA. THE COST OF THIS KIT WAS…
ODI #10246814 · Filed October 27, 2008
PRELOAD ADJUSTER BROKE ON 2006 KLR 650 SECOND TIME I ATTEMPTED TO ADJUST IT WITH LESS THAT 10K MILES ON IT. *TR
ODI #10224617 · Filed April 15, 2008
2006 KLR 650 KAWASAKI MOTORCYCLE BROKEN BALANCER CHAIN LEVER EVEN THOUGH ADJUSTED REGULARLY BY KAWASAKI DEALER. METAL FRAGMENTS IN THE ENGINE CAUSING POTENTIAL DAMAGE. INCURRED SIGNIFICANT REPAIR COSTS TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART AND REPAIR WITH AFTER MARKET REPLACEMENT AS THE KAWASAKI PART IS…

Read all 3 complaints

MUFFLER MOUNTING BOLTS

NHTSA #07V486000 · Engine and Engine Cooling — Exhaust System — Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe · NHTSA notice

Reported October 16, 2007 · KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP., U.S.A.

Potentially affected: 33,693 vehicles

Owners notified October 22, 2007 · Vehicles built June 8, 2001 – July 11, 2007 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, INSUFFICIENT TIGHTENING OF THE MUFFLER MOUNTING BOLTS COULD ALLOW THE BOLTS TO LOOSEN.

Safety consequence

IF THE BOLTS LOOSEN COMPLETELY, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE MUFFLER TO SEPARATE FROM THE MOTORCYCLE AND CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN TWO MUFFLER MOUNTING BOLTS TO THE PROPER TORQUE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 22, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-866-802-9381.

Notes

CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2006 Kawasaki KL650A. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

3 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2006 Kawasaki KL650A.

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10279022

Incident: July 31, 2009 · Filed: August 1, 2009

2006 KAWASAKI KLR 650 BALANCER TENSIONER SPRING FAILURE. SYMPTOMS LOUD ENGINE NOISE AND POOR ENGINE OPERATION. THE FAILURE WAS CAUGHT IN TIME BEFORE CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE COULD TAKE PLACE. I PURCHASED A BALANCER LEVER UPGRADE KIT FROM EAGLE MANUFACTURING OF CALIFORNIA. THE COST OF THIS KIT WAS APPROXIMATELY $140.00. I ALSO PURCHASED A MOTORCYCLE JACK TO ACCOMPLISH THE REPAIR. MY LABOR WAS APPROXIMATELY 4 HOURS, THIS INCLUDED REMOVING THE LEFT SIDE ENGINE COVER FROM THE FLYWHEEL AND STATOR. THEN REMOVING THE INNER FLYWHEEL SIDE COVER TO RETRIEVE THE BROKEN IDLER ADJUSTER SPRING. THE MAIN BODY OF THE SPRING WAS RETRIEVED. THE BROKEN PIECE CIRCULATED THROUGH THE ENGINE, BRAKING OFF SOME OF THE PLASTIC CHAIN TENSIONERS. I RECOVERED A FEW PLASTIC PIECES AND THE MAIN SPRING BODY. THE LEFT SIDE SPRING END WAS BROKEN OFF AND IS SOMEWHERE INSIDE THE ENGINE. THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PARTS AND GASKETS TOOK APPROXIMATELY 4 HOURS AND COST ME SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. *TR

Suspension

ODI #10246814

Incident: October 26, 2008 · Filed: October 27, 2008

PRELOAD ADJUSTER BROKE ON 2006 KLR 650 SECOND TIME I ATTEMPTED TO ADJUST IT WITH LESS THAT 10K MILES ON IT. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10224617

Incident: April 15, 2008 · Filed: April 15, 2008

2006 KLR 650 KAWASAKI MOTORCYCLE BROKEN BALANCER CHAIN LEVER EVEN THOUGH ADJUSTED REGULARLY BY KAWASAKI DEALER. METAL FRAGMENTS IN THE ENGINE CAUSING POTENTIAL DAMAGE. INCURRED SIGNIFICANT REPAIR COSTS TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART AND REPAIR WITH AFTER MARKET REPLACEMENT AS THE KAWASAKI PART IS DEFECTIVE. THIS DEFECT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SEIZED ENGINE AND EVEN DEATH AND/OR INJURY. WOULD LIKE KAWASAKI TO INDEMNIFY ME FOR MY LOSSES AND ALSO ISSUE A RECALL ON ALL BIKES WITH THIS DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

Other Kawasaki KL650A model years

Check your 2006 Kawasaki KL650A VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Kawasaki KL650A at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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