NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Kawasaki Ninja Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 Kawasaki Ninja has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 5 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 2003 Kawasaki Ninja. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2003 Kawasaki Ninja owner complaints

Owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Kawasaki Ninja, describing incidents dated September 1, 2002 to September 4, 2004.

Most-cited components

Engine 3 complaints
Electrical System 1 complaint
Power Train 1 complaint
Steering 1 complaint
Structure 1 complaint

Of the 5 complaints on file, 2 report a crash; across all 5 complaints, owners report 2 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10090467 · Filed September 5, 2004
LEFT HAND SIDE FRONT NOISE ON ZX-636 RR NINJA KAWASAKI, DEVELOPED 4-DIRECTIONAL CRACK ORIGINATING FROM SCREW ( ONE OF THE 6 SCREWS ON FRONT NOSE)!!..VEHICLE IS 2003 YEAR MODEL 636 ZXRR, AND PURCHASED ON JUNE 17TH 2004.. THE VEHICLE HAS UNDER 100 MILES SO FAR,TOTALLY GARAGED. AND NO…
ODI #10052056 · Filed December 29, 2003
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN OCTOBER 2003. HE WAS WARNED NOT TO RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE BECAUSE THE MUFFLER WOULD FALL OFF. CONSUMER HAD BEEN WAITING MORE THAN 90 DAYS FOR REPLACEMENT. *AK
ODI #10046230 · Filed November 3, 2003
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH MUFFLER FELL OFF WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING MOTORCYCLE TO RUN OFF THE ROAD. AS A RESULT, DRIVER WAS UNCONSCIOUS AND SPRAINED HIS ANKLE. A WEEK LATER, A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THE MUFFLER BRACKETS.*AK

Read all 5 complaints

KAWASAKI/OIL LEAKAGE

NHTSA #02V324000 · Electrical System — Alternator/Generator/Regulator · NHTSA notice

Reported December 6, 2002 · KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP.

Potentially affected: 9,787 vehicles

Kawasaki campaign MC02-011 · Owners notified December 16, 2002 · Vehicles built December 10, 1999 – November 8, 2002 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

THIS CAN CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A LOSS OF TRACTION FOR BRAKING OR CORNERING, AND CAN LEAD TO A CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2003 Kawasaki Ninja. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

5 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Kawasaki Ninja.

Structure

ODI #10090467

Incident: September 4, 2004 · Filed: September 5, 2004

LEFT HAND SIDE FRONT NOISE ON ZX-636 RR NINJA KAWASAKI, DEVELOPED 4-DIRECTIONAL CRACK ORIGINATING FROM SCREW ( ONE OF THE 6 SCREWS ON FRONT NOSE)!!..VEHICLE IS 2003 YEAR MODEL 636 ZXRR, AND PURCHASED ON JUNE 17TH 2004.. THE VEHICLE HAS UNDER 100 MILES SO FAR,TOTALLY GARAGED. AND NO MISUSE/MISHANDLING WHATSOEVER!!!. SEE THE NATURE OF THE CRACK, A MAJOR ACCIDENT POTENTIAL, ESP FACIAL INJURY TO MOTORCYCLIST EXISTS.. DEALER INFORMED ON PHONE ON SAT SEPT 4TH 2004, WHO ADVISED TO TAKE IT TO THE SERVICE DEPT, WHICH I SHALL DO ASDAP..HOWEVER, WANTED TO PUT THIS MATTER ON RECORDS PLEASE. THANK YOU. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10052056

Filed: December 29, 2003

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN OCTOBER 2003. HE WAS WARNED NOT TO RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE BECAUSE THE MUFFLER WOULD FALL OFF. CONSUMER HAD BEEN WAITING MORE THAN 90 DAYS FOR REPLACEMENT. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10046230

Crash 1 injury

Incident: September 20, 2003 · Filed: November 3, 2003

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH MUFFLER FELL OFF WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING MOTORCYCLE TO RUN OFF THE ROAD. AS A RESULT, DRIVER WAS UNCONSCIOUS AND SPRAINED HIS ANKLE. A WEEK LATER, A RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THE MUFFLER BRACKETS.*AK

Steering

ODI #10018664

Crash 1 injury

Incident: May 13, 2003 · Filed: May 14, 2003

2003 KAWASKI EX500-D10---I WAS RIDING DOWN THE ROAD AND AS I WAS DOWN SHIFTING THE FRONT WHEEL WENT ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WHEN THE HANDLE BARS BROKE OFF IN MY HANDS, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO TURN AND I RAN INTO THE DITCH AND WAS THROWN FROM THE BIKE AND BROKE MY WRIST. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DEFECTED MOTORCYCLE PART[ THIN HANDLE BARS ] THAT MY BODY WEIGHT COULD MAKE THEM BREAK WE HAVE FROM THE ER TO NIGHT THAT THERE HAS BEEN OTHER ACCIDENTS LIKE MINE CAUSED BY THE NINJA BIKES. THAT IS A DIFFIDENT DESIGN DEFECT. *NLM

Engine and Engine Cooling; Power Train; Electrical System

ODI #10004211

Incident: September 1, 2002 · Filed: January 21, 2003

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, VEHICLE'S SPEED WILL START DECEASING, UNTIL VEHICLE LOSSES ALL POWER. THE DEALERSHIP HAS MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO FIX PROBLEM, BUT IT STILL EXIST. TS RADIATOR OVERFLOWED. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. DEALER COULD NOT FIND A REMEDY. VEHICLE WAS ALSO JUMPING OUT OF 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. MAJOR SERVICE REVEALED ENGINE WAS THROWING OIL. 2 BOLTS WERE TIGHTENED. *TT

Other Kawasaki Ninja model years

Check your 2003 Kawasaki Ninja VIN

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

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