NHTSA vehicle safety data

2008 ZAP Xebra Recalls & Complaints

The 2008 ZAP Xebra has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 44 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized ZAP dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2008 ZAP Xebra. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2008 ZAP Xebra owner complaints

Owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA about the 2008 ZAP Xebra, describing incidents dated March 2, 2009 to February 4, 2016.

Most-cited components

  • Service Brakes 39 complaints
  • Unknown or Other 4 complaints
  • Electrical System 2 complaints
  • Structure 2 complaints
  • Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
  • Power Train 1 complaint

Of the 44 complaints on file, 3 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 44 complaints, owners report 1 injury (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #10837385 · Filed

    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…

  • ODI #10579086 · Filed

    THIS VEHICLE IS ALREADY RECALLED, MY VEHICLE SUFFERED A COMPLETE LOSS OR BRAKE SYSTEMS AND FORTUNATELY WAS ABLE TO BE STEERED TO AN UPHILL AREA BEFORE HITTING A SMALL RETAINING WALL. ZAP PROVIDED DOT RECALL NOTICE FOR BRAKE FAILURES TO STOP, AND RULES FOR RECALL. I HAVE FOLLOWED THESE RULES WHICH…

  • ODI #10573013 · Filed

    AS WITH OTHERS THAT HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS, I WAS NOTIFIED BY ZAP THAT MY VEHICLE WAS ELIGIBLE FOR A RECALL DUE TO INCURABLE FAULTS IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM. I FILED ALL THE NECESSARY PAPERWORK AND RECEIVED A LETTER THAT I QUALIFIED FOR THE BUY BACK PROGRAM. THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE AND…

Read all 44 complaints

MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR COVER

NHTSA #12V363000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Foundation Components — Master Cylinder · NHTSA notice

Reported July 27, 2012 · QINGQI GROUP MOTORCYCLE CO., LTD

Potentially affected: 691 vehicles

Owners notified July 24, 2013 · Vehicles built January 1, 2008 – December 31, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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." The motorcycles were produced without a separate brake fluid reservoir for each brake circuit, with each reservoir filler opening having its own cover, seal, and cover retention device.

Safety 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, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Customers may 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. This recall supercedes safety recall 09V-385.

VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE/FMVSS 122

NHTSA #12V230000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · NHTSA notice

Reported May 21, 2012 · QINGQI GROUP MOTORCYCLE CO., LTD

Potentially affected: 627 vehicles

Owners notified July 24, 2013

Defect description

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 NO. 122, "MOTORCYCLE BRAKE SYSTEMS."

Safety consequence

THESE VEHICLES TAKE LONGER DISTANCES TO STOP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

OWNERS 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 <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .THIS RECALL SUPERCEDES SAFETY RECALL 09V-177.

MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR COVER

NHTSA #09V385000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Foundation Components — Master Cylinder · NHTSA notice

Reported October 2, 2009 · QINGQI GROUP MOTORCYCLE CO., LTD

Potentially affected: 738 vehicles

Owners notified January 29, 2010

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

OWNERS 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 <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .THIS RECALL IS SUPERCEDED BY SAFETY RECALL 12V-363.

FMVSS 122/VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE

NHTSA #09V177000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · NHTSA notice

Reported May 26, 2009 · QINGQI GROUP MOTORCYCLE CO., LTD

Potentially affected: 738 vehicles

Owners notified September 21, 2009 · Vehicles built January 1, 2008 – December 31, 2008 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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."

Safety consequence

THESE MOTORCYCLES REQUIRE LONGER DISTANCES TO STOP THAN THE STANDARD ALLOWS. EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

OWNERS 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 <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .THIS RECALL HAS BEEN SUPERCEDED BY 12V-230.

Check your 2008 ZAP Xebra VIN

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

Check a ZAP VIN