NHTSA vehicle safety data

2013 Zero DS Recalls & Complaints

The 2013 Zero DS has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Zero dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2013 Zero DS. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2013 Zero DS owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2013 Zero DS, describing incidents dated May 30, 2018.

Most-cited components

Suspension 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11100650 · Filed June 9, 2018
BOUGHT USED 2013 ZERO DS. BIKE WOULD EMIT NOISE WHILE COMING TO A STOP THAT SOUNDED LIKE RUBBING METAL BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE SOURCE. NOW I'M PRETTY SURE IT WAS THE FORKS. WAS ADJUSTING SUSPENSION AND DISCOVERED FORK OIL LEAKING OUT OF LEFT FORK AT THE BOTTOM AFTER SHORT RIDE. FORTUNATELY, ABLE TO…

Read the full complaint

Motorcycle may Quit while Running

NHTSA #13V635000 · Electrical System — Software · NHTSA notice

Reported December 18, 2013 · Zero Motorcycles Inc.

Potentially affected: 667 vehicles

Repair completion: 79.06% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Owners notified January 14, 2014 · Vehicles built January 24, 2013 – October 21, 2013 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Zero Motorcycles Inc. (Zero) is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 XU, S, DS, and model year 2013 FX motorcycles. The affected motorcycles have controller firmware that, as a result of certain system faults, may shut off power to the motor.

Safety consequence

A sudden loss of power to the motor may increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Zero will notify owners, and dealers will update the controller firmware, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in mid-January 2014. Owners may contact Zero at 1-888-786-9376.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2013 Zero DS. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 2013 Zero DS.

Suspension

ODI #11100650

Incident: May 30, 2018 · Filed: June 9, 2018

BOUGHT USED 2013 ZERO DS. BIKE WOULD EMIT NOISE WHILE COMING TO A STOP THAT SOUNDED LIKE RUBBING METAL BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE SOURCE. NOW I'M PRETTY SURE IT WAS THE FORKS. WAS ADJUSTING SUSPENSION AND DISCOVERED FORK OIL LEAKING OUT OF LEFT FORK AT THE BOTTOM AFTER SHORT RIDE. FORTUNATELY, ABLE TO CLEAN UP OIL BEFORE IT GOT ON FRONT ROTOR. LEAKED A TEASPOON AMOUNT IN A SHORT TIME. DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH WEB SEARCH, THAT COULD LEAD TO FORK BECOMING LOOSE (SEE YOUTUBE VIDEO IN FIRST LINK). HTTP://ELECTRICMOTORCYCLEFORUM.COM/BOARDS/INDEX.PHP?TOPIC=3790.0 HTTP://ELECTRICMOTORCYCLEFORUM.COM/BOARDS/INDEX.PHP?TOPIC=6487.0 HTTP://ELECTRICMOTORCYCLEFORUM.COM/BOARDS/INDEX.PHP?TOPIC=3784.0 BIKE ONLY HAS 4K MILES ON IT. OIL ON ROTOR IS A SAFETY ISSUE, BIKE BRAKING PERFORMANCE WILL DIMINISH. FORK OIL LEAKING OUT OF FORK CAN AFFECT HANDLING, WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. FORK BECOME LOOSE COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Other Zero DS model years

Check your 2013 Zero DS VIN

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

Check a Zero VIN