NHTSA vehicle safety data

2013 Zero S Recalls & Complaints

The 2013 Zero S 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 S. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2013 Zero S owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2013 Zero S, describing incidents dated March 27, 2016.

Most-cited components

Exterior Lighting 1 complaint
Service Brakes 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10861302 · Filed April 25, 2016
I WAS BREAKING SIGNIFICANTLY (USING THE MAXIMUM SETTING FOR THE REGENERATIVE BREAKING FEATURE) AND THE BRAKE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. THIS IS NOT A FAULT, MERELY A DESIGN FLAW OR OVERSIGHT. TO MY KNOWLEDGE IT AFFECTS ALL OF ZERO'S MODELS FOR EVERY YEAR. I WAS IN MOTION ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS.

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 21, 2013 – November 8, 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 S. 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 S.

Exterior Lighting; Service Brakes

ODI #10861302

Incident: March 27, 2016 · Filed: April 25, 2016

I WAS BREAKING SIGNIFICANTLY (USING THE MAXIMUM SETTING FOR THE REGENERATIVE BREAKING FEATURE) AND THE BRAKE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON. THIS IS NOT A FAULT, MERELY A DESIGN FLAW OR OVERSIGHT. TO MY KNOWLEDGE IT AFFECTS ALL OF ZERO'S MODELS FOR EVERY YEAR. I WAS IN MOTION ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS.

Other Zero S model years

Check your 2013 Zero S VIN

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

Check a Zero VIN