NHTSA vehicle safety data

2012 Zero X Recalls & Complaints

The 2012 Zero X has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns 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 2012 Zero X. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2012 Zero X owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2012 Zero X, describing incidents dated August 1, 2015.

Most-cited components

Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10915960 · Filed October 13, 2016
THE VEHICLE MAY NOT GO AT ALL WHEN IT IS FIRST TURNED ON OR IF IT DOES START OUT IT SOMETIMES QUITS WHILE RUNNING LEAVING ME STRANDED IN TRAFFIC TO PUSH IT OUT OF THE WAY. IN JANUARY 15, 2014 I RECEIVED RECALL NUMBER 13V-635, BUT WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER FOR THE FIX I WAS TOLD I'D RECEIVED THE…

Read the full complaint

BATTERY CIRCUIT BOARD

NHTSA #12V310000 · Electrical System — 12V/24V/48V Battery · NHTSA notice

Reported July 2, 2012 · ZERO MOTORCYCLES INC.

Potentially affected: 254 vehicles

Owners notified July 31, 2012

Defect description

ZERO MOTORCYCLES, INC. (ZERO) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 S, DS, X, XU, AND XU-LSM MOTORCYCLES. INSUFFICIENT WEATHERPROOFING MAY CAUSE A SHORT CIRCUIT OF THE BATTERY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WHEN SUBJECTED TO WET CONDITIONS, RESULTING IN THE MOTORCYCLE INADVERTENTLY LOSING POWER.

Safety consequence

SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER CAN LEAD TO A CRASH AND POTENTIAL INJURY OR DEATH TO THE RIDER.

Manufacturer remedy

ZERO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE MOTORCYCLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ZERO MOTORCYCLES, INC. AT 1-888-786-9376.

Notes

Customers may contact The National HighwayTraffic Safety Administration's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); or go toHTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH

NHTSA #12V307000 · Exterior Lighting — Brake Lights — Switch · NHTSA notice

Reported June 29, 2012 · ZERO MOTORCYCLES INC.

Potentially affected: 450 vehicles

Owners notified August 3, 2012 · Vehicles built December 19, 2011 – March 19, 2012 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ZERO MOTORCYCLES, INC. (ZERO) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 AND 2012 S, XU, AND DS MOTORCYCLES, MODEL YEAR 2011 MXD, AND XD MOTORCYCLES AND 2012 X MOTORCYCLES. THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH AT THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER MAY NOT ACTIVATE UNTIL SIGNIFICANT BRAKE LEVER TRAVEL OCCURS.

Safety consequence

THE BRAKE LIGHT MAY NOT ACTIVATE WHEN A MODERATE AMOUNT OF FRONT BRAKE IS APPLIED. AS SUCH, MOTORISTS TRAVELING BEHIND THE MOTORCYCLE MAY NOT BE ALERTED WHEN AN AFFECTED MOTORCYCLE IS SLOWING DOWN, WHICH COULD LEAD TO A POSSIBLE CRASH AND POTENTIAL INJURY OR DEATH TO THE RIDER.

Manufacturer remedy

ZERO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE FRONT BRAKE SYSTEM BRAKE-LIGHT SWITCH FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 3, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ZERO MOTORCYCLES AT 1-831-438-3500.

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.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2012 Zero X. 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 2012 Zero X.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10915960

Incident: August 1, 2015 · Filed: October 13, 2016

THE VEHICLE MAY NOT GO AT ALL WHEN IT IS FIRST TURNED ON OR IF IT DOES START OUT IT SOMETIMES QUITS WHILE RUNNING LEAVING ME STRANDED IN TRAFFIC TO PUSH IT OUT OF THE WAY. IN JANUARY 15, 2014 I RECEIVED RECALL NUMBER 13V-635, BUT WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER FOR THE FIX I WAS TOLD I'D RECEIVED THE NOTICE BY MISTAKE AND MY 2012 ZERO X WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. ON AUGUST 08, 2015 I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL OR WARRANTY. THE KEPT TELLING ME THAT IT COULDN'T BE DIAGNOSED BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T MALFUNCTION FOR THEM. I TOOK IT BACK UNREPAIRED ON OCTOBER 28, 2015. WHILE SEARCHING NHTSA.DOT.GOV I COULD NOT FIND 13V-635, BUT I DID FIND 12V-310 WHICH ALSO DESCRIBES A QUITS-WHILE-RUNNING CONDITION. I PURCHASED MY BIKE AFTER JULY 31,2012 SO I NEVER RECEIVED THIS RECALL NOTICE, AND I DON'T KNOW IF THE REPAIR DESCRIBED IN IT WAS EVER PERFORMED. THE LINE IN 12V-310 WHICH READS "BUILT DECEMBER 19, 2012 THROUGH MARCH 15, 2012" DOES NOT MAKE SENSE. SHOULDN'T THE FIRST DATE BE FROM 2011 LIKE THE OTHER MODELS LISTED?

Check your 2012 Zero X VIN

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

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