Reliability & cost of ownership
Kawasaki KLR650 Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Kawasaki KLR650? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Kawasaki KLR650 problems by model year
1 recall entry across 1 model year and 187 owner complaints across 12 model years on file, sourced from the federal NHTSA database. We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the remaining 11 model years — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 KLR650 | Not confirmed | 1 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2023 KLR650 | Not confirmed | 16 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2022 KLR650 | Not confirmed | 1 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2017 KLR650 | Not confirmed | 1 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2009 KLR650 | Not confirmed | 6 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2008 KLR650 | 1 | 116 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2006 KLR650 | Not confirmed | 1 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2005 KLR650 | Not confirmed | 1 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2003 KLR650 | Not confirmed | 6 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2002 KLR650 | Not confirmed | 11 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2001 KLR650 | Not confirmed | 19 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 2000 KLR650 | Not confirmed | 8 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Kawasaki KLR650, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- exterior lighting87 complaints
- engine and engine cooling45 complaints
- steering18 complaints
- suspension12 complaints
- structure11 complaints
- engine10 complaints
- electrical system9 complaints
- power train6 complaints