IllustrationTHE "HARD BAGS" OR LUGGAGE HAVE FAULTY LATCHES THAT FAIL WHILE IN OPERATION RESULTING IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION TO MOTORISTS. *TR
2008 Kawasaki Concours 14
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Concours 14 years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
190–25K
525–50K
150–75K
075–100K
0100–150K
0150K+
25 reports with mileage · 2 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Latches/locks/linkages. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
27 reportsAFTER A VERY SLIGHT BUMP, THAT LEFT NO VISIBLE MARKS, THE SINGLE LATCH THAT RETAINS THE RIGHT SIDE SADDLEBAG FAILED. THESE BAGS SET INTO SOCKETS THAT CARRY THE LOAD, BUT ARE RETAINED BY A HOOK THAT HAS TWO SMALL PLASTIC PINS THAT BEAR THE STRESS OF THE LATCH. AFTER THE BUMP, I REMOVED THE SADDLEBAG AND INSPECTED THE HOOK. IT WOU…
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AFTER A VERY SLIGHT BUMP, THAT LEFT NO VISIBLE MARKS, THE SINGLE LATCH THAT RETAINS THE RIGHT SIDE SADDLEBAG FAILED. THESE BAGS SET INTO SOCKETS THAT CARRY THE LOAD, BUT ARE RETAINED BY A HOOK THAT HAS TWO SMALL PLASTIC PINS THAT BEAR THE STRESS OF THE LATCH. AFTER THE BUMP, I REMOVED THE SADDLEBAG AND INSPECTED THE HOOK. IT WOULD NOT STAY IN THE SECURED POSITION, AND WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO RETAIN SADDLEBAG SECURELY. I RETURNED LATCH TO DEALER, AND THE MANUFACTURER HAS REPLACED LATCH AS A WARRANTED REPAIR. FAULTY LATCH RETAINED BY DEALER. *TR
MY 2008 KAWASAKI CONCOURSE 14 HAD THE LEFT SADDLE BAG FALL OFF WHILE RIDING, LUCKILY IT WAS A RURAL ROAD AND I DID NOT INJURE ANYONE BEHIND ME. HOWEVER, IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS HAD IT FALLEN OFF ON THE FREEWAY. I HAVE HEARD OTHER REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING ON 2008 KAWASAKI C-14S AND BELIEVE THE FACTORY SHOULD RECALL T…
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MY 2008 KAWASAKI CONCOURSE 14 HAD THE LEFT SADDLE BAG FALL OFF WHILE RIDING, LUCKILY IT WAS A RURAL ROAD AND I DID NOT INJURE ANYONE BEHIND ME. HOWEVER, IT COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DANGEROUS HAD IT FALLEN OFF ON THE FREEWAY. I HAVE HEARD OTHER REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING ON 2008 KAWASAKI C-14S AND BELIEVE THE FACTORY SHOULD RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE LATCH MECHANISM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14. WHILE RIDING 60 MPH, THE LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED AND THE HARD BAG ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DETACHED AND FELL ON THE ROAD. THE PLASTIC HOOK USED FOR THE VEHICLE HAS TWO WEAK PINS MOLDED INTO THE HOOKS. THE PINS FAILED AND MADE THE LOCK HOOKS USELESS. THE MANUFACTURER MA…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14. WHILE RIDING 60 MPH, THE LOCKING MECHANISM FAILED AND THE HARD BAG ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE DETACHED AND FELL ON THE ROAD. THE PLASTIC HOOK USED FOR THE VEHICLE HAS TWO WEAK PINS MOLDED INTO THE HOOKS. THE PINS FAILED AND MADE THE LOCK HOOKS USELESS. THE MANUFACTURER MADE A REPLACEMENT, BUT WITH THE SAME BAG. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT THE BAG WILL FALL OFF AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,600 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.
HARD SADDLE BAGS LOOSE ON MOTORCYCLE. LATCH MECHANISM BINDS WHEN RETRACTING SADDLEBAG SECURING HOOK. UPON INSPECTION OF LATCH, ONE OF THE PINS WITHIN THE LATCH WAS FOUND TO BE SHEARED OFF. *TR
I HAVE A 2008 KAWASAKI CONCOURS14, AND THE LOCKING MECHANISMS ON ONE OF MY HARD BAGS HAS FAILED. THE MOTORCYCLE ONLY HAS 2,100 MILES AND THERE ARE MANY REPORTS ON THE INTERNET OF INDIVIDUALS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE BAGS FALLING OFF AS THEY GO DOWN THE HIGHWAY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14. WHILE RIDING THE VEHICLE FOR 10 MINUTES, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BECAME AND GAVE THE CONTACT A FIRST DEGREE BURN ON HIS RIGHT CALF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADMITTED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REPOSITIONED THE INSULATION. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14. WHILE RIDING THE VEHICLE FOR 10 MINUTES, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT BECAME AND GAVE THE CONTACT A FIRST DEGREE BURN ON HIS RIGHT CALF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADMITTED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REPOSITIONED THE INSULATION. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, THE CONTACT RODE THE VEHICLE AND ONCE AGAIN SUSTAINED FIRST DEGREE BURNS TO HIS RIGHT AND LEFT CALVES AND BOTH INNER THIGHS. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 200 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5. UPDATED 01/11/08. *LJ THE MECHANIC RE-INSTALLED THE HEAT SHIELDS CORRECTLY. THE CONTROL KNOBS FOR THE HEADLIGHT ADJUSTMENT FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO ADJUST THE HEADLIGHTS. UPDATED *JB
Official recalls
112V343000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic; Structure:frame And Members
Jul 20, 2012
Kawasaki is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Concours 14 (ZG1400 A/B/C/D) motorcycles. Due to a gap between the brake pedal and guard, small stone or debris can become trapped, creating a brake drag. This can cause the rear brake to overheat, leading to rear brake damage and lock-up or failure of the rear brakes. The front brakes may also be affected on ZG1400C models.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the brakes lock up or fail, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kawasaki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear master cylinder rod end and remove the brake guard (if installed), free of charge. The safety recall began on July 37, 2012. Owners may contact Kawasaki at 1-866-802-9381.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Structure:frame And Members
Kawasaki is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Concours 14 (ZG1400 A/B/C/D) motorcycles. Due to a gap between the brake pedal and guard, small stone or debris can become trapped, creating a brake drag. This can cause the rear brake to overheat, leading to rear brake damage and lock-up or failure of the rear brakes. The front brakes may also be affected on ZG1400C models.
Consequence: If the brakes lock up or fail, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kawasaki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear master cylinder rod end and remove the brake guard (if installed), free of charge. The safety recall began on July 37, 2012. Owners may contact Kawasaki at 1-866-802-9381.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Kawasaki is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Concours 14 (ZG1400 A/B/C/D) motorcycles. Due to a gap between the brake pedal and guard, small stone or debris can become trapped, creating a brake drag. This can cause the rear brake to overheat, leading to rear brake damage and lock-up or failure of the rear brakes. The front brakes may also be affected on ZG1400C models.
Consequence: If the brakes lock up or fail, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Remedy: Kawasaki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear master cylinder rod end and remove the brake guard (if installed), free of charge. The safety recall began on July 37, 2012. Owners may contact Kawasaki at 1-866-802-9381.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.