← New search

2008 Kawasaki KLR650

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

Other model years Selected year
Compare all KLR650 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

110 reports with mileage · 6 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.

  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 85 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 10 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 reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

Structure complaints

10 reports
Clear category filter
10,000 miles · Apr 18, 2009
Structure

ALL RUBBER GROMMETS AND PROTECTIVE BOOTS ARE DRY ROTTING AT AN ACCELERATED RATE BROUGHT PROBLEM TO DEALERS ATTENTIONS AND HE IS WILLING TO REPLACE ALL THE PARTS AS LONG AS I PAY FOR THEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10265965

800 miles · Aug 17, 2008
Exterior LightingStructure

I HAVE A 2008 KAWASAKI KLR650, BOTH REAR BLINKER RUBBER MOUNTS BROKE AND THE BLINKERS WERE JUST HANGING BY THE WIRES WHEN I GOT HOME. I AM ASSUMING THAT THE RUBBER USED BECOMES BRITTLE AND BREAKS FROM VIBRATION. THE BIKE ONLY HAS 800 MILES ON IT AND IS A LITTLE OVER A YEAR OLD. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT THAT OTHERS HAVE REPORT…

Read full complaint

I HAVE A 2008 KAWASAKI KLR650, BOTH REAR BLINKER RUBBER MOUNTS BROKE AND THE BLINKERS WERE JUST HANGING BY THE WIRES WHEN I GOT HOME. I AM ASSUMING THAT THE RUBBER USED BECOMES BRITTLE AND BREAKS FROM VIBRATION. THE BIKE ONLY HAS 800 MILES ON IT AND IS A LITTLE OVER A YEAR OLD. THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT THAT OTHERS HAVE REPORTED AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10238603

2,500 miles · Jul 28, 2008
Exterior LightingStructureVisibility

ROTTING RUBBER PARTS ON 2008 KAWASAKI KLR650. THE GROMMET FASTENERS (WELLNUTS) THAT ATTACH THE WINDSHIELD TO THE FAIRING ARE DRY ROTTING. THIS MOTORCYCLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2007 AND RUBBER PARTS ARE ALREADY DETERIORATING. THIS MOTORCYCLE IS ONLY IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT WHILE BEING RIDDEN. THE REST OF THE TIME IT IS PARKED IN MY GAR…

Read full complaint

ROTTING RUBBER PARTS ON 2008 KAWASAKI KLR650. THE GROMMET FASTENERS (WELLNUTS) THAT ATTACH THE WINDSHIELD TO THE FAIRING ARE DRY ROTTING. THIS MOTORCYCLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN 2007 AND RUBBER PARTS ARE ALREADY DETERIORATING. THIS MOTORCYCLE IS ONLY IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT WHILE BEING RIDDEN. THE REST OF THE TIME IT IS PARKED IN MY GARAGE OR UNDER A SHELTER AT WORK. THE TURN SIGNAL MOUNTS ARE ALSO DETERIORATING. IT WILL ONLY BE A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THEY FAIL AND THE SIGNALS ARE HANGING BY THEIR WIRES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10235976

350 miles · Jul 26, 2008
Exterior LightingStructure

THE RUBBER MOUNTING BRACKETS ON MY 2008 KAWASAKI KLR 650 TURN SIGNALS CONTINUE TO TEAR LOOSE FROM THE FRAME. I REPLACED THE FIRST TWO MYSELF, BUT WHEN THE THIRD ONE TORE IN LESS THAN THREE WEEKS, I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER WHO ORDERED ME A NEW ONE UNDER WARRANTY. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT TAKEN OFF-ROAD, AND IS STILL IN THE BREAK-I…

Read full complaint

THE RUBBER MOUNTING BRACKETS ON MY 2008 KAWASAKI KLR 650 TURN SIGNALS CONTINUE TO TEAR LOOSE FROM THE FRAME. I REPLACED THE FIRST TWO MYSELF, BUT WHEN THE THIRD ONE TORE IN LESS THAN THREE WEEKS, I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER WHO ORDERED ME A NEW ONE UNDER WARRANTY. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT TAKEN OFF-ROAD, AND IS STILL IN THE BREAK-IN PERIOD WITH 454 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10235830

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2008
Exterior LightingStructure

RUBBER IS DETERIORATING ALL AROUND THE BIKE INCLUDING THE TURN SIGNALS. MY TURN SIGNALS HAVE FALLEN OFF THE REAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10235532

350 miles · Jul 22, 2008
Exterior LightingStructure

MY DIRECTIONAL SIGNALS FALL OF. THE RUBBER POST/BRACKET FAILS. THE BIKE IS ONLY ABOUT A MONTH OLD AND TWO HAVE ALREADY FAILED! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10235391

2,000 miles · Jul 21, 2008
Exterior LightingStructure

1. NO EVENTS PRECIPITATED THE EQUIPMENT FAILURE. IT WAS PURELY NORMAL USE. 2. THE TURN SIGNAL MOUNTING SYSTEM CRACKED AND COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE MOUNTING AREA. THIS HAPPENED ON BOTH RIGHT & LEFT REAR TURN SIGNALS. 3. THE LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY FROM THE DEALER WITH THE SAME HARDWARE THAT W…

Read full complaint

1. NO EVENTS PRECIPITATED THE EQUIPMENT FAILURE. IT WAS PURELY NORMAL USE. 2. THE TURN SIGNAL MOUNTING SYSTEM CRACKED AND COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM THE MOUNTING AREA. THIS HAPPENED ON BOTH RIGHT & LEFT REAR TURN SIGNALS. 3. THE LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY FROM THE DEALER WITH THE SAME HARDWARE THAT WAS ORIGINAL TO THE MOTORCYCLE. THE RIGHT REAR IS STILL BROKEN BUT KEPT IN PLACE WITH DUCT TAPE UNTIL UPGRADED REPLACEMENT HARDWARE IS AVAILABLE FROM KAWASAKI. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10235142

5,500 miles · Jul 20, 2008
Exterior LightingStructure

CERTAIN RUBBER COMPONENTS ON THE MOTORCYCLE HAVE DRIED OUT AND ARE CRUMBLING. THE FOLLOWING ARE EXAMPLES A) TURN SIGNAL STALKS HAVE FALLEN OFF WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE OTHER TRAFFIC NOT SEEING YOUR TURN SIGNAL B) WINDSHIELD RETAINING WELL NUTS HAVE CRUMBLED AND THE WINDSHIELD COULD COME LOO…

Read full complaint

CERTAIN RUBBER COMPONENTS ON THE MOTORCYCLE HAVE DRIED OUT AND ARE CRUMBLING. THE FOLLOWING ARE EXAMPLES A) TURN SIGNAL STALKS HAVE FALLEN OFF WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE OTHER TRAFFIC NOT SEEING YOUR TURN SIGNAL B) WINDSHIELD RETAINING WELL NUTS HAVE CRUMBLED AND THE WINDSHIELD COULD COME LOOSE OR OFF AT HWY SPEEDS CAUSING INJURY TO THE DRIVER AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT C) RUBBER BOOT ON THE POSITIVE TERMINAL OF THE STARTER HAS DRYROTTED AND IS CRUMBLING. THIS COULD CAUSE A POSSIBLE SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM D) THE BOOT WHICH PREVENTS WATER INTRUSION TO THE CLUTCH CABLE HAS DETERIORATED AND ALLOWS WATER INTO THE CABLE WHICH COULD CAUSE IT TO SEIZE AND IF THE CLUTCH COULD NOT BE PULLED IN, MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10235076

400 miles · Jul 6, 2008
EquipmentPower TrainStructure

I PURCHASED AN ENDURO MOTORCYCLE FOR USE ON THE HIGHWAY,THE MOTORCYCLE IS EQUIPPED WITH ALL NECESSARY COMPONENTS FOR THAT PURPOSE. THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT CALIBRATED TO THE FAULT THAT I NEVER KNEW WHAT THE READING WOULD BE EVAN AT THE SAME ESTIMATED SPEED. I USED THE MOTORCYCLE ON MOSTLY SURFACE STREETS. ON…

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED AN ENDURO MOTORCYCLE FOR USE ON THE HIGHWAY,THE MOTORCYCLE IS EQUIPPED WITH ALL NECESSARY COMPONENTS FOR THAT PURPOSE. THE FIRST PROBLEM WAS THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT CALIBRATED TO THE FAULT THAT I NEVER KNEW WHAT THE READING WOULD BE EVAN AT THE SAME ESTIMATED SPEED. I USED THE MOTORCYCLE ON MOSTLY SURFACE STREETS. ON THE EVENING THAT THE MOTORCYCLE FAILED IT SEEMED TO "GET A BOOST OF POWER" SO TO SPEAK, THEN IT STARTED TO RAPIDLY LOOSE ALL POWER UNTIL IT WOULD NO LONGER CONTINUE RUN. I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART IT BUT IT HAD LOST ENOUGH COMPRESSION TO DO SO. I RETURNED IT TO THE PLACE OF PURCHASE FOR REPAIR IT HAS SINCE SAT FOR LACK OF COOPERATION OF THE MANUFACTURER AM HAVING TROUBLE INPUTTING THE MAKE AND MODEL OF MY MOTORCYCLE IT IS NOT ON THE LIST, IT IS A SHIENRIE ALLROAD 200CC ENDURO MADE IN CHINA, FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROCEEDING I WILL INPUT ANOTHER MAKE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10233265

50 miles · Apr 22, 2008
Structure

DEFECTIVE RUBBER PARTS/ RUBBER DRY ROT ON BIKE LESS THAN A YEAR OLD. MUFFLER BOLT FELL OFF DURING TRAVEL WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED MUFFLER TO COME OFF DURING OPERATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10225426

Official recalls

1

07V244000 · Structure:motorcycle:kickstand/center Stand

Jun 7, 2007

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE SPRING RETAINING PIN ON THE FRAME MAY NOT HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY WELDED IN PLACE AND COULD FALL OUT, ALLOWING THE SIDESTAND TO DROP INTO THE "PARKING" POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: KAWASAKI WILL REPURCHASE THESE MOTORCYCLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 1, 2007. ALL DEALERS/OWNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.