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2013 Kawasaki Ninja 300

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

39 reports with mileage · 3 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.

  • Engine. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

42 reports
5,500 miles · Dec 24, 2020
Engine

CONNECTING ROD BOLTS BACK OUT AROUND 6000 MILES ON A LOT OF BIKES INCLUDING MINE STARTS WITH KNOCKING NOISE LET ME KNOW WHAT TO DO

NHTSA ODI #11384841

5,000 miles · Jan 15, 2014
Tires

KAWASAKI IS SELLING THEIR 2012, 2013 AND 2014 NINJA 650S WITH A DEFECTIVE FRONT TIRE. THE TIRE IS DUNLOP'S SPORTSMAX 2, FRONT 120/70ZR17(58. THEY LAST ABOUT 5 MONTHS BEFORE THE TIRE DEVELOPS DRY-ROT IN THE TREAD AREA. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME AND OTHERS ARE REPORTING ON MOTORCYCLE FORUMS. I PURCHASED THE BIK…

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KAWASAKI IS SELLING THEIR 2012, 2013 AND 2014 NINJA 650S WITH A DEFECTIVE FRONT TIRE. THE TIRE IS DUNLOP'S SPORTSMAX 2, FRONT 120/70ZR17(58. THEY LAST ABOUT 5 MONTHS BEFORE THE TIRE DEVELOPS DRY-ROT IN THE TREAD AREA. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME AND OTHERS ARE REPORTING ON MOTORCYCLE FORUMS. I PURCHASED THE BIKE ON MARCH 1ST AND IT COMES WITH A 1 YEAR WARRANTY. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED KAWASAKI HONORED THEIR WARRANTY AND REPLACED IT WITH THE SAME TIRE ON AUGUST 14TH. ON JANUARY 13TH, 2014 I FILED ANOTHER CLAIM WITH KAWASAKI AND SENT THEM PHOTOGRAPHS OF IT HAPPENING YET AGAIN. IT DOES NOT SEEM LIKE THEY ARE GOING TO REPLACE THE TIRE EVEN THOUGH THE BIKE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE TIRE THEY REPLACED HAS 95% OF ITS TREAD LIFE LEFT AND IT'D SEEM KAWASAKI HAS NO REGARD FOR THEIR CUSTOMERS' SAFETY. EVERY AREA OF THE ENTIRE TIRE TREAD IS SEVERELY DRY-ROTTED A SECOND TIME AND YET I'VE ONLY HAD THE TIRE 5 MONTHS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560034

1,500 miles · Oct 8, 2013
Service BrakesCrash

WHILE DRIVING DOWN BARKER CYPRESS I WAS APPROACHING A LIGHT. I STARTED DOWNSHIFTING AND APPLYING MY REAR BRAKE. WHEN I PRESSED DOWN ON THE REAR BRAKE, THERE WAS A THUG THEN NOTHING, NO GRIP, NO TIGHTENING, NOTHING BUT AIR. I DID NOT HAVE BRAKES. I REALIZED I WAS GOING TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, I SWERVED BETWEEN THE CAR,…

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN BARKER CYPRESS I WAS APPROACHING A LIGHT. I STARTED DOWNSHIFTING AND APPLYING MY REAR BRAKE. WHEN I PRESSED DOWN ON THE REAR BRAKE, THERE WAS A THUG THEN NOTHING, NO GRIP, NO TIGHTENING, NOTHING BUT AIR. I DID NOT HAVE BRAKES. I REALIZED I WAS GOING TO HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME, I SWERVED BETWEEN THE CAR, HIT MY LEG ON THE BUMPER AND LAID THE BIKE DOWN. I HAD THE BIKE TOWED TO HOUSTON MOTORSPORTS AS THE BIKE IS UNDER WARRANTY. HOUSTON MOTORSPORTS IS REFUSING TO HONOR THE WARRANTY ON THE BIKE FOR DEFECTIVE BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547180

2,050 miles · Aug 19, 2013
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KAWASAKI NINJA 300 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,050. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10536049

20 miles · Aug 9, 2013
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KAWASAKI NINJA 300 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO DOWN SHIFT BUT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 KAWASAKI NINJA 300 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO DOWN SHIFT BUT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10534559

1,000 miles · Jul 30, 2013
EnginePower Train

THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES IN TRAFFIC, WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS ENGAGED. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE BUT THE ENGINE ALWAYS RESTARTS IMMEDIATELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10532590

300 miles · Jul 29, 2013
EngineFuel/propulsion System

JUST PURCHASED THE NINJA 300 WITH 2 MILES ON IT, FIRST 2 WEEKS WAS FINE, UNTIL I STARTED TO TAKE IT TO WORK. EVERY TIME I WOULD LEAVE FROM WORK MY MOTORCYCLE WILL STALL AT EVERY STOP LIGHT/SIGN UNTIL I HIT THE FREEWAY (BASICALLY ANY TIME I PULLED IN THE CLUTCH TO SLOW DOWN). AFTER I GET OFF THE FREEWAY THE MOTORCYCLE SEEMS TO BE…

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JUST PURCHASED THE NINJA 300 WITH 2 MILES ON IT, FIRST 2 WEEKS WAS FINE, UNTIL I STARTED TO TAKE IT TO WORK. EVERY TIME I WOULD LEAVE FROM WORK MY MOTORCYCLE WILL STALL AT EVERY STOP LIGHT/SIGN UNTIL I HIT THE FREEWAY (BASICALLY ANY TIME I PULLED IN THE CLUTCH TO SLOW DOWN). AFTER I GET OFF THE FREEWAY THE MOTORCYCLE SEEMS TO BE FINE. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE I HAD TO DO THE FIRST SERVICE, THIS IS MY FIRST BIKE SO I DID NOT KNOW BETTER, WHEN I TOOK IT IN FOR THE BREAK IN SERVICE I LET THEM KNOW OF THE PROBLEM, THEY TOLD ME THE RPM'S MIGHT JUST BE A LITTLE LOW AND THEY WOULD RAISE IDLE. I GOT IT BACK TOOK IT TO WORK AND THE PROBLEM WAS STILL THERE. ONLY SEEMS TO HAPPEN IN THE AFTERNOON WHEN THE SUN IS OUT, IT HAS NEVER HAPPENED TO ME IN THE MORNINGS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10532447

50 miles · Jul 29, 2013
EnginePower TrainSteering

WHEN SLOWING DOWN FROM ALMOST ANY SPEED , AS YOU DOWN SHIFT THE GEARS THE BIKE WILL DIE COMPLETELY, THUS FORCING ME TO STOP AND RESTART THE BIKE, EVEN IN HIGHWAY OCCURRENCES . STEERING BEARINGS ARE FAULTY AFTER ONLY 100 MILES AND ALMOST THROUGH ME OFF THE BIKE IN MULTIPLE TURNS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10532373

50 miles · Jul 28, 2013
EngineFuel/propulsion System

I WAS RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE ON A PUBLIC STREET. A VEHICLE WAS APPROACHING ME ON A NARROW ROAD, WHEN I DOWNSHIFTED FROM 6TH GEAR TO 5TH GEAR TO SLOW DOWN, MY MOTORCYCLE'S ENGINE STALLED OUT. I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE NEW FROM THE DEALER WITH ONLY 5 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. SINCE I'VE OWNED THE BIKE (PURCHASED ON 07/17/2013) THE EN…

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I WAS RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE ON A PUBLIC STREET. A VEHICLE WAS APPROACHING ME ON A NARROW ROAD, WHEN I DOWNSHIFTED FROM 6TH GEAR TO 5TH GEAR TO SLOW DOWN, MY MOTORCYCLE'S ENGINE STALLED OUT. I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE NEW FROM THE DEALER WITH ONLY 5 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. SINCE I'VE OWNED THE BIKE (PURCHASED ON 07/17/2013) THE ENGINE HAS STALLED WHEN ENGINE BREAKING OR DOWNSHIFTING SEVERAL TIMES NOW, WITH THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE'S HAPPENING ON 07/25/2013. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10532226

1,200 miles · Jul 26, 2013
Engine

THE BIKE SHUTS OFF AS SOON AS YOU PULL IN THE CLUTCH TO START BRAKING. IT HAS DONE THIS NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW WITH 0 MILES. I HAVE OWNED MY BIKE FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS AND HAVE JUST DONE THE FIRST MAINTANANCE AT KAWASAKI DEALER. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE THE BIKE WAS COLD BUT EVEN AFTER A 10 MINUTE WARM …

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THE BIKE SHUTS OFF AS SOON AS YOU PULL IN THE CLUTCH TO START BRAKING. IT HAS DONE THIS NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW WITH 0 MILES. I HAVE OWNED MY BIKE FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS AND HAVE JUST DONE THE FIRST MAINTANANCE AT KAWASAKI DEALER. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE THE BIKE WAS COLD BUT EVEN AFTER A 10 MINUTE WARM UP THE BIKE WILL SHUT OFF ALMOST AT EVERY STOPLIGHT/STOP SIGN WHEN I PULL IN THE CLUTCH UNLESS I CONSTANTLY REV IT TO A COMPLETE STOP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10532034

Official recalls

1

13V328000 · Electrical System

Jul 29, 2013

Kawasaki Motors Corp. is recalling certain model year 2013 Ninja 300 and 300 ABS motorcycles manufactured July 16, 2012, through April 27, 2013. Due to an improper setting in the Electronic Control Unit (ECU), the motorcycle may stall under deceleration.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A stall under deceleration increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Kawasaki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ECU. The recall began on August 5, 2013. 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

1

PE13023 · Motorcycle Stalling

Opened Jun 20, 2013 · Closed Sep 20, 2013

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Other:fuel Injection System

ODI opened this PE with eighteen (18) allegations of stalling while riding a subject motorcycle.During the course of gathering information about this subject, Kawasaki decided to address the stalling issue.Kawasaki has informed ODI they intend to remedy approximately 11,097 2013 Model Year Ninja 300 and 300 ABS motorcycles by replacing the Engine Control Unit.Kawasaki's recall (13V-328) resolves the issue raised by this investigation and therefore this investigation is closed.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following 56 complaint identification numbers:10498192,10498532,10503493,10503834,10505012,10505031,10505117, 10505548,10505580,10509113,10509756,10510493,10510706,10512296, 10512579,10513051,10513978,10515717,10519423,10521588,10521827, 10521883,10521889,10521959,10521981,10522157,10522286,10522328, 10522426,10522861,10522984,10522991,10523178,10523506,10524022, 10524290,10525055,10525055,10525289,10525289,10525910,10525910, 10531686,10531686,10532034,10532034,10532226,10532226,10532373, 10532373,10532447,10532447,10532590,10532590,10534559,10536049