CONSUMER WAS RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE WHEN THE FRONT FORKS DISENGAGED. *LA THIS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO BE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE AND DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT OF THE MECHANISM WHICH SECURED THE FRONT FORKS TO THE VEHICLE. (MODEL ZX900) *SC *JB
2002 Kawasaki Ninja
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 Ninja years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 3 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
- Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
3 reportsAFTER RECALL WAS PERFORMED, MOTORCYCLE CONTINUED TO LEAK OIL. *PH THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL HAD BEEN PERFORMED, HOWEVER LESS THAN A MONTH LATER, HE CHECKED THE CONNECTOR AND FOUND OIL IN IT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED, HOWEVER TO THIS DAY, THE CONNECTOR IS STILL LEAKING OIL…
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AFTER RECALL WAS PERFORMED, MOTORCYCLE CONTINUED TO LEAK OIL. *PH THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL HAD BEEN PERFORMED, HOWEVER LESS THAN A MONTH LATER, HE CHECKED THE CONNECTOR AND FOUND OIL IN IT. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE BACK TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT FIXED, HOWEVER TO THIS DAY, THE CONNECTOR IS STILL LEAKING OIL. THE CONSUMER EVEN TRIED TO USE SILICON SEALANT WHICH WAS ADVISED BY ANOTHER DEALER. *JB
FOR 4600 MILES OT THE 5500 MILES MY KAWASAKI ZX12R HAS SUCKED SAND THROUGH THE ENGINE. I FIRST LEARNED ABOUT IT WHEN I WENT TO DO SOME UPGRADES TO MY BIKE AT 3475 MILES. I WENT AHEAD AND FINSHED MY UPGRADES AND DID NOT RIDE THE BIKE UNTIL I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY DID A COMPRESSION TEST AND A LEAK DOWN TEST AND DETERMINED FR…
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FOR 4600 MILES OT THE 5500 MILES MY KAWASAKI ZX12R HAS SUCKED SAND THROUGH THE ENGINE. I FIRST LEARNED ABOUT IT WHEN I WENT TO DO SOME UPGRADES TO MY BIKE AT 3475 MILES. I WENT AHEAD AND FINSHED MY UPGRADES AND DID NOT RIDE THE BIKE UNTIL I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THEY DID A COMPRESSION TEST AND A LEAK DOWN TEST AND DETERMINED FROM THAT THAT THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM AND NO DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. IN ALL MY YEARS OF WORKING ON ENGINES, THE ONLY WAY I COULD TELL IF SAND HAD DONE DAMAGE WAS TO LOOK IN SIDE THE ENGINE. THEY ALSO TOLD ME PER THE KAWASAKI FACTORY REP. THAT MY UPGRADES CAN VOID MY WARRANTY. I ROAD THE BIKE FOR ABOUT 800 MILES TO SEE IF THE UPGRADES HELPED AND NO SAND GOT IN. SO I PUT THE BIKE BACK TO STOCK AS I DID NOT WANT TO LOSE MY WARRANTY AND IT STARTED TO SUCK SAND THROUGHT THE ENGINE AGAIN. ON 11/9/03, I CALLED THE DEALER WHO FIRST LOOKED AT IT AND TOLD THEM IT HAD SUCKED SAND THROUGH THE ENGINE AGAIN, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY ARE REFUSEING TO WORK ON MY BIKE. SO I CALLED KAWASAKI AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER DEALER. I TOLD THEM THE ONLY ONE I TRUSTED, WAS A KAWASAKI DEALER IN RIVERSIDE. BUT EVEN THOUGH I GAVE THEM A LETTER TELLING THEM THE ONLY WORK I WILL ALLOW WAS A NEW TOP END, THEY WENT AHEAD AND ONLY DID ANOTHER COMPRESSION TEST AND LEAK DOWN TEST. THE NEW TOP END WAS DENIED. ALSO THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE BIKE IN TO BE FIXED, I WAS TOLD SAND GOING THROUGH THE ENGINES WOULD NOT AFFECT THEM. IF THIS IS SO, WHY DO THEY TELL YOU IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO NEVER RUN THEM WITH OUT AND AIR FILTER? I DON'T WANT TO HAVE TO TRY AND CONTROL A 550+ LB BIKE AT ABOUT 70 TO 75MPH BECAUSE IT LOCKED DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE FILTERS ALLOWING IT TO SUCK SAND INTO THE ENGINE. I HAVE MORE DOCUMENTATION AND PICTURES BUT WILL NEED EMAIL ADDRESS TO SEND THEM TOO. I ALSO KNOW OF SEVERAL OTHERS WHO ALSO HAVE OR HAD THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO LEARNED THAT KAWASAKI KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM WHEN THE FIRST ZX12R'S CAME OUT IN THE YEAR 2000. THANKS FOR YOU HELP. *AK
Official recalls
102V324000 · Electrical System:alternator/generator/regulator
Dec 6, 2002
ON CERTAIN 2000 ZX1200-A1/A1-L, 2001 ZX1200-A2/A2-L, AND 2002-2003 ZX1200-B1/B1-L MOTORCYCLES, OIL LEAKING FROM THE ALTERNATOR LEAD ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR CAN BE DEPOSITED ONTO THE REAR TIRE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CAN CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A LOSS OF TRACTION FOR BRAKING OR CORNERING, AND CAN LEAD TO A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL SEAL THE ALTERNATOR LEAD WIRES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN BEGIN DECEMBER 16, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-949-770-0400.
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.
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