THERE IS WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE A DESIGN FLAW IN THE NEWER SUNL VIP MOTOR SCOOTERS. THE ORIENTATION OF THE THROTTLE CAM RETRACTION SPRING END, THE LENGTH OF THE THROTTLE CAM RETRACTION SPRING END AND THE LONG DISTANCE FROM THE THROTTLE CABLE MOUNT TO THE THROTTLE CAM (ALLOWING SLACK IN THE METAL BRAIDED THROTTLE CABLE) ALL CONTR…
Read full complaint
THERE IS WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE A DESIGN FLAW IN THE NEWER SUNL VIP MOTOR SCOOTERS. THE ORIENTATION OF THE THROTTLE CAM RETRACTION SPRING END, THE LENGTH OF THE THROTTLE CAM RETRACTION SPRING END AND THE LONG DISTANCE FROM THE THROTTLE CABLE MOUNT TO THE THROTTLE CAM (ALLOWING SLACK IN THE METAL BRAIDED THROTTLE CABLE) ALL CONTRIBUTE TO ALLOW THE END OF THE CAM RETRACTION SPRING TO SNARE THE THROTTLE CABLE, HOLDING THE THROTTLE OPEN DURING OPERATION. THESE SCOOTERS DO NOT HAVE A WAY OF DISENGAGING THE DRIVE DUE TO THE USE OF A CENTRIFUGAL CLUTCH IN THE DRIVE SYSTEM. THEREFORE WHEN THIS THROTTLE IS HELD OPEN, THE SCOOTER CONTINUES TO ACCELERATE. IN THIS CRASH, THE THROTTLE STUCK WHILE THE SCOOTER WAS HALFWAY THROUGH A TURN AND THEN "RAN AWAY". THERE WAS TOO LITTLE TIME TO REACT. I DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM IN THE CRASHED UNIT AND CHECKED SEVERAL EXEMPLARS TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED IN THIS CRASH WAS REPEATABLE, AND IT IS. I NOTICED THAT SOME OTHER SCOOTER TYPES HAD SIMILAR SUB-ASSEMBLY CONFIGURATIONS, HOWEVER, THE COMBINATION OF DESIGN ISSUES IN THIS UNIT HAVE MADE IT UNIQUELY DANGEROUS. OTHER UNITS CURVE THE RETRACTION SPRING END, HAVE SHORT RETRACTION SPRING ENDS AND/OR SHORTER THROTTLE CABLE MOUNT LOCATIONS FROM THE THROTTLE CAM ALLOWING LESS SLACK IN THE LINE. *TR
QingQi Group Motorcycle Co. Ltd., through its designated agent ZAP, is recalling all model year 2008 ZAP Xebra motorcycles manufactured from January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2008. These motorcycles do not conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 122, "Motorcycle Brake Systems." The motorcycles were produced without a separate brake fluid reservoir for each brake circuit, with each reservoir filler opening having its own cover, seal, and cover retention device.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Without a separate reservoir for each brake, having its own cover, seal, and cover retention device, fluid for one brake circuit may move to the other. If this happens, both reservoirs could lose fluid as a result of a fluid leak in one brake circuit and compromise the stopping ability of the braking system, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: ZAP will notify owners and ZAP will install or send each owner a remedy kit to bring the vehicles into compliance. ZAP has not provided a notification schedule. Owners may contact ZAP Customer Service at 1-800-251-4555.
QINGQI GROUP MOTORCYCLE CO, LTD, THROUGH ITS DESIGNATED AGENT, ZAP USA, IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 ZAP XEBRA ALL ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 1, 2008, THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2008. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE BRAKING DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 122, "MOTORCYCLE BRAKE SYSTEMS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THESE VEHICLES TAKE LONGER DISTANCES TO STOP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: ZAP, THE DESIGNATED AGENT OF QINGQI GROUP MOTORCYCLE CO, LTD, WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND ZAP DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 8, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ZAP AT 1-707-525-8658.
QINGQI IS RECALLING 738 MY 2008 ZAP XEBRA MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY AND DECEMBER 2008. THESE MOTORCYCLES DO NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 122, "MOTORCYCLE BRAKE SYSTEMS." THEY DO NOT HAVE A SEPARATE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR FOR THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: WITHOUT A SEPARATE RESERVOIR FOR EACH BRAKE, HAVING ITS OWN COVER, SEAL, AND COVER RETENTION DEVICE, FLUID FOR ONE BRAKE CIRCUIT MAY MOVE TO THE OTHER. IF THIS HAPPENS, BOTH RESERVOIRS COULD LOOSE FLUID AS A RESULT OF A FLUID LEAK IN ONE BRAKE CIRCUIT AND COMPROMISE THE STOPPING ABILITY OF BOTH BRAKES.
Remedy: ZAP WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR OR REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 29, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ZAP TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-251-4555.
QINGQI IS RECALLING 738 MY 2008 ZAP XEBRA MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY AND DECEMBER 2008. THESE MOTORCYCLES DO NOT CONFORM TO THE STOPPING DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 122, "MOTORCYCLE BRAKE SYSTEMS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THESE MOTORCYCLES REQUIRE LONGER DISTANCES TO STOP THAN THE STANDARD ALLOWS. EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: QINGQI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND ZAP DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE BRAKE ROTORS, PADS, MASTER CYLINDERS, AND FRONT TIRE IF NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ZAP TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-251-4555.
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.
2008 Zap Xebra Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration