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2008 Zap Xebra

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

Limited mileage data: 19 of 44 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.

  • Service Brakes. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Structure complaints

2 reports
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3,700 miles · Jan 16, 2014
StructureUnknown Or Other

THIS VEHICLE WAS PART OF A FORCED RECALL BY NHTSA. ZAP WAS SUPPOSED TO BUY BACK THESE VEHICLES AND HAUL THEM OFF TO BE DESTROYED BY DECEMBER 31, 2013. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED. THE LAST COMMUNICATION FROM ZAP THAT I RECEIVED WAS A LETTER DATED OCTOBER 11, 2013, WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY REFUND REQUEST FORM HAD BEEN RECEIVED…

Read full complaint

THIS VEHICLE WAS PART OF A FORCED RECALL BY NHTSA. ZAP WAS SUPPOSED TO BUY BACK THESE VEHICLES AND HAUL THEM OFF TO BE DESTROYED BY DECEMBER 31, 2013. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED. THE LAST COMMUNICATION FROM ZAP THAT I RECEIVED WAS A LETTER DATED OCTOBER 11, 2013, WHERE THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY REFUND REQUEST FORM HAD BEEN RECEIVED AND APPROVED. ZAP HAS NOT RESPONDED TO ANY PHONE CALLS OR EMAILS SENT TO THEM. BECAUSE OF THIS RECALL, I CAN NO LONGER INSURE OR REGISTER THIS VEHICLE, SO IT IS COMPLETELY WORTHLESS. I KNOW I AM NOT ALONE IN THIS SITUATION. IT APPEARS THAT ZAP HAS NOT FULFILLED THEIR OBLIGATION TO ANY OF THE 2008 XEBRA OWNERS. I HOPE THAT THE NHTSA WILL INTERVENE IN THIS CASE AND FORCE ZAP TO RESOLVE THIS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10560283

8,000 miles · Jun 10, 2013
Service BrakesStructureCrash

DRIVING ACROSS THE CENTER LANE OF A FIVE LANE HIGHWAY, I WAS HIT BY A CAR TRAVELING IN THE CENTER LANE. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP QUICK ENOUGH TO AVOID BEING HIT AND I BELIEVE THE BIGGEST REASON FOR THE COLLISION WAS BECAUSE THE BRAKES ARE INSUFFICIENT FOR THE VEHICLE. I FILED A SMALL CLAIMS LAWSUIT AND WAS AWARDED A PARTIAL SETTLE…

Read full complaint

DRIVING ACROSS THE CENTER LANE OF A FIVE LANE HIGHWAY, I WAS HIT BY A CAR TRAVELING IN THE CENTER LANE. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP QUICK ENOUGH TO AVOID BEING HIT AND I BELIEVE THE BIGGEST REASON FOR THE COLLISION WAS BECAUSE THE BRAKES ARE INSUFFICIENT FOR THE VEHICLE. I FILED A SMALL CLAIMS LAWSUIT AND WAS AWARDED A PARTIAL SETTLEMENT; THE JUDGE FOUND ME 40% AT FAULT AND THE OTHER DRIVER 60%. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10515937

Official recalls

4

12V363000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder

Jul 27, 2012

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.

12V230000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

May 21, 2012

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.

09V385000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder

Oct 2, 2009

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.

09V177000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

May 26, 2009

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.