Kawasaki Concours 14 2008-2012
Model Concours 14 made by Kawasaki got 36 consumer complains there is 1 recall as well as 1 service bulletin. Consumer complaints with reference, among others things, to brakes, engine and engine cooling and equipment. Technical service bulletines regarding exterior lighting. There was one recall concerning service brakes, hydraulic .
Car model
| Name | Recalls | Bulletins | Consumer Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kawasaki Concours 14 2008 | 1 | 1 | 36 |
| Kawasaki Concours 14 2009 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Kawasaki Concours 14 2010 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Kawasaki Concours 14 2011 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| Kawasaki Concours 14 2012 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Model 2008
Recalls
| Campaign | Manufacturer | Manufacturing date | Type | # of units affected | Date Owner notified Mfg | Recall Initiated by | Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products | Report Recieved Date | Record Creation Date | Regulation Part Number | FMVSS Number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | ||||||||||||||||
| 12V343000 | KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP., U.S.A. | from 04/13/2007 to 04/11/2012 | V (Vehicle) | 13289 | 07/27/2012 | MFR | KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP., U.S.A. | 07/20/2012 | 07/20/2012 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | Kawasaki is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 concours 14 (zg1400 a/b/c/d) motorcycles. due to a gap between the brake pedal and guard, small stone or debris can become trapped, creating a brake drag. this can cause the rear brake to overheat, leading to rear brake damage and lock-up or failure of the rear brakes. the front brakes may also be affected on zg1400c models. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | If the brakes lock up or fail, there is an increased risk of a crash. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Kawasaki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear master cylinder rod end and remove the brake guard (if installed), free of charge. the safety recall began on july 37, 2012. owners may contact kawasaki at 1-866-802-9381. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Customers may contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov. | |||||||||||||||
Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING - HEADLIGHTS | |||||
| MC 08-10 | 05/30/2008 | 10025864 | Kawasaki: repair only as required on headlight aiming knob for 2008 concours 14/14abs (zg1400a8f/l, b8f/l). *pe | 09/11/2008 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRAKES | |||
| 06/17/2012 | 40000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2008 kawasaki concours 14. the contact stated that while driving 40 mph, he heard a loud noise near the rear of the vehicle and the vehicle began to become unstable. the contact pulled over and noticed that the rear wheel bolt hole was melted. the vehicle was towed to a dealer for an inspection and they stated that the wheel bearing was damaged and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and stated that the dealer had to inspect the vehicle and give them a conclusion. the failure mileage was 40,000. sm. | |||
| 06/17/2012 | 40000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2008 kawasaki concours 14. the contact stated that while going 40 mph, he heard a loud noise near the back of the vehicle and it began to become unstable. the contact pulled over and noticed that rear wheel bolt hole was melted. the vehicle was towed to a dealer for inspection and they informed that the wheel bearing was damaged and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and they informed that the dealer had to inspect the vehicle and give them a conclusion. the failure mileage was 40,000. ap | |||
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM | |||
| 08/01/2008 | 10 | 1 | |
| 2008 kawasaki concours motorcycle. this vehicle produces an unbearable amount of engine heat which by manufacturer design in directed onto the operator. this excessive heat is capable of producing blisters and burns- especially in the ship and knee area of the right leg. i'm also concerned that the heat will cause the operator to pass out or become extremely heat fatigued during hot weather. *tr | |||
| EQUIPMENT | |||
| 08/11/2008 | 70 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2008 kawasaki concours 14. the vehicle was repaired according to nhtsa campaign id number 08v047000 (equipment) on august 11, 2008. the contact stated that one of the saddlebags detached from the side of the vehicle. the current mileage was 75 and failure mileage was 70. | |||
| 08/19/2007 | 5 | 2 | 08/18/2007 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2008 kawasaki concours 14. while riding the vehicle for 10 minutes, the engine compartment became and gave the contact a first degree burn on his right calf. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they admitted that they were aware of the failure and repositioned the insulation. after the vehicle was repaired, the contact rode the vehicle and once again sustained first degree burns to his right and left calves and both inner thighs. the speed was unknown. the current mileage was 200 and failure mileage was 5. updated 01/11/08. *lj the mechanic re-installed the heat shields correctly. the control knobs for the headlight adjustment fell off while driving. the consumer was unable to adjust the headlights. updated *jb | |||
| EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE | |||
| 12/06/2007 | 12500 | 1 | 08/03/2007 |
| After a very slight bump, that left no visible marks, the single latch that retains the right side saddlebag failed. these bags set into sockets that carry the load, but are retained by a hook that has two small plastic pins that bear the stress of the latch. after the bump, i removed the saddlebag and inspected the hook. it would not stay in the secured position, and was no longer able to retain saddlebag securely. i returned latch to dealer, and the manufacturer has replaced latch as a warranted repair. faulty latch retained by dealer. *tr | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | |||
| 08/10/2008 | 1200 | 1 | |
| I purchased a new roketa 250cc scooter in july of 2008. there have been very serious mechanical failures on this bike. if not by the grace of god i could have been killed or seriously injured in each incident. first incident involves the cycle stalling out when going past 50 mph. the bike is advertised to go 70mph. this happened to me at least 7 to 10 times. once it happened on a busy 2 lane rd. and the car behind me almost hit me. the dealer traced that problem to a very cheap fuel pump. that problem was remedied by installing a better grade fuel pump. this is a chinese bike and how many thousands of people have that cheap fuel pump on their scooter. 2nd major failure was the gasoline line actually coming off the bottom of the fuel tank! this happened when i was going 65 mph on a 2 lane st. hwy while a semi-truck was behind me. luckily i managed to guide my bike over to the side of the road without being hit. i lost total power and it was a very frightening experience to have to pull over that fast and see gas pouring all over the bottom of the bike and onto the hot muffler. i thought there might be an explosion, thank god there wasn't. the rubber hoses on this bike are pathetic. very thin and poor quality. the 3rd major failure was when i was commuting home from work. i stopped at a 4-way stop behind a semi-truck. as trucks accelerate slowly, i decided to pass on the left. as i did this, the bike would not pick up it's usual speed and i was barely being able to pass the semi. an oncoming car was approaching and i was just able to get around the semi just in time. another hair raising experience! i pulled over when i could and noticed that my front brake pad was stuck up against the front rotor slowing the bike down. i strongly believe that a recall be instituted on this bike. it is a dangerous vehicle. *tr | |||
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER | |||
| 08/10/2008 | 1200 | 1 | |
| I purchased a new roketa 250cc scooter in july of 2008. there have been very serious mechanical failures on this bike. if not by the grace of god i could have been killed or seriously injured in each incident. first incident involves the cycle stalling out when going past 50 mph. the bike is advertised to go 70mph. this happened to me at least 7 to 10 times. once it happened on a busy 2 lane rd. and the car behind me almost hit me. the dealer traced that problem to a very cheap fuel pump. that problem was remedied by installing a better grade fuel pump. this is a chinese bike and how many thousands of people have that cheap fuel pump on their scooter. 2nd major failure was the gasoline line actually coming off the bottom of the fuel tank! this happened when i was going 65 mph on a 2 lane st. hwy while a semi-truck was behind me. luckily i managed to guide my bike over to the side of the road without being hit. i lost total power and it was a very frightening experience to have to pull over that fast and see gas pouring all over the bottom of the bike and onto the hot muffler. i thought there might be an explosion, thank god there wasn't. the rubber hoses on this bike are pathetic. very thin and poor quality. the 3rd major failure was when i was commuting home from work. i stopped at a 4-way stop behind a semi-truck. as trucks accelerate slowly, i decided to pass on the left. as i did this, the bike would not pick up it's usual speed and i was barely being able to pass the semi. an oncoming car was approaching and i was just able to get around the semi just in time. another hair raising experience! i pulled over when i could and noticed that my front brake pad was stuck up against the front rotor slowing the bike down. i strongly believe that a recall be instituted on this bike. it is a dangerous vehicle. *tr | |||
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES | |||
| 11/05/2010 | 34200 | ||
| Left saddle bag fell off motorcycle and was hit by following vehicles. thankfully no one was injured but the bag was destroyed. kawasaki refused to accept responsibility even though the bag had last been attached by a trained service tech. | |||
| 01/01/2008 | 1 | ||
| The hard bags or luggage have faulty latches that fail while in operation resulting in a dangerous situation to motorists. *tr | |||
| 12/19/2007 | 1 | ||
| My 2008 kawasaki concourse 14 had the left saddle bag fall off while riding, luckily it was a rural road and i did not injure anyone behind me. however, it could have been very dangerous had it fallen off on the freeway. i have heard other reports of this happening on 2008 kawasaki c-14s and believe the factory should recall this defective latch mechanism. *tr | |||
| 11/04/2007 | 7496 | 1 | 08/29/2007 |
| Hard saddle bags loose on motorcycle. latch mechanism binds when retracting saddlebag securing hook. upon inspection of latch, one of the pins within the latch was found to be sheared off. *tr | |||
| 11/04/2007 | 2100 | 1 | |
| I have a 2008 kawasaki concours14, and the locking mechanisms on one of my hard bags has failed. the motorcycle only has 2,100 miles and there are many reports on the internet of individuals having the same problem and the bags falling off as they go down the highway. *tr | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES | |||
| 07/02/2012 | 18500 | 1 | |
| Front brake rotors have warped under normal use, causing very noticeable steering vibrations. which may lead to a loss of control and a possible crash. i feel this matter to be a safety concern to the operators of this motorcycle. *tr | |||
| 07/02/2012 | 18500 | ||
| Front brake rotors have warped under normal use, causing very noticeable steering vibrations. which may lead to a loss of control and a possible crash. i feel this matter to be a safety concern to the operators of this motorcycle. | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | |||
| 09/01/2010 | 1000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2008 kawasaki concours 14. the contact stated the front end of the vehicle would violently shake when the front brake was engaged while driving approximately 60 mph. the failure recurred whenever the front brakes were engaged while driving at highway speeds. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the contact was informed the vehicle was operating as intended. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the failure mileage was 1,000 and the current mileage was 2,400. | |||
| 10/13/2009 | 8000 | 1 | |
| Front disc rotors warped as a result of riding through water during storm. care was being used due to conditions so speed and braking effort was low. rotor warping caused heavy pulsing during braking reducing directional stability and increasing stopping distance. odometer only read 8000 miles. rotors are being replaced by dealer under warranty but kawasaki has not acknowledged this is an issue. research of web forums for this motorcycle revealed this is a recurring issue with kawasaki concours 14 with multiple replacements of rotors being reported by several individuals. suspected cause is brake rotor material having insufficient heat resistance and rotor size for weight of bike. *tr | |||
| 08/10/2008 | 1000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2008 kawasaki concours 14. the vehicle was a kymco, model number peoples250. while slowing down the vehicle, the left brake failed. the brake is called the fork, which was connected to the handle bar. the contact fell off the vehicle and injured his ankle. a police report was filed. the vehicle was still able to be driven to the dealer and was repaired at the contact's expense. the failure mileage was 1,000. | |||
| 06/20/2008 | 6500 | 1 | |
| I own a 2008 kawasaki concours 14 motorcycle. i have twice reported a malfunction of the front brakes to the dealer, and have called kawasaki motors corp in irvine, ca to no avail. i reported at the 8 thousand mile service that when the front brake is applied the motorcycle vibrates and shudders. the dealer declared this normal due to the ratcheting of the floating caliper/rotor assembly. i again reported the condition at the 12 thousand mile service, only now the condition has worsened from vibration to the front brake grabbing at all speeds and if the brakes are applied heavily between 45 to 60 mph the motorcycle vibrates and shudders very badly. the front brake grabs so badly that at slow speeds during a light application, when the brake grabs, it actually compresses the front forks, causing the front end to dip. an accident waiting to happen. the kawasaki dealer has stated that this is normal, and can't confirm or validate my complaint. when kawasaki motors corporation was contacted, the customer service representative stated (after i asked him to contact the servicing dealer to provide technical help) if i contact them it will only make them mad. i then asked if there was any technical bulletins regarding this problem, and i did not receive a reply. i have tried to get kawasaki to help me with this safety issue to no avail. when i searched on-line for other owners with the same problem, i found them. there is a known defect in the front rotors. they warp on this motorcycle, as the rotors that are used are produced for a lighter motorcycle, not a heavier spot-touring motorcycle meant to be ridden with extra luggage and/or an extra passenger. the motorcycle is unsafe to ride in this condition, and kawasaki needs to be held responsible. *tr | |||
| 08/10/2008 | 1200 | 1 | |
| I purchased a new roketa 250cc scooter in july of 2008. there have been very serious mechanical failures on this bike. if not by the grace of god i could have been killed or seriously injured in each incident. first incident involves the cycle stalling out when going past 50 mph. the bike is advertised to go 70mph. this happened to me at least 7 to 10 times. once it happened on a busy 2 lane rd. and the car behind me almost hit me. the dealer traced that problem to a very cheap fuel pump. that problem was remedied by installing a better grade fuel pump. this is a chinese bike and how many thousands of people have that cheap fuel pump on their scooter. 2nd major failure was the gasoline line actually coming off the bottom of the fuel tank! this happened when i was going 65 mph on a 2 lane st. hwy while a semi-truck was behind me. luckily i managed to guide my bike over to the side of the road without being hit. i lost total power and it was a very frightening experience to have to pull over that fast and see gas pouring all over the bottom of the bike and onto the hot muffler. i thought there might be an explosion, thank god there wasn't. the rubber hoses on this bike are pathetic. very thin and poor quality. the 3rd major failure was when i was commuting home from work. i stopped at a 4-way stop behind a semi-truck. as trucks accelerate slowly, i decided to pass on the left. as i did this, the bike would not pick up it's usual speed and i was barely being able to pass the semi. an oncoming car was approaching and i was just able to get around the semi just in time. another hair raising experience! i pulled over when i could and noticed that my front brake pad was stuck up against the front rotor slowing the bike down. i strongly believe that a recall be instituted on this bike. it is a dangerous vehicle. *tr | |||
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC - FOUNDATION COMPONENTS - DISC - ROTOR | |||
| 06/02/2009 | 12000 | ||
| Tl*the contact owns a 2008 kawasaki concours 14 motorcycle. the contact stated that the front brake rotors warp during application, thus reducing breaking capability. brake failure can cause an increase in stopping distances, which increases the risk of vehicle crash. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and a technician stated that the components would not be replaced under warranty. as of current date the vehicle has not been repaired.the failure mileage was 12,000. the current mileage was unknown. updated 09/25/09 *bf | |||
| STEERING | |||
| 02/26/2009 | 2978 | 1 | |
| I have a 2009 kawasaki concours 14 with 3000 miles on the od. while riding and making a right hand turn, the steering stopped at about 1/3 the normal range of motion and would not go any farther. i narrowly avoided a crash because i was only traveling at approx 20 mph and had plenty of space to maneuver and regain control. i parked the bike and inspected the area around the steering stem. i discovered the bolt that holds the cowling bracket (kaw part # 92153-1877 ) had moved out of place to the left due to the cap nut ( kaw par # 92210-0325 ) falling off. had this happened at a higher speed or where there was no room to recover, it could have caused a serious accident. *tr | |||
| STRUCTURE | |||
| 09/01/2007 | 500 | 1 | 08/15/2007 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2008 kawasaki concours 14. while riding 60 mph, the locking mechanism failed and the hard bag on the left side of the vehicle detached and fell on the road. the plastic hook used for the vehicle has two weak pins molded into the hooks. the pins failed and made the lock hooks useless. the manufacturer made a replacement, but with the same bag. the contact is concerned that the bag will fall off again. the current mileage was 2,600 and failure mileage was 500. | |||
| 11/04/2007 | 7496 | 1 | 08/29/2007 |
| Hard saddle bags loose on motorcycle. latch mechanism binds when retracting saddlebag securing hook. upon inspection of latch, one of the pins within the latch was found to be sheared off. *tr | |||
| STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS - UNDERBODY SHIELDS | |||
| 08/19/2007 | 5 | 2 | 08/18/2007 |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2008 kawasaki concours 14. while riding the vehicle for 10 minutes, the engine compartment became and gave the contact a first degree burn on his right calf. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they admitted that they were aware of the failure and repositioned the insulation. after the vehicle was repaired, the contact rode the vehicle and once again sustained first degree burns to his right and left calves and both inner thighs. the speed was unknown. the current mileage was 200 and failure mileage was 5. updated 01/11/08. *lj the mechanic re-installed the heat shields correctly. the control knobs for the headlight adjustment fell off while driving. the consumer was unable to adjust the headlights. updated *jb | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR | |||
| 06/17/2012 | 40000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2008 kawasaki concours 14. the contact stated that while driving 40 mph, he heard a loud noise near the rear of the vehicle and the vehicle began to become unstable. the contact pulled over and noticed that the rear wheel bolt hole was melted. the vehicle was towed to a dealer for an inspection and they stated that the wheel bearing was damaged and needed to be replaced. the vehicle was not repaired. the manufacturer was notified and stated that the dealer had to inspect the vehicle and give them a conclusion. the failure mileage was 40,000. | |||
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | |||
| 05/15/2010 | 21000 | ||
| I noticed that the original luggage rack on my 2008 kawasaki concours 14 had cracked and the top case which attaches to it was about to break loose on the freeway. this luggage rack had been recalled and replaced by kawasaki before i took ownership of the bike in june 2008. however, the new design, which is part number 53029-0076, is what was on my bike, and it failed after one and a half year of use. the rear case which attaches to this rack is the kawasaki oem equipemant, and it's load has always been between 5 and 10 pounds, below the kawasaki maximum rating of 15 pounds. the consequeces had i not noticed it while i stopped to get coffee, could have been severe. the rear case would have broke loose while at freeway speeds, potentially hitting any vehicle behind me, or causing such vehicle to crash while trying to avoid it. the broken part is currently at the kawasaki dealership for a warrany claim. however, a replacement is not enough. the current design is inappropriate for the intended purpose, and a reinforced rack should be the solution. | |||
Car dealers selling
| State | City | Zip | Name | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FL | N. MIAMI BEACH | BEACH MOTOR SPORT | ||
| IL | LINCOLNWOOD | CHICAGO CYCLE | 847-763-6900 | |
| NV | RENO | KAWASAKI OF RENO | ||
| TX | UNIVERSAL CITY | 78148 | KAWASAKI OF UNIVERSAL CITY | (210) 659-1971 |