Model year record

2008 Kawasaki Concours 14 recalls & problems

The 2008 Kawasaki Concours 14 has 1 safety recall and 27 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is service brakes, hydraulic (6 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints27filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths2 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

StructureJul 20, 2012

Frame and members

Recall 12V34300013,289 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: If the brakes lock up or fail, there is an increased risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.

Components: Structure › Frame and members; Service brakes, hydraulic

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc › Rotor	6	1	3,850 mi
Latches/locks/linkages	5	0	7,496 mi
Service brakes	5	0	29,500 mi
StructureFrame and members › Underbody shields	4	1	3,998 mi
Equipment	3	1	70 mi
Equipment adaptive/mobility	2	0	—
SuspensionRear	2	0	—
Fuel system, gasoline	1	0	—
Fuel system, other	1	0	—
Engine and engine coolingExhaust system	1	0	—
Steering	1	0	—
Power train	1	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Service brakes
ON OR ABOUT JUNE 20, 2016 I NOTICED THAT MY REAR BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEGINNING TO GET HARDER TO PUSH TO APPLY BRAKE TO THE REAR ABS BRAKING SYSTEM. ON DECEMBER 20, 2017 I TOOK MY CONCOURS TO MY DEALER AND HAD 2 TIRES R&R AND ALSO REQUESTED THE DEALER TO CHECK THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THE REAR. THERE WAS NO NOTICE FROM THE ABS SYSTEM THAT ALERTED ME TO ANY MALFUNCTIONING HARDWARE VIA THE IDIOT LIGHTS. (SEE ATTACHMENTS) I FEEL THE LIGHT NOT WORKING AND THE DEFECTIVE ABS CORE IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH KAWASAKI AND THEY HAVE CHOSEN NOT TO ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE. ON MARCH 6, 2018 I WROTE THROUGH THE ONLINE KAWASAKI PRODUCT FEEDBACK TO KAWASAKI ABOUT THE LACK OF RESPONSE TO PRESSING THE BACK BRAKE PEDAL…
Jun 20, 2016 · 43,680 miles
Service brakes
THE REAR BRAKE ON MY MOTORCYCLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY GET STUCK IN THE UP POSITION. IN ORDER FOR ME TO GET IT TO WORK AGAIN, I HAVE PRESS DOWN ON THE PEDAL WITH MORE THAN NORMAL OPERATING PRESSURE. THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I AM NEVER SURE IF THE BRAKE IS GOING TO FUNCTION AS DESIGNED DUE TO IT GETTING STUCK. IT COULD CAUSE A CRASH BECAUSE OF NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP IN TIME WITH ONLY THE FRONT BRAKES. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE TO HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL OF MOTORCYCLE
Mar 16, 2016 · 29,500 miles
Tires
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14 EQUIPPED WITH PIRELLI ANGEL GT TIRES (NA), SIZE 120/70ZR/17 (NA). WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AFTER DRIVING 35 MPH, THE FRONT TIRE BECAME DISTORTED AND RESULTED IN A LOSS OF STABILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE TIRE DID NOT MEET THE SPECIFICATIONS OF THE BIKE WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURES. THE TIRE COULD NOT BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE SPEC MODELS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE LATTER PART OF 2015. THE TIRE WAS RE-BALANCED. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE REPLACEMENT TIRES. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,922 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,100.
Apr 21, 2015 · 21,922 miles
Service brakes
REAR BRAKE CEASED TO FUNCTION. PEDAL TRAVEL TO FULL DEFLECTION BUT NO REAR BRAKE. DROPPED BIKE AT NAPLES KAWASAKI DEALERSHIP, AND A WEEK LATER THEY SAID IT WAS FIXED UNDER THE RECALL MC12-05 (BRAKE ROD END). I PICKED UP THE BIKE ONLY TO FIND THERE WAS STILL NO BRAKE. THIS RECALL DID NOT ADDRESS THE BRAKE FAILURE BUT PERTAINED TO PREVIOUS ISSUES. I THEN LEFT THE BIKE AT THE DEALER FOR CORRECTION OF THE BRAKE PROBLEM. THEY RAN TESTS AND COULD NOT FIND ANY ABS OR BRAKE RELATED READ OUTS IN THE INTERNAL DIAGNOSIS SYSTEM. I WAS TOLD THAT WHILE THEY DID NOT KNOW WHY THE BAKE BRAKE DID NOT WORK, THE ONLY "FIX" WAS TO REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC UNIT AND ALL RELATED LINES AT AN APPROXIMATE COST OF…
Sep 9, 2014 · 35,471 miles
Engine
OIL LEAKING FROM THE CAM POSITION SENSOR O-RING(S). FLUID LEAKS ONTO HOT CYLINDER BLOCK AND EXHAUST. I HAVE NOT HAD A FIRE YET, BUT THE POTENTIAL IS THERE IF ENOUGH FLUID ESCAPES ONTO THE EXHAUST. THE MOTORCYCLE IS CURRENTLY IN FOR THE SAME REPAIR FOR A THIRD TIME (AS OF 22 SEPTEMBER 2014). THE SECOND TIME WAS THE 14TH OF MAY 2014. CONVERSATIONS WITH SHOP PERSONNEL INDICATE THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AT KAWASAKI AND THE LEAK PROBLEM IS CURRENT AND ONGOING AMONG OWNERS OF THIS PARTICULAR MODEL MOTORCYCLE. *TR
Jun 22, 2012 · 7,800 miles
Service brakes
BRAKE ROTORS HAVE BEEN WARPING UNDER NORMAL RIDING CONDITIONS. PRESENTS UNSAFE, LESS THAN OPTIMAL BREAKING ABILITY. FRONT END LUNGES AT LOW SPEEDS AND VIBRATES AT HIGH SPEEDS, UNDER BREAKING. KAWASAKI REPLACED WARPED ROTORS TWICE AND I AM NOW IN NEED OF MY THIRD PAIR.
Aug 15, 2009 · 5,000 miles
Power train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, HE HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AS THE REAR WHEEL SUDDENLY SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT ALL THE DRIVER GEAR CASES WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000. *TR
Jun 18, 2013 · 57,000 miles
Service brakes
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
Jul 2, 2012 · 18,500 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.