Menu

2018 Kawasaki NinjaProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 2 owner complaints about the 2018 Kawasaki Ninja, most often about the power train. It is covered by 2 safety recalls, and for recall 20V-676 the manufacturer reports only 62% of affected cars repaired.

–
CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls2Lowest repair rate 62%Owner complaints20 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage0kPower train, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 2, 2020. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 2018 Kawasaki Ninja has problems

2 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Power train20
Engine10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

2 recalls

2018 Kawasaki Ninja recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

62%repaired · 2022 Q3

Electrical system: software

Do not drive

Recall 20V-676 · Nov 2, 2020 · 799 vehicles · 493 repaired

Risk. Damaged gears and the inability to shift can cause the engine to lock up, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

85%repaired · 2019 Q4

Motorcycle: kickstand/center stand

Recall 18V-580 · Aug 30, 2018 · 390 vehicles · 330 repaired

Risk. The dragging center stand can cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Kawasaki.

Best & worst years

2018 vs. every other Ninja year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Ninja median. How we score

'95'96'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'14'18'19'20'21
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
In owners' words

What Ninja owners report

Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

ISSUES SHIFTING... IM SUSPECTING ITS THE BRAKE IN OIL CAUSING THIS BECAUSE AT LEAST 15 TIMES UP UNTIL MY FIRST OIL CHANGE YOU WOULD BE SHIFTING GEARS AND THE GEAR WOULDN'T FULLY ENGAGE UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSING THE BIKE TO RAPIDLY SLOW DOWN WITH CARS BEHIND ME HAVING TO SLAM ON BRAKES. AND ALSO AT LEAST…
Complaint 11099460 · Jun 4, 2018 · 3 miles
ON MY WAY HOME FROM THE DEALER IT POPPED OUT OF GEAR AND ACTED LIKE IT MISSED A GEAR TWICE. HAVE HAD IT ABOUT 20 DAYS NOW AND ITS MISSED OUT POPPED OUT OF GEAR AT LEAST 20 OR 25 TIMES NOW. THIS SHOULDN'T BE HAPPENING ON A NEW BIKE
Complaint 11096435 · May 16, 2018 · 4 miles

Own a 2018 Ninja?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.