What is the reason for the recall
Kawasaki Motors Corporation USA has launched a safety recall for the entire lineup of the 2023 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR KRT Edition on July 26. The reason is a possible alternator defect that could cause the engine to stop unexpectedly. Such a situation could increase the risk of an accident for the rider.
Cause and scope of the recall
The problem results from a faulty installation of the alternator rotor during manufacturing at the Kawasaki factory. A total of 991 units in the U.S. market are believed to be affected by the problem, or about one percent of the inventory. Kawasaki USA is recalling all 2023 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR KRT Editions manufactured between January 11, 2023 and March 29, 2023. The affected chassis numbers (VINs) range from ML5ZXCS11PDA00082 to ML5ZXCS10PDA01482.
No known warning signs
For some issues that come up in safety recalls, there are warning signs that could give riders an indication of the impending problem. According to Kawasaki, however, there is no known warning sign in this case. If the connection between the alternator rotor and the crankshaft becomes loose, the alternator may fail, possibly causing the engine to stop unexpectedly.
Sales stop and upcoming measures
In addition to the recall, Kawasaki Motors Corp USA has ordered a sales halt on all 2023 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4RR KRT Editions on July 26. The company says in the sales stop announcement that it plans to send repair information to its dealers during mid-to-late August 2023. As of Aug. 1, 2023, Kawasaki has not yet set a specific timeline for notifying affected owners or a description of the planned remediation program.
Next steps and customer service
In the sales suspension announcement, the company further states that “owners of affected units are encouraged to contact an authorized Kawasaki motorcycle dealer to schedule an appointment to have repairs performed.” The company apologizes for the inconvenience and emphasizes that it is working to quickly and completely fix the problem.
In the meantime, owners can contact KMC customer service at 1-866-802-9381. Additionally, there is the option of calling the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or visiting www.nhtsa.gov. NHTSA’s campaign number for this recall is 23V-515.
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