The defect
Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (KMC) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Ninja H2 SX, Ninja H2 SXSE, and 2019-2020 Ninja H2 SXSE+ motorcycles. In the event of a gear misengagement the engine electronic control unit (ECU) programming doesn't have the capability to suppress high RPM during transmission. If the transmission gears are not properly engaged while shifting into 4th or 5th gear, high engine RPM can cause the output gears of 4th or 5th to fracture when the gears re-engage.
The risk
Damaged gears and the inability to shift can cause the engine to lock up, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
KMC will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the FI-ECU software, free of charge. Owners are advised to not ride their motorcycle until the repair has been completed. The recall began November 16, 2020. Owners may contact KMC customer service at 1-866-802-9381. KMC's number for this recall is MC20-10.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Kawasaki Ninja | 2018, 2019, 2020 |
| Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX | 2018, 2020 |
| Kawasaki ZX1002A | 2018, 2019, 2020 |
| Kawasaki ZX1002B | 2019, 2020 |
| Kawasaki ZX1002D | 2019 |
Components: POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kawasaki Ninja | 2018 | 2 | 2 |
| Kawasaki Ninja | 2019 | 1 | 1 |
| Kawasaki Ninja | 2020 | 0 | 1 |
| Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX | 2018 | 0 | 3 |
| Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX | 2020 | 0 | 3 |
| Kawasaki ZX1002A | 2018 | 0 | 3 |
| Kawasaki ZX1002A | 2019 | 0 | 1 |
| Kawasaki ZX1002A | 2020 | 0 | 1 |
| Kawasaki ZX1002B | 2019 | 0 | 1 |
| Kawasaki ZX1002B | 2020 | 0 | 1 |
| Kawasaki ZX1002D | 2019 | 0 | 3 |
Other electrical system recalls in 2020
105 of the 782 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2020 concerned the electrical system; Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. filed 37 campaigns in all.
| 20V812000 28 Dec 2020 | Marion Body Works Inc. |
| 20V805000 21 Dec 2020 | SVI Trucks |
| 20V801000 18 Dec 2020 | Keystone RV Company |
| 20V790000 17 Dec 2020 | General Motors, LLC |
| 20V798000 17 Dec 2020 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| 20V779000 15 Dec 2020 | Rosenbauer America |
| 20V783000 15 Dec 2020 | Halcore Group, Inc. |
| 20V781000 15 Dec 2020 | Ducati North America |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2020