NHTSA Complaint #10457547 — 2007 KAWASAKI ZX1400A7F

THE PURPOSE OF THIS MESSAGE IS TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION A DEFECT IN THE KAWASAKI ZX-14 WHICH MAY PRESENT A POTENTIAL DANGER TO OWNERS OF THIS MODEL. SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY BIKE I WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL CONCERNING AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE MOUNTING BOLTS. WHILE MECHANICS CERTIFIED MY BIKE TO BE WITHIN PROPER GUIDELINES, THEY ALSO NOTICED A KNOCKING SOUND IN THE MOTOR. AFTER AN AUDITORY INSPECTION, THE MECHANICS DEEMED MY BIKE SAFE TO RIDE. HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION PROVIDED FOR THE UNUSUAL SOUND FROM INSIDE THE ENGINE. SINCE THAT TIME I HAVE PUT OVER 6,000 MILES ON THE BIKE, AND THE LOUD KNOCKING SOUND PERSISTS. EARLIER THIS WEEK I WAS SEARCHING FOR INFORMATION ON AN AFTER MARKET COOLING FAN FOR MY BIKE, AND DISCOVERED A HOST OF ZX14 FORUMS WHICH ADDRESSED THE ISSUE OF THE LOUD KNOCKING OR "CLUNKING" SOUND FROM THE ENGINE. I LEARNED THAT BOTH MECHANICS AND FACTORY REPS CLAIMED THE ENGINE NOISE WAS NORMAL, BUT IT SEEMS NONE COULD ADEQUATELY EXPLAIN WHAT IS CAUSING THIS TO OCCUR. AT LEAST ONE CUSTOMER INDICATED HIS ENGINE ULTIMATELY FAILED WHILE HE WAS RIDING. I HAVE HEARD THEORIES SUCH AS CLUTCH NOISE, THE BALANCER, AND THE CAM CHAIN. I AM CONCERNED THIS PROBLEM COULD LEAD TO MORE ENGINE FAILURES OR POSSIBLE ACCIDENTS. UNFORTUNATELY, MOST OF US HAVE EXPIRED WARRANTIES, WHILE THE SERVICE DEPARTMENTS AND KAWASAKI'S FACTORY REPS ARE AWARE OF THE KNOCKING NOISE. I AM ASKING YOU TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM IN ORDER TO DISCOVER A POSSIBLE PROBLEM AND A FAIR SOLUTION, OR DEEM THESE BIKES SAFE FOR US TO RIDE. IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, KAWASAKI SHOULD RECTIFY THIS SITUATION IMMEDIATELY. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. *TR