2008 KAWASAKI ZG1400A8F — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
6
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
1
Service Bulletin
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2008 KAWASAKI ZG1400A8F
The 2008 KAWASAKI ZG1400A8F has received a total of 6 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES, EQUIPMENT. 1 technical service bulletin have been issued by Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. for this model year. The most commonly reported problem area is the Service Brakes (4 complaints).
Recalls for the 2008 KAWASAKI ZG1400A8F
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 2008 KAWASAKI ZG1400A8F, potentially affecting up to 12,609 vehicles.
Recall 08V623000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES
| 4,628 vehicles affected
Defect: KAWASAKI IS RECALLING 4,628 MY ZG1400A8F/A8FL, AND ZG1400B8F/B8FL MOTORCYCLES. TRAPPED ROAD DEBRIS MAY INTERFERE WITH FREE MOVEMENT OF THE REAR BRAKE PEDAL, PREVENTING FULL RELEASE OF THE REAR BRAKE WHICH CAN LEAD TO OVERHEATING DAMAGE AND POSSIBLE BRAKE FAILURE.
Consequence: BRAKE FAILURE COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: KAWASAKI WILL INSTALL A COVER ON THE BRAKE PEDAL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JANUARY 8, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 866-802-9381.
View full details →Recall 08V048000 — EQUIPMENT
| 3,336 vehicles affected
Defect: KAWASAKI IS RECALLING 3,611 MY 2008 ZG1400A8F, ZG1400A8FL, ZG1400B8F, AND ZG1400B8FL MOTORCYCLES. THE REAR CARRIER PLATFORM COULD BREAK IF A KAWASAKI GENUINE ACCESSORY LUGGAGE SYSTEM IS INSTALLED ON THE CARRIER PLATFORM AND A PASSENGER LEANS AGAINST IT.
Consequence: THE CARRIER PLATFORM AND LUGGAGE SYSTEM COULD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE REAR CARRIER PLATFORM IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 866-802-9381.
View full details →Recall 08V047000 — EQUIPMENT
| 4,645 vehicles affected
Defect: KAWASAKI IS RECALLING 4,645 MY 2008 ZG1400A8F, ZG1400A8FL, ZG1400B8F, AND ZG1400B8FL MOTORCYCLES. THE PIVOT PIN FOR THE LATCHES THAT SECURE THE SADDLEBAGS TO THE VEHICLE CAN BREAK IF FORCE IS APPLIED TO EITHER SADDLEBAG SUCH AS IN THE EVENT THE VEHICLE FALLS OVER WHILE PARKED OR IF THE SADDLEBAG IS IMPROPERLY ATTACHED.
Consequence: CONTINUED USE OF THE VEHICLE WITH EITHER SADDLEBAG LATCH BROKEN CAN RESULT IN THE SADDLEBAG COMING FREE OF ITS MOUNT DURING VEHICLE OPERATION, CREATING THE POSSIBILITY OF A CRASH RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SADDLEBAG LATCH ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE WITH REINFORCED LATCHES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 4, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 866-802-9381.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2008 KAWASAKI ZG1400A8F
6 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2008 KAWASAKI ZG1400A8F. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service Brakes Hydraulic | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
WHEN RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE I BRAKED HARD TO TEST OUT THE ABS SYSTEM. THE ABS SYSTEM TRIGGERED AS IT SHOULD MODULATING THE BRAKING. WHEN I LET OFF THE BRAKES, THE REAR BRAKE DID NOT RELEASE AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SLOW COMING TO A STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE REAR BRAKE WOULD NOT RELEASE AND I COULD NOT GO. EVENTUALLY I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND TURNED IT BACK ON WHICH SOLVED THE ISSUE LEADING ME TO BELIEVE IT IS A FAULTY ABS SYSTEM. I WAS IN A LOCATION IN ORDER TO SPECIFICALLY TEST OUT THE MOTORCYCLE WHICH IS NEW TO ME. HAD I BEEN IN AN EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATION ON THE HIGHWAY IN WHICH I NEEDED TO ONLY TEMPORARILLY SLOW AND THEN GO, I WOULD HAVE BEEN FORCIBLY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD TO POWER CYCLE THE MOTORCYCLE OFF/ON TO RESET THE ABS. ALL RECALLS TO DATE HAVE BEEN PERFORMED ON THIS MOTORCYCLE BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE ISSUE IS REPLICATEABLE AND SEVERAL OTHERS HAVE HAD THE ISSUE AS NOTED ON OWNERS FORUMS ONLINE.
EXITING EXIT 115 NORTHBOUND ON I-75 AND WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKES I FOUND I HAD NO REAR BRAKES WHATSOEVER. LIKEWISE, AS I CONTINUED ON TO A SAFE SPOT TO PARK THE BIKE THE BACK WHEEL WOULD OCCASIONALLY FEEL AS IF IT WAS TRYING TO LOCK UP. IT WAS AS IF THE ABS WAS MALFUNCTIONING WHEN I WAS MAKING LOW SPEED TURNS. NO ABS WARNING LIGHTS OR FAULT CODES APPEARED ON MY INSTRUMENT PANEL TO PROVIDE ANY WARNING THAT I HAD AN ISSUE. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO STOP IN TIME HOWEVER THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ABS MODULE HAD FAILED. RESEARCHING THE ISSUE IT APPEARS THAT MANY OTHER KAWASAKI CONCURS OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE. WHILE KAWI APPEARS TO PLACE THE BLAME ON BRAKE FLUID THAT ISN'T CHANGED AT 2 YEAR INTERVALS MINE WAS FLUSHED AT 15-18 MONTH INTERVALS SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 2010. FURTHERMORE, THE DEFAULT MODE FOR ABS FAILURE SHOULD BE LOSS OF ABS, NOT LOSS OF THE ENTIRE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. THE PART NUMBER THAT MALFUNCTIONED IS 16082-0023. *DT UPDATED 10/5/18*JB
ANTILOCK BRAKE UNIT FAILURE, RESULTING IN TOTAL REAR BRAKE LOSS. THE ABS UNIT IS COMPOSED OF 2 SEPARATE HALF'S. ONE HALF CONTROLS THE FRONT BRAKES, AND ONE FOR THE SINGLE REAR CALIPER. THE MAGNETIC SOLENOID IN THE DISTRIBUTION BLOCK OF THE UNIT, STUCK IN IT'S BORE. THIS RESULTS IN A TOTAL FLUID BLOCKAGE, WITH ZERO LINE PRESSURE ON THE OUTPUT SIDE OF THE UNIT. I WAS ABLE TO DISASSEMBLE THE UNIT, (CONSIDERED A NON SERVICEABLE PART) AND REPAIR THE ISSUE. THE FRIGHTENING THING IS, ON A BIKE, WHAT HAPPENS IF THE FRT SUFFERS THE SAME FAILURE? THIS FAILURE HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING, OR SWITCH OFF, AND IT'S NOT SPEED RELATED. THE SOLENOID VALVES ARE VISIBLE IN THE ENCLOSED PICTURE, AND ARE THE PROBLEM COMPONETS.
REAR BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT DEPRESS. REAR BRAKE DOES NOT ENGAGE. *TR
THE CURRENT BRAKE PADS HAD 9000 MILES ON THEM, VERY BROKEN IT WITH PLENTY OF FREE PLAY. WHEEL SPINS FINE WHEN BRAKES NOT APPLIED. REAR BRAKE DRAGGING ALMOST TO LOCK UP. BURNED THE ROTOR AND MELTED THE BRAKE PADS. THIS HAPPENED VERY SUDDENLY AFTER ONE DAYS RIDE. WHEN NOTICED THE REAR WHEEL STILL WAS FAIRLY FREE SPINNING. SOMETHING IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM CAUSED THIS. *TR
Safety Rating for the 2008 KAWASAKI ZG1400A8F
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2008 KAWASAKI ZG1400A8F in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2008 KAWASAKI ZG1400A8F
Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. has issued 1 technical service bulletin (TSBs) for the 2008 KAWASAKI ZG1400A8F. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
MC20-07 — SEATS
Service Bulletin MC20-07 - Kawasaki has created an inspection procedure to address any owner related questions about the proper way to install the seat on their ZG1400. All 2008 through 2020 models are eligible for inspection if the owner experiences a seat that will not latch properly.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2008 KAWASAKI ZG1400A8F
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the KAWASAKI ZG1400A8F
- 2008 KAWASAKI ZG1400A8F (current)
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