Kawasaki Motors Corp., USA, is recalling certain 2024 Z7 Hybrid ABS and Ninja 7 Hybrid ABS motorcycles because the ECU may unexpectedly shift the motorcycle’s transmission into neutral. Kawasaki’s reports to NHTSA are sometimes short on details, and this recall is no exception. NHTSA has requested that Kawasaki provide additional details and file an amended Part 573 report. However, at this time, the following is a summary of all the information that is available.
Kawasaki’s Part 573 Safety Recall Report to NHTSA
Kawasaki’s Part 573 Safety Recall Report to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says 1,150 motorcycles may be affected.
In the report, Kawasaki says:
“On certain eligible units, improper programing of the shift control system may cause the transmission to shift to neutral when the operator attempts to shift from 1st to 2nd gear.”
Describing the safety risk, Kawasaki says:
“ There is a risk that the motorcycle may lose power while being operated.”
The motorcycles affected by this recall are as follows:
| MAKE | MODEL | YEAR |
|---|---|---|
| KAWASAKI | Ninja 7 Hybrid | 2024 |
| KAWASAKI | Z7 Hybrid | 2024 |
Component manufacturer
Name: Kawasaki Motors Ltd.
Address: 1-1, Kawasaki-cho
Akashi, Hyogo Foreign States 673-8666
Country: Japan
Note: Kawasaki identified itself as the manufacturer of the defective component. However, it is unclear whether Kawasaki developed the defective software/ECU or if a different supplier was involved.
Motorcycles affected
Potentially affected bikes were produced between November 29, 2023, and August 26, 2024. The affected machines fall within the following VIN ranges:
VIN Range 1: Begins: ML5CXGA16RDA00161 and Ends: ML5CXGA19RDA04544
VIN Range 2: Begins: ML5CRGA13RDA01181 and Ends: ML5CRGA17RDA04357
The Kawasaki Z7 Hybrid. Photo: Kawasaki
Description of the remedy
Kawasaki says that the bike’s ECU will be reprogrammed but doesn’t specify how the re-programming will be accomplished. But they did say if owners have experienced the recall problem and already paid to have it fixed, they would consider paying for the repairs, saying:
If you have experienced the failure described above prior to receiving this letter and have paid to have it corrected, you may be eligible for full or partial reimbursement for your documented cost of repair(s). To apply for reimbursement, please send copies of current owner and VIN information along with copies of repair orders and payment confirmation to the following address:
Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. ATTN: Customer Care P.O. Box 25252 Santa Ana, California 92799-5252
Notification schedule
Interestingly, in its Part 573 Safety Recall Report to NHTSA, Kawasaki failed to provide any information on how it would remedy this defect. Nor did they provide any schedule indicating when dealers or customers will be notified. Accordingly, NHTSA replied to Kawasaki, telling them that it must supply the estimated dates for when it will notify dealers and owners of affected motorcycles. They also told Team Green that it must provide a better description of the risk to motor vehicle safety reasonably related to the defect. Kawasaki will likely update their report with these required details in the near future. If additional information becomes available, we will update this article.
Contacts
In the interim, if you have an affected motorcycle, you may contact Kawasaki Motors Corp, USA, at +1 (949) 770-0400 and cite Kawasaki recall number MC24-13. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), citing NHTSA Recall 24V-680, or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
