STEERING

The defect

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A (Kawasaki) is recalling certain Z7 Hybrid ABS and Ninja 7 Hybrid ABS motorcycles. The connection between the head pipe (steering head) to the frame may have been improperly welded and crack, resulting in a loss of vehicle handling and control.

The risk

Loss of vehicle handling and control increases the risk of a crash or injury.

The fix

Owners are advised not to ride their motorcycles. Kawasaki will replace the motorcycles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 27, 2024. Owners may contact Kawasaki customer service at 1-866-802-9381.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to www.nhtsa.gov. Please be reminded of the following requirements: You are required to submit a draft owner notification letter to this office no less than five days prior to mailing it to the customers. Also, copies of all notices, bulletins, dealer notifications, and other communications that relate to this recall, including a copy of the final owner notification letter and any subsequent owner follow-up notification letter(s), are required to be submitted to this office no later than 5 days after they are originally sent (if they are sent to more than one manufacturer, distributor, dealer, or purchaser/owner). Please be reminded that under 49 U.S.C. § 30112(a)(3), it is illegal for a manufacturer, to sell, offer for sale, import, or introduce or deliver into interstate commerce, a motor vehicle or item of motor vehicle equipment that contains a safety defect once the manufacturer has notified NHTSA about that safety defect. This prohibition does not apply once the motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment has been remedied according to the manufacturer's instructions. As stated in 49 U.S.C. § 30118(f), submission of eight consecutive quarterly reports followed by three annual reports is required. As described in 573.7, submission of the first of eight consecutive quarterly status reports is required within one month after the close of the calendar quarter in which notification to purchasers occurs. Therefore, the first quarterly report will be due on, or before, 30 days after the close of the calendar quarter. The first of three consecutive annual status reports will be due on, or before, 1 year after the eighth quarterly report was submitted.

Reported May 11, 2024