Kawasaki KLR650 Problems by Year
NHTSA has 205 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file for the Kawasaki KLR650, across 17 model years (1995–2024). The 2008 model year has the most complaints (116). The most reported problem area overall is exterior lighting.
Kawasaki KLR650 years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical KLR650 year: 2001, 2002, 2008, 2023. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2008 KLR650: 116 complaints, 1 recall
- 2001 KLR650: 19 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2023 KLR650: 16 complaints, 0 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 1995 KLR650: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 1997 KLR650: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2005 KLR650: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Kawasaki KLR650 problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 87 | 3 | 0 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 56 | 7 | 0 |
| Steering | 18 | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 14 | 6 | 0 |
| Engine | 11 | 9 | 0 |
| Structure | 11 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 9 | 3 | 0 |
| Power Train | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Kawasaki KLR650 problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2008: exterior lighting (85)
All Kawasaki KLR650 model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 KLR650 | 1 | 0 | — | Engine | |
| 2023 KLR650 | 16 | 0 | — | Steering | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2022 KLR650 | 1 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2017 KLR650 | 1 | 0 | — | Unknown or Other | |
| 2009 KLR650 | 6 | 0 | — | Electrical System | |
| 2008 KLR650 | 116 | 1 | — | Exterior Lighting | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2007 KLR650 | 3 | 0 | — | Suspension | |
| 2006 KLR650 | 1 | 0 | — | Engine | |
| 2005 KLR650 | 1 | 0 | — | Exterior Lighting | |
| 2003 KLR650 | 6 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 2002 KLR650 | 11 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2001 KLR650 | 19 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2000 KLR650 | 8 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 1999 KLR650 | 7 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 1998 KLR650 | 6 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | |
| 1997 KLR650 | 1 | 0 | — | Engine | |
| 1995 KLR650 | 1 | 0 | — | Suspension |
More from Kawasaki: all Kawasaki models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Kawasaki KLR650 years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2001 (19), 2002 (11), 2008 (116), 2023 (16) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical KLR650 year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Kawasaki KLR650?
Exterior Lighting, with 87 complaints across 3 model years.
How many recalls does the Kawasaki KLR650 have?
1 safety recall across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.