2018 Kawasaki Ninja Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Ninja years
- Not enough data 6th of 15 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Kawasaki Ninja. That ranks 6th out of 15 Ninja model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (2 complaints, 100%), typically at around 4 miles. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year.
- 2owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2018 Kawasaki Ninja problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 2 | 100% | 4 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 50% | 3 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
2018 Kawasaki Ninja recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:software; power train:manual transmissionDo not drive
Problem: Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (KMC) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Ninja H2 SX, Ninja H2 SXSE, and 2019-2020 Ninja H2 SXSE+ motorcycles. In the event of a gear misengagement the engine electronic control unit (ECU) programming doesn't have the capability to suppress high RPM during transmission. If the transmission gears are not properly engaged while shifting into 4th or 5th gear, high engine RPM can cause the output gears of 4th or 5th to fracture when the gears re-engage.
Risk: Damaged gears and the inability to shift can cause the engine to lock up, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: KMC will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the FI-ECU software, free of charge. Owners are advised to not ride their motorcycle until the repair has been completed. The recall began November 16, 2020. Owners may contact KMC customer service at 1-866-802-9381. KMC's number for this recall is MC20-10.
Structure:motorcycle:kickstand/center stand
Problem: Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. (Kawasaki) is recalling certain 2018 Kawasaki Ninja H2 SX SE (ZXT02BJ) motorcycles. The pin for the center stand spring may have been improperly welded, and, as a result, the pin may shift or fall off resulting in the spring detaching and the center stand dropping to the ground unexpectedly and dragging while riding.
Risk: The dragging center stand can cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Kawasaki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left center stand bracket, free of charge. Owners may contact Kawasaki customer service at 1-866-802-9381. Kawasaki's number for this recall is MC18-05.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Issues shifting... Im suspecting its the brake in oil causing this because at least 15 times up until my first oil change you would be shifting gears and the gear wouldn't fully engage unexpectedly causing the bike to rapidly slow down with cars behind me having to slam on brakes. And also at least…
On my way home from the dealer it popped out of gear and acted like it missed a gear twice. Have had it about 20 days now and its missed out popped out of gear at least 20 or 25 times now. This shouldn't be happening on a new bike
Other Kawasaki Ninja years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 Ninja | 1 | 0 |
| 2020 Ninja | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 Ninja | 1 | 1 |
| 2018 | 2 | 2 |
| 2014 Ninja | 1 | 0 |
| 2005 Ninja | 1 | 0 |
| 2004 Ninja | 7 | 0 |
| 2003 Ninja | 5 | 1 |
| 2002 Ninja | 3 | 1 |
| 2001 Ninja | 7 | 1 |
| 2000 Ninja | 8 | 3 |
| 1999 Ninja | 2 | 1 |
| 1998 Ninja | 2 | 0 |
| 1996 Ninja | 2 | 0 |
| 1995 Ninja | 0 | 2 |
See all Kawasaki Ninja problems by year, every Kawasaki model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Kawasaki models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Kawasaki Ninja?
Owners most often report power train, engine problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 2 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Kawasaki Ninja?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2018 Kawasaki Ninja a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Ninja model years, the 2018 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.