2008 Kawasaki Concours 14 recalls and problems

The 2008 Kawasaki Concours 14 has 1 safety recall and 27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Kawasaki dealer.

Recalls

Complaints

Crashes / fires

0 / 0

Injuries / deaths

2 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2008 Kawasaki Concours 14 vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2008 Kawasaki Concours 14 recalls

Recall 12V-343: Structure, Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Reported Jul 20, 2012 · 13,289 vehicles affected · KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP., U.S.A.

Problem: Kawasaki is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Concours 14 (ZG1400 A/B/C/D) motorcycles. Due to a gap between the brake pedal and guard, small stone or debris can become trapped, creating a brake drag. This can cause the rear brake to overheat, leading to rear brake damage and lock-up or failure of the rear brakes. The front brakes may also be affected on ZG1400C models.

Risk: If the brakes lock up or fail, there is an increased risk of a crash.

Fix: Kawasaki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear master cylinder rod end and remove the brake guard (if installed), free of charge. The safety recall began on July 37, 2012. Owners may contact Kawasaki at 1-866-802-9381.

2008 Kawasaki Concours 14 problems reported by owners

Problem area	Reports
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	6
Latches/Locks/Linkages	5
Service Brakes	5
Structure	4
Equipment	3
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility	2
Suspension	2
Fuel System, Gasoline	1
Fuel System, Other	1
Engine and Engine Cooling	1
Steering	1
Power Train	1

Most reported parts

Structure › Frame and Members › Underbody Shields — 1
Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System — 1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor — 1
Suspension › Rear — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 7,800 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2008 Kawasaki Concours 14 complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Service Brakes · at 43,680 miles · reported Sep 20, 2018

On or about june 20, 2016 I noticed that my rear brake pedal was beginning to get harder to push to apply brake to the rear ABS braking system. On december 20, 2017 I took my concours to my dealer and had 2 tires r&r and also requested the dealer to check the braking system on the rear. There was no notice from the ABS system that alerted me to any malfunctioning hardware via the idiot lights. (See attachments) I feel the light not working and the defective ABS core is a known issue with kawasaki and they have chosen not to address this safety issue. On march 6, 2018 I wrote through the online…

Service Brakes · at 29,500 miles · reported Mar 25, 2016

The rear brake on my motorcycle will intermittently get stuck in the up position. In order for me to get it to work again, I have press down on the pedal with more than normal operating pressure. The vehicle is in motion when this happens. I believe this is a safety issue because I AM never sure if the brake is going to function as designed due to it getting stuck. It could cause a crash because of not being able to stop in time with only the front brakes. I AM not the only one to have this same issue with this model of motorcycle

Tires · at 21,922 miles · reported Jun 19, 2015

The contact owns a 2008 kawasaki concours 14 equipped with pirelli angel gt tires (Na), size 120/70zr/17 (Na). When the contact depressed the brake pedal after driving 35 MPH, the front tire became distorted and resulted in a loss of stability. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing where it was confirmed that the tire did not meet the specifications of the bike which caused the failures. The tire could not be replaced because the spec models would not be available until the latter part of 2015. The tire was re-balanced. The tires were not replaced. The tires were replacement…

Service Brakes · at 35,471 miles · reported Sep 30, 2014

Rear brake ceased to function. Pedal travel to full deflection but no rear brake. Dropped bike at naples kawasaki dealership, and a week later they said it was fixed under the recall mc12-05 (Brake rod end). I picked up the bike only to find there was still no brake. This recall did not address the brake failure but pertained to previous issues. I then left the bike at the dealer for correction of the brake problem. They ran tests and could not find any ABS or brake related read outs in the internal diagnosis system. I was told that while they did not know why the bake brake did not work, the…

Engine · at 7,800 miles · reported Sep 23, 2014

Oil leaking from the cam position sensor o-ring(S). Fluid leaks onto hot cylinder block and exhaust. I have not had a fire yet, but the potential is there if enough fluid escapes onto the exhaust. The motorcycle is currently in for the same repair for a third time (As of 22 september 2014). The second time was the 14th of may 2014. Conversations with shop personnel indicate this is a known problem at kawasaki and the leak problem is current and ongoing among owners of this particular model motorcycle.

Other Kawasaki Concours 14 years

2016 2013 2012 2011 2010 20092008

Compare all Kawasaki Concours 14 years · All Kawasaki models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2008 Kawasaki Concours 14 have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2008 Kawasaki Concours 14: 12V-343 (structure, service brakes, hydraulic). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2008 Kawasaki Concours 14?

Owners report service brakes, hydraulic problems most often (6 reports), followed by latches/locks/linkages (5). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 7,800 miles.

Are Kawasaki recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Kawasaki dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.