FaultScore

Worst years for a Kawasaki KLR650

Owners have filed 229 complaints about the Kawasaki KLR650 with NHTSA across model years 1993 to 2024. More of them are about the lights than anything else.

Avoid

2008 Kawasaki KLR650

129 complaints — the highest FaultScore of any year, mostly lights.

Cleanest on record

2023 Kawasaki KLR650

19 complaints — the lowest FaultScore of the graded years.

Every Kawasaki KLR650 year, graded

The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded
Year Grade Complaints Crashes Fires Median miles Most reported
2024 2 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2023 A 19 0 0 Steering
2022 3 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2017 1 0 0 Other & Unspecified
2009 8 0 0 7,750 Engine & Cooling
2008 D 129 0 1 2,000 Lights
2006 1 0 0 Engine & Cooling
2005 1 0 0 Lights
2003 7 0 0 9,582 Engine & Cooling
2002 B 12 0 0 3,000 Engine & Cooling
2001 B 20 0 0 12,800 Engine & Cooling
2000 9 0 0 11,883 Engine & Cooling
1999 7 0 0 19,400 Engine & Cooling
1998 6 0 0 10,400 Engine & Cooling
1997 1 0 0 Engine & Cooling
1995 1 0 0 Suspension
1993 2 0 0 Engine & Cooling

What breaks on a Kawasaki KLR650

Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.

Lights 87 38.0%

Worst in 2008

Engine & Cooling 69 30.1%

Worst in 2001

Steering 18 7.9%

Worst in 2023

Suspension 13 5.7%

Worst in 2008

Body & Structure 11 4.8%

Worst in 2008

Electrical System 9 3.9%

Worst in 2008

Transmission & Drivetrain 7 3.1%

Worst in 2008

Equipment & Accessories 3 1.3%

Worst in 2008

Other & Unspecified 3 1.3%

Worst in 2001

Brakes 2 0.9%

Worst in 1993

Fuel & Propulsion 2 0.9%

Worst in 1998

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 2 0.9%

Worst in 2002

Tires 2 0.9%

Worst in 2002

Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 0.4%

Worst in 2001

Exactly what failed on a Kawasaki KLR650

The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.

Engine 27 46.6%
Gasoline 7 12.1%
Shock Absorber 6 10.3%
Turn Signal 6 10.3%
Springs 2 3.4%
Body 2 3.4%
Rear 2 3.4%
Exhaust System 2 3.4%
Steering Wheel/Handle BAR 2 3.4%
Manual Transmission 2 3.4%

Complaints filed over time

Every complaint about every Kawasaki KLR650, by the month it reached NHTSA.

Jul 1995 peak 37 Oct 2025

Compare the Kawasaki KLR650

Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.