RecallMyCar

2018 Kawasaki Ninja Recalls, Complaints & Specs

2 safety recalls list the 2018 Kawasaki Ninja, and owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.

2
safety recalls
2
owner complaints to NHTSA

2 safety recalls for the 2018 Kawasaki Ninja

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Software (electrical system) and manual transmission (power train) Do not drive

    NHTSA 20V676000 Reported 799 vehicles potentially affected Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.

    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…

    Remedy: 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…

  2. Kickstand/center stand (structure)

    NHTSA 18V580000 Reported 390 vehicles potentially affected Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A.

    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…

    Remedy: 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.

2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2018 Kawasaki Ninja have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 4 miles. Complaints peaked in 2018 with 2 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“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 ca”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 4, 2018 · Engine

“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 should”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 16, 2018 · Power train

Compare Kawasaki Ninja model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Kawasaki Ninja model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1995 Kawasaki Ninja20
1996 Kawasaki Ninja02
1998 Kawasaki Ninja02
1999 Kawasaki Ninja12
2000 Kawasaki Ninja38
2001 Kawasaki Ninja17
2002 Kawasaki Ninja13
2003 Kawasaki Ninja15
2004 Kawasaki Ninja07
2005 Kawasaki Ninja01
2014 Kawasaki Ninja01
2018 Kawasaki Ninja22
2019 Kawasaki Ninja11
2020 Kawasaki Ninja10
2021 Kawasaki Ninja01

Checking a specific 2018 Kawasaki Ninja

How do I know if my 2018 Kawasaki Ninja has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2018 Kawasaki Ninja; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Kawasaki dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 18V580000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Kawasaki models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.