AI Damage2008 Kawasaki Concours 14: common problems
Owners of the 2008 Kawasaki Concours 14 filed 27 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and equipment. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 27
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 41% of all complaints
- 2 Equipment 19% of all complaints
- 3 Latches, locks, linkages 19% of all complaints
- 4 Structure 15% of all complaints
- 5 Suspension 7% of all complaints
- 6 Engine 4% of all complaints
- 7 Engine and cooling 4% of all complaints
- 8 Fuel system 4% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 11 complaints (41% of all).
- Equipment: 5 complaints (19% of all).
- Latches, locks, linkages: 5 complaints (19% of all).
- Structure: 4 complaints (15% of all).
- Suspension: 2 complaints (7% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 27 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Tl* 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.
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.
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).
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 kawasaki concours 14 motorcycle. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, he heard a loud bang. The contact lost control of the vehicle as the rear wheel suddenly seized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnosis.
Front brake rotors have warped under normal use, causing very noticeable steering vibrations. Which may lead to a loss of control and a possible crash. I feel this matter to be a safety concern to the operators of this motorcycle.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 kawasaki concours 14. The contact stated that while riding the bike 40 mph, he heard a loud noise near the rear of the bike became unstable. The contact pulled over and noticed that the rear wheel bolt hole was melted.
The contact stated the front end of the vehicle would violently shake when the front brake was engaged while driving approximately 60 mph. The failure recurred whenever the front brakes were engaged while driving at highway speeds.
Left saddle bag fell off motorcycle and was hit by following vehicles. Thankfully no one was injured but the bag was destroyed. Kawasaki refused to accept responsibility even though the bag had last been attached by a trained service tech.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 7,189 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 20% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Concours 14 has 6 complaints (9 years in the data). This year has 27, above average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Latches, locks, linkages. Door, hood and tailgate latches, especially near the impact.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Kawasaki Concours 14?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, equipment, latches, locks, linkages. Total complaints: 27. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: vibration (15%), brake failure (11%), fuel system, fuel smell (4%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2008 Kawasaki Concours 14?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2008 Kawasaki Concours 14 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2008 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.