AI Damage2008 Kawasaki KL650E: common problems
Owners of the 2008 Kawasaki KL650E filed 12 complaints with NHTSA, most often about exterior lighting and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 12
What fails most often
- 1 Exterior lighting 58% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 17% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 17% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 8% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 8% of all complaints
- 6 Visibility 8% of all complaints
- Exterior lighting: 7 complaints (58% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 2 complaints (17% of all).
- Structure: 2 complaints (17% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (8% of all).
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (8% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 12 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior lighting | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 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 kl650e. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the vehicle lost all electrical power. The dealer and the manufacturer were notified, but offered no assistance.
As a professional technician himself, the contact was concerned that the removal of the paint would inevitably lead to rust failures. The vehicle has not yet been repaired according to the recall. The manufacturer did not assist. The failure and current mileages were 4,584.
I am owner of green 2008 klr. I bought it in june of 2008. It is covered under kawasaki 1 yr manufacture warranty. It has chronic rubber rot on the windshield screws, after only 2 months of usage, and kawasaki and the kawasaki dealer have refused to replace the rubber under the warranty.
Motorcycle turn signals (rear) break and fall to hang by the wires.
While the wind screen coming loose at speed is a scary thought the clutch cable cover is of particular concern as it's failing could allow sand etc into the clutch cable and prevent the operator from actuating the clutch making the vehicle unstoppable.
My left rear turn signal fell off this time. (my second complaint). I was actually returning from the kawasaki dealership having my right rear turn signal repaired when the left turn signal just fell off and started flopping in the wind. I had to travel 40+ miles with no turn signals after just leaving the dealership.
Right rear signal light fell off of my motorcycle. Upon further inspection and consulting with other owners of the same motorcycle I realized that this is not an isolated incident. I had no damage to my bike, no collisions, etc.
Updated 5/20/08 the consumer stated when the motorcycle is hot, smoke emits from the engine.
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 10,162 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 28% most complained about).
On average one model year of the KL650E has 5 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 12, above average.
What to check before buying
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Kawasaki KL650E?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: exterior lighting, engine and cooling, structure. Total complaints: 12. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: rust, corrosion (8%), infotainment or screen glitches (8%), smoke, burning smell, fire (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2008 Kawasaki KL650E?
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 KL650E 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.