AI Damage1999 Kawasaki KLR650: common problems
Owners of the 1999 Kawasaki KLR650 filed 7 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 7
What fails most often
- Engine and cooling: 7 complaints (100% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 7 | 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.
The 1986-2007 kawasaki klr650 motorcycle's tensioning system for the engine balancer shaft drive chain is unreliable, and a failure could lead to sudden engine lock-up and loss of vehicle control, potentially resulting in injury or fatality.
1999 kawasaki klr650 motorcycle balancer adjuster failure >engine lockup & loss of control . Parts & labor to repair $1211.81 repair date invoice date 5/24/05 invoice#99079450 hillside motorsports rt14 white river jct , [ZIP] maybe safety issue due to sudden engine lock up, bikes need recall for improved…
Dt: the contact stated that the doohickey cracked on the motorcycle. The doohickey is an idler shaft lever which puts tension on the chain inside the engine. There were no warning or indicators of a problem. This was discovered by the contact when doing routine service. The motorcycle was repaired. Updated 1/25/2006.
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 12,538 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 34% most complained about).
On average one model year of the KLR650 has 11 complaints (19 years in the data). This year has 7, below average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Kawasaki KLR650?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling. Total complaints: 7.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 Kawasaki KLR650?
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 1999 Kawasaki KLR650 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 1999 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 2026-11-05.