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Kawasaki KL650EModel year report

2008 Kawasaki KL650E Problems

Complaints
12filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
2,500miles, 10 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2008 Kawasaki KL650E (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2008 Kawasaki KL650E. The part named most often is exterior lighting, with 7 complaints (58% of the total), followed by engine cooling (2) and body and structure (2). 10 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 2,500 miles. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 2 recall campaigns covering the manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Exterior lighting: “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. The signal light rubber and mounting point are weak, causing them to collapse with no warning, leaving the rider without signal lights.”

NHTSA complaint #10235128, filed 2008-07, 600 miles

Engine cooling: “The contact owns a 2008 Kawasaki KL650E motorcycle. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign id number 09v059000 (engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe) and called the dealer to have the vehicle repaired. He was informed by a technician that the repair consisted of removing the paint from the muffler mount tabs and replacing the mount bolts, nut, and washer. As a professional technician himself, the contact was concerned that the removal of the paint would inevitably lead to rust failures. …”

NHTSA complaint #10260966, filed 2009-03, 4,584 miles

Body and structure: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10244622, filed 2008-10, 3,200 miles

Electrical system: “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. The contact was informed of the recall under NHTSA campaign id number: 09v062000 (electrical system:wiring) and stated that he experienced everything the recall listed. The vehicle had not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 11,700.”

NHTSA complaint #10465463, filed 2012-07, 11,700 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 10 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 600 and 4,584 miles.

90%0–1010%10–250%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (10 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 2,500 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

20081020092012
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2008 Kawasaki KL650E → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

No technical service bulletins are on record for the 2008 Kawasaki KL650E.

Other model years of the Kawasaki KL650E

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
200966,3752———Not enough data
2008122,5003———Not enough data

All Kawasaki KL650E model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2008 Kawasaki KL650E have?

NHTSA recorded 12 consumer complaints for the 2008 Kawasaki KL650E as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2008 Kawasaki KL650E is reported most often?

Exterior lighting is named most often, in 7 complaints (58% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 2.

Has the 2008 Kawasaki KL650E been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2008 Kawasaki KL650E reported?

Among the 10 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 2,500 miles and the middle half falls between 600 and 4,584 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.