Recall 12V307 covers 450 2011-2012 Zero motorcycles for a front brake-light switch delay. Repair is free at any franchised Zero dealer.
Zero is recalling 450 2011-2012 motorcycles, including S, XU, Ds, Xd, Mxd, X, Zero S, Zero Xu, and Zero Ds models, because the front brake-light switch can activate only after significant lever travel. That delay can leave following motorists without a brake-light warning when the motorcycle slows, raising the risk of a crash and injury or death; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The front brake light switch on the 2011-2012 Zero Xd, Xu, Zero Ds, Zero Xu, S, X, Zero S, Mxd, and Ds motorcycles sits at the front brake lever. Its job is simple: when the rider pulls the front brake lever, the switch turns on the brake light so traffic behind the motorcycle sees that the rider is slowing.
On affected Zero motorcycles, the switch does not turn on at the start of lever movement. The brake light waits until significant brake lever travel has already happened, so the motorcycle is braking before the rear lamp gives its normal signal to drivers behind it.
There is no warning sign before failure. The rider is not told by the motorcycle that the front brake lever switch is late, and the brake itself can still feel normal while the brake light signal is delayed.
Who's affected?
Spans 9 Zero motorcycle models across the 2011 and 2012 model years, all tied to the brake light switch.
| 2011 Zero Xd | Switch |
|---|---|
| 2011 Zero Xu | Switch |
| 2012 Zero Zero Ds | Switch |
| 2012 Zero Zero Xu | Switch |
| 2011 Zero S | Switch |
| 2012 Zero X | Switch |
| 2012 Zero Zero S | Switch |
| 2011 Zero Mxd | Switch |
| 2011 Zero Ds | Switch |
| Units affected | 450 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific motorcycle is included.
What's the safety risk?
Recall 12V307 addresses a brake light that fails to activate when moderate front brake pressure is applied. When that happens, traffic behind the motorcycle is not alerted as it slows, increasing crash risk and risk of injury or death to the rider. Repair will be free at any franchised Zero dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011-2012 Zero Xd, Xu, Zero Ds, Zero Xu, S, X, Zero S, Mxd, or Ds motorcycle is included in this recall.
- Contact Zero customer service at 1-831-438-3500 if you did not receive the owner letter mailed on August 3, 2012.
- Ask a franchised Zero dealer to inspect the front brake-light switch that delays brake-light activation.
- Schedule the free brake-light-switch replacement if the dealer finds the front brake system switch needs replacement.
- Reference recall number 12V307 when you call the dealer or Zero customer service.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Zero technician inspects the front brake system brake light switch at the front brake lever. If the switch does not activate until significant lever travel, the technician replaces the switch. Zero's remedy says the inspection and any needed replacement are free of charge. The safety recall began on August 3, 2012, so owners can ask a Zero dealer to confirm the recall repair path for the included motorcycle.
Timeline
| June 29, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 3, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V307?
Recall 12V307 covers 450 2011-2012 Zero motorcycles with a front brake lever switch that does not activate the brake light until significant lever travel occurs. Zero dealers will inspect and, if needed, replace the front brake system brake-light switch for free.
What should I do if my 2011-2012 Zero Xd, Xu, Zero Ds, Zero Xu, S, X, Zero S, Mxd, or Ds is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific motorcycle is included in recall 12V307. If it is, contact a franchised Zero dealer to schedule the brake-light switch inspection. The dealer will replace the switch if needed, and the recall repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Zero dealers will inspect the front brake system brake-light switch and replace it if needed free of charge under recall 12V307.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is that the brake light does not alert traffic behind the motorcycle during moderate front-brake use. Following motorists are not warned that the motorcycle is slowing, which increases crash risk and the risk of rider injury or death.
What if I bought my Zero motorcycle used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the motorcycle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Zero is included, then reference recall 12V307 when you call a franchised Zero dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V307000 |
|---|---|
| Zero customer service | 1-831-438-3500 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V307 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V307000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →