Recall 18V089 affects 3,964 2016-2018 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 motorcycles for transmission gear breakage. Do not drive. Free repair at any franchised Kawasaki dealer.
Broken transmission gears can cause a loss of control and increase the risk of a crash. Do not drive the motorcycle, including short trips, until the repair is complete. If it needs to move, ask the dealer about transport. Repair is free at any franchised Kawasaki dealer.
Kawasaki is recalling 3,964 2016-2018 Ninja 1000 motorcycles under recall 18V089 because high impact force while shifting can break transmission gears. Broken transmission gears can cause loss of control and increase crash risk. Do not drive these motorcycles until a Kawasaki dealer completes the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The manual transmission on the 2016-2018 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 uses interlocking gears to route engine power to the rear wheel. When you shift, the transmission moves from one gear set to the next so the motorcycle can match road speed and engine speed. Those gears have to withstand repeated impact loads each time a shift engages.
On affected motorcycles, the transmission gears do not have enough strength for a high impact force during shifting. Kawasaki's investigation found broken rims on the output 2nd, 3rd, and 4th gears after market reports that the gear change stopped working. If a gear breaks during a shift, the transmission can stop changing gears as intended.
There is no warning sign before failure. The first sign is the shift problem itself, such as the motorcycle refusing to change gears after a shift.
Who's affected?
All three model years are tied to the same manual transmission component.
| 2017 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 | manual transmission |
|---|---|
| 2016 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 | manual transmission |
| 2018 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 | manual transmission |
| Units affected | 3,964 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 2 field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific motorcycle is included.
What's the safety risk?
Broken transmission gears can cause a loss of control and increase the risk of a crash. Do not drive the motorcycle, including short trips, until the repair is complete. If it needs to move, ask the dealer about transport. Repair is free at any franchised Kawasaki dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016-2018 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 is included in this recall.
- Do not drive or ride the motorcycle until the transmission-gear repair is complete.
- Arrange a tow if the motorcycle has to be moved to the dealer; do not drive or ride it there yourself.
- Contact a franchised Kawasaki dealer to schedule the free transmission-gear replacement that fixes gears that can break during shifting.
- Bring the recall notice if Kawasaki mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V089 when you call.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Kawasaki technician replaces the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th output gears and the 2nd input gear in the transmission. The dealer repair is available now, and the replacement parts and labor are free under recall 18V089. Do not ride the motorcycle until the repair is performed. Ask the service desk to confirm that the covered gear replacement has been completed before you pick it up.
Timeline
| February 1, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| February 26, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V089?
Recall 18V089 covers 3,964 2016-2018 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 motorcycles with transmission gears that can break during shifting after a high impact force. If the gears break, the rider can lose control, increasing crash risk. Kawasaki dealers will replace the affected gears for free.
What should I do if my 2016-2018 Kawasaki Ninja 1000 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific motorcycle is included in recall 18V089. If it is, Do not drive the motorcycle until the repair is complete. Call a franchised Kawasaki dealer and reference recall 18V089 or Kawasaki recall MC18-01 when you schedule service.
Does the recall repair cost anything?
No. Federal recall law requires the recall repair to be performed at no cost. Kawasaki dealers will replace the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th output gears and the 2nd input gear free of charge.
What does 'do not drive' mean for this Kawasaki recall?
Do not drive the motorcycle until a Kawasaki dealer completes the recall repair. The recall says broken transmission gears can cause loss of control and increase crash risk. If the motorcycle has to move, ask the dealer about transport options instead of riding it in.
What if I bought this Kawasaki Ninja 1000 used?
The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your motorcycle is included, then call a franchised Kawasaki dealer with recall 18V089 or MC18-01.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V089000 |
|---|---|
| Kawasaki customer service | 1-866-802-9381 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V089 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V089000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →