Recall 18V215 affects 218 2012 Zero S, Zero Ds, and Dsp motorcycles for battery shorts. Do not drive or charge. Free collection offered.
An electrical short can increase the risk of a fire. Loss of battery power or range is the warning sign Zero identifies for compromised cells. Do not drive or charge the motorcycle, including short trips. Ask the dealer to arrange collection at no charge. Repair will be free at any franchised Zero dealer once available.
Zero is recalling 218 2012 Zero S, Zero Ds, and Dsp motorcycles because battery cell pouches can wear against their holders, let humidity into the pouch, and cause an electrical short. Do not drive these motorcycles; an electrical short can increase the risk of a fire, and the Zero dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The 2012 Zero S, Zero Ds, and Dsp motorcycles use a main battery pack made from individual cell pouches held inside battery pack holders. Those cells store the electrical energy that powers the motorcycle. The holders are supposed to keep the cells supported while the pack moves with normal riding and charging.
On affected motorcycles, the cells can move against their holders. That contact wears through the protective layers of a cell pouch. Once the pouch is worn, humidity can enter the cell and create an internal electrical short inside the battery pack. Zero traced the problem to the design of the cells and holders.
The warning sign listed by Zero is a significant drop in battery power and riding range. If the motorcycle suddenly loses range or feels weaker than normal, the battery pack needs dealer attention.
Who's affected?
The scope covers three electric motorcycle variants, with both the hybrid propulsion system and battery listed for each model.
| 2012 Zero Zero S | Hybrid propulsion system |
|---|---|
| 2012 Zero Zero S | battery |
| 2012 Zero Zero Ds | Hybrid propulsion system |
| 2012 Zero Zero Ds | battery |
| 2012 Zero Dsp | Hybrid propulsion system |
| 2012 Zero Dsp | battery |
| Units affected | 218 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 3 field incidents to date. |
A matching 2012 Zero model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific motorcycle is included.
What's the safety risk?
An electrical short can increase the risk of a fire. Loss of battery power or range is the warning sign Zero identifies for compromised cells. Do not drive or charge the motorcycle, including short trips. Ask the dealer to arrange collection at no charge. Repair will be free at any franchised Zero dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2012 Zero Zero S, Zero Ds, or Dsp is included in this recall.
- Do not drive or charge the motorcycle because a battery-pack short can increase the risk of fire.
- Arrange collection through Zero or a franchised Zero dealer if the motorcycle must be moved; do not ride it there yourself.
- Contact Zero customer service at 1-888-841-8085 to ask about the repurchase or financial trade-assist offered for this battery-pack defect.
- Reference recall number 18V215 and Zero recall SV-ZMC-018-383 when you call.
What happens at the repair
This campaign is not handled as a normal shop repair. Zero offers owners a choice between repurchase of the motorcycle or financial trade-assist toward a newer model year Zero motorcycle. Do not ride or charge the affected motorcycle. Zero dealers arrange collection of the motorcycle at no charge to the owner, so the next step is dealer coordination, not riding it in for service. The remedy process began on April 30, 2018. Owners can contact Zero customer service at 1-888-841-8085 and reference Zero recall SV-ZMC-018-383.
Timeline
| April 4, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 16, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| April 20, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| April 30, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| April 30, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V215?
Recall 18V215 covers 218 2012 Zero Zero S, Zero Ds, and Dsp motorcycles with battery cell pouches that can wear against their holders. Humidity can enter the pouch and cause an electrical short, increasing fire risk.
What should I do if my 2012 Zero Zero S, Zero Ds, or Dsp is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific motorcycle is included in recall 18V215. If it is, do not ride or charge it. Contact Zero customer service at 1-888-841-8085 and reference recall SV-ZMC-018-383 so Zero can arrange collection at no charge.
Does the recall remedy cost anything?
No. Federal recall law requires the recall remedy to be provided at no cost. Zero offered owners a repurchase option or financial trade-assist toward a newer Zero motorcycle, and Zero dealers arrange collection of affected motorcycles at no charge.
What does "do not drive" mean for this Zero recall?
Do not drive or charge the motorcycle if your VIN is included. Zero advised owners to stop riding and charging affected motorcycles because a battery short can increase fire risk. Ask Zero or a franchised Zero dealer to arrange collection instead of riding it in.
What warning signs should I watch for?
The recall filing does not give a warning sign for owners to watch before the battery short. Treat the VIN result as the decision point. If your motorcycle is included, stop riding and charging it, then contact Zero for the no-charge collection and remedy path.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V215000 |
|---|---|
| Zero customer service | 1-888-841-8085 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V215 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V215000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - 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 →