Recall?? (2009/2010 units)

[lockie]

Has anyone seen or heard of a recall on the 09 Ninja.

I copied this from the NHTSA website.

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):
KAWASAKI / EX250 2009-2010
Manufacturer: KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP., U.S.A. Mfr's Report Date: NOV 24, 2009
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V464000
N/A
NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Potential Number of Units Affected: 259
Summary:
KAWASAKI IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 EX250 NINJA 250 MOTORCYCLES. POROSITY IN THE ENGINE CASE COULD ALLOW ENGINE OIL TO LEAK, AND BE DEPOSITED ON THE REAR TIRE. A SMALL NUMBER OF UPPER ENGINE CASES FOR THE AFFECTED MODEL COULD HAVE POROSITY IN THE ALUMINUM CASTING. THIS POROSITY OCCURS IN THE VICINITY OF A PRESSURIZED OIL PASSAGE JUST ABOVE THE TRANSMISSION OUTPUT SHAFT.
Consequence:
ENGINE OIL LEAKING FROM THIS LOCATION CAN BE DEPOSITED ON THE REAR TIRE, CREATING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND CHECK FOR LEAKS IN THE VICINITY OF THE SUSPECTED POROSITY. UNITS EVIDENCING SIGNS OF LEAKAGE WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 8, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-866-802-9381.
Notes:
OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .

[OldGuy]

If anyone thinks there is a recall go to this Kawasaki web site and enter your VIN number and it will provide any relevant information.

[BlueRaven]

I checked transport canada website for vehicle recalls for all me and my moms vehicles and didn't find one for the kawi.

[HKr1]

Looks like a recall, usually they give a vin range.

http://nhthqnwws112.odi.nhtsa.dot.go...9V464-7836.pdf

[Alex]

/moved to 2008+ Tech section

[sixer]

THIS? This happened yesterday... left side

read the pdf but not so sure mines "that problem"
grumble-
all over my primed panel.

[randomwalk101]

I remember a member who has an oil leak issue...can't remember who though..I bet KKim knows..he knows everything

[randomwalk101]

nevermind, it was NickH. He leaks coolant, not oil...

[Snake]

Originally Posted by sixer

THIS? This happened yesterday... left side

read the pdf but not so sure mines "that problem"
grumble-
all over my primed panel.

I would keep track of the oil level and if you are loosing oil I would take it to the dealer and have them check your bike is suffering the same problem as the recall.

[NickH]

Yeah, mine was a coolant issue.

-Nick-
Posted via Mobile Device

[ninja250]

Nice!
Thanks for teaching me how to check for recalls on my bike

[00v_Lucky]

Originally Posted by OldGuy

If anyone thinks there is a recall go to this Kawasaki web site and enter your VIN number and it will provide any relevant information.

Ty for the quick link ^^

and my '09 doesn't have a recall on it fyi. phew.

[ninja250]

TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT DECEMBER 8, 2009.

I think I'll check again after the 8th.. seems like they might update the recall status of the site around then according to the info posted above. Check back to be sure..
The models listed is my model but not sure if they're updating the recall info or not.

[randomwalk101]

Originally Posted by 00v_Lucky

Ty for the quick link ^^

and my '09 doesn't have a recall on it fyi. phew.

Is this clown for real? It starts on Dec 8th...today is Dec. 6 "fyi"

[wyckedflesh]

Potential Number of Units Affected: 259

That is like a needle in a Hay Stack.

[00v_Lucky]

Originally Posted by randomwalk101

Is this clown for real? It starts on Dec 8th...today is Dec. 6 "fyi"

this is what i get for not reading the whole thread. oh well, I deserved that

[ninja250]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
After buying a whole motorcycle garage worth of maintenance equipment to keep my bike from going back to the dealership..

..my spanking new bike has to go in for crank case inspection! Damn! That sucks bigtime! Now some grimey mechanic gonna have his hands all over my bike.

So much for only me working on it. lol Not impressed!

[austexjg]

That sucks....

[backinthesaddleagain]

I just went to site, keyed in my VIN and it said no recall. So I guess they know what production run was affected??

[ninja250]

Sounds like you're safe.
Mine was ok the other day but after the 8th it says recall status.
Man I have 750 miles on this puppy and they might have to pull the whole engine apart
I don't even know the mechanics at the shop where I bought this thing.

[bdavison]

I checked mine again.. still says "no recall" so I guess Im good to go. Thank goodness. My ninja is my primary transportation, so it would be a real pita if it had to go into some shop for a month.

I love how they worded it...

A SMALL NUMBER OF UPPER ENGINE CASES FOR THE AFFECTED MODEL COULD HAVE POROSITY IN THE ALUMINUM CASTING

In layman's terms....theres a freakin HOLE in your motor!!!!

[NickH]

I found a hole in my motor about 2 months ago.....took the shop 3 weeks to get all the parts and fix.

-Nick-
Posted via Mobile Device

[noche_caliente]

Nick - out of curiosity, when you put your VIN in, does it list the recall for it?

[NickH]

Originally Posted by noche_caliente

Nick - out of curiosity, when you put your VIN in, does it list the recall for it?

No, it doesn't show up. It says there are no outstanding recalls.......is there a way to check past history repairs?

Thanks,
Nick

[sixer]

Nick also where was the hole (pinpoint) ? I cleaned the generator cover and warmed it up and can't find the leak at the moment goin for a quick hard ride ina few. - although seemed like generator cover bottom (or lube) where the leak "seems" to be coming from but when i pulled the farring the leak was higher??? Oil took forever to show up in the window ( but cold here) level seems fine once i turned it off and leaned the bike. So far my bikes not recalled...

[NickH]

Originally Posted by sixer

Nick also where was the hole (pinpoint) ? I cleaned the generator cover and warmed it up and can't find the leak at the moment goin for a quick hard ride ina few. - although seemed like generator cover bottom (or lube) where the leak "seems" to be coming from but when i pulled the farring the leak was higher??? Oil took forever to show up in the window ( but cold here) level seems fine once i turned it off and leaned the bike. So far my bikes not recalled...

I took the main left and right fairing off of my bike in order to find it. Looking at the bike from the front, I found the hole on the upper left area (the head to be exact).

Let me know if you have any other questions...........oh, the total bill for the fix was around 2,000.00 (was covered under warranty). There was no recall at the time I found it.

Regards,
Nick

[ninja250]

Damn I'm tempted to just leave the bike at the dealership. (for good)
I've never even made a payment on it yet.
They'll take forever to fix it knowing this place..

Haven't decided what to do yet. I guess I have no choice but to bring it in and let them mess with it. Pretty much the last thing I wanted to happen to my new bike!

[sixer]

Thanks Nick- no holes i can see...

Wish i had a front stand.. can't pin point it but seems this part inside the green-


What part is it?

generator wires are soaked btween the wire brackets-
the oil seaped into/thru the fairing - i hope soaking it will get oil out.

[ninja250]

Called Kawasaki and they say the fix is to epoxy a hole somewhere under the front sprocket cover.

I asked if my life was to rely on epoxy to prevent oil from getting on my tire while riding and they said they have many years of expertise and it won't be a problem.

Man I'm kinda upset about this. What would you guys do in this situation if you hadn't even made a payment on the bike yet? I haven't noticed any leaks while doing the 600mi service but I haven't even looked at the bike since finding out about this.

[HKr1]

^ 13 hours to epoxy a hole? Guess it's drying time

[bdavison]

Just go get it fixed ninja250...
I know it sucks and is inconvienent, but if you dont go get it fixed the results will be much worse than the inconvience of having it repaired.

Even with the recall, the bike is still worth the trouble. The ninja 250r is one of the finest bikes ever produced IMO, and Ive ridden alot of bikes.

[addy126]

Mines escaped the recall list thus far.... just renewed warranty for extended coverage "just in case" of unforeseen issues uh huh uh huh cuz u never know... as they say "Let the Good Times Roll"

[ninja250]

The 250 is a fun little bike. I knew that from the other day.

I just worry a lot.. and I just bought it, so kinda a bad impression to possibly have a hole in the crank case that is fixed with epoxy (I'd assume JB weld or something that can handle contact with hot oil?)

I have to admit that it will be in the back of my mind when riding it that my engine is so thin and possible accidents prevented from epoxy.

I don't have any choice though. I'll have to take it in for them to fix. I can't just not pay for it.. that wouldn't go well with the loan. I'd have to take a huge hit and sell it.

I might try and look for the problem first myself, although I don't know exactly where it is. I asked Kawi to email the details to me.. maybe they have already. I'll let you guys know what other stuff I find out.

edit: here's the info I got. Two pages of four it seems. Damn! That's a potentially fat hole in my crank case! WTF!

[CRXTrek]

[ninja250]

No, more like..

[CRXTrek]

[ninja250]

Well,
I'll go throw it up on stands and figure out a way to pressurize this sucker and see if it's leaking. For what it's worth, 5-6psi in an enclosure is quite a bit. You can get to about 2-3lbs max with your own breath I think.

Fingers crossed my bike isn't "Holy"

I sure wouldn't want to take it to the track if it is. You think they'll allow JB weld drain plugs?

[HKr1]

Originally Posted by ninja250

edit: here's the info I got. Two pages of four it seems. Damn! That's a potentially fat hole in my crank case! WTF!

Nice find!

[ninja250]

I owe thanks to my GF for calling Kawi and getting that info for us.

Already figured out how to check it.
My pancake compressor has a regulator on it. Although it does drop a few PSI after you let the initial air out and then plug it, but gives me some hope for self testing. I have to be very careful though and limited myself to max 20psi in the entire pancake chamber before the regulator.

Need a bit more testing but this should be able to find it I guess
I'll know soon if it's bad or not. Give me a night to determine. I don't see any leakage so far... I did pop 5psi down the breather a few times but didn't apply soapy water yet.

[bdavison]

If you are doing the repair yourself, be aware that if its not done by Kawasaki, it wont go on the records for your bike as being done. If your repair fails later on, the repair may not be covered under the warrenty/recall so you might want to check with Kawi on that before you do it.

Also, the recommended 5-6psi is important. Pressurizing the engine at higher psi levels can blow out seals and gaskets...which could create alot of problems you dont want.

The epoxy is a pretty smart way of repairing it, otherwise they'd have to split the engine case and replace the entire side of the motor. Aside from the cost, you're bike would be in the shop for months.