IllustrationON MY 2003 KLR650, THE IDLE SHAFT LEVER FAILED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SURGE AND VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. ADJUSTMENT WAS IMPOSSIBLE, AND DAMAGE HAD OCCURRED IN THE BOTTOM END OF MY ENGINE. *TR
2003 Kawasaki KL650A17
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Other model years Selected year
Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 2 of 2 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
2 reports2003 KAWASAKI WITH ENGINE FAILURE CUSTOMER STATES THAT HE BELIEVES A RECALL ACTION IS WARRANTED**NAR**CC THE TENSIONER SPRING BROKE WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING TO WORK. ABOUT 10 TO 15 MILES LATER, THE BROKEN SPRING BECAME LOOSE AND DERANGED THE CAM DRIVE CHAIN CAUSING VALVE TO PISTON CONTACT AND ENGINE DAMAGE. *JB UPDATED…
Read full complaint
2003 KAWASAKI WITH ENGINE FAILURE CUSTOMER STATES THAT HE BELIEVES A RECALL ACTION IS WARRANTED**NAR**CC THE TENSIONER SPRING BROKE WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING TO WORK. ABOUT 10 TO 15 MILES LATER, THE BROKEN SPRING BECAME LOOSE AND DERANGED THE CAM DRIVE CHAIN CAUSING VALVE TO PISTON CONTACT AND ENGINE DAMAGE. *JB UPDATED 09/13/07. *JB
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.