Heads Up, Kawasaki Issues Stop Sale, Recall On Some Ninja 500s and Z500s

There's a clutch lever issue, and it could affect riding safety.

Photo by: RideApart.com

By: Janaki Jitchotvisut

Mar 20, 2025 at 7:37am ET

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Kawasaki Motors USA is issuing a voluntary safety recall on certain 2024 Ninja 500 and Z500 models due to a clutch issue affecting a specific production range of these bikes. On the affected range of bikes, the clutch release shaft may not have been properly welded, which could cause it to break apart in operation. If this happens, the clutch could stay engaged when the rider does not mean it to, which would in turn disable the motorcycle. For obvious reasons, this could then increase the risk of a crash.

Approximately 3,742 motorcycles could be affected, which represents approximately one percent of the population according to Kawasaki's records. The affected bikes were manufactured between January 22, 2024 and February 6, 2024.

As for models affected, it's a wide range of 2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500 and Z500 variants. Here's the full list.

2024 Kawasaki Z500 ABS
2024 Kawasaki Z500 SE ABS
2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500 ABS
2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500 KRT Edition
2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500 KRT Edition SE ABS
2024 Kawasaki Ninja 500 SE 40th Anniversary Edition ABS

Kawasaki Motors Limited (hereafter called KML, also known as Kawasaki Motors USA's parent company) first began investigating reports of this issue in May 2024. In the course of the company's investigation, it discovered that the clutch release shaft supplier may have mistakenly used 'trial parts' from one specific welding machine on production bikes during this time range. After further investigation and confirmation of this situation, KML decided to issue a recall.

Kawasaki Motors USA will notify its dealer network about this issue on March 20, 2025. It plans to send letters to registered owners of affected bikes on March 24, 2025. Furthermore, Kawasaki is instructing its dealer network to stop the sale and delivery of affected bikes until a recall repair can be made to affected units.

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As for the nature of that recall repair, it will involve authorized Kawasaki dealers replacing the clutch release shaft at no charge to customers. Kawasaki's recall number for this campaign is MC25-04, and owners may contact Kawasaki Customer Service at 1-866-802-9381.

Additionally, owners may contact the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or visit www.nhtsa.gov.