A crankcase defect led Kawasaki to recall 4,170 model year 2011 to 2012 motorcycles.
The recall includes several variants of the ZX-10R Ninja motorcycles manufactured between Sept. 1, 2010, and Feb. 15, 2012, by Kawasaki Heavy Industries of Askashi, Japan and imported to the U.S. by Kawasaki Motors Corp.
A crankcase flaw on the motorcycle allows engine oil to leak at the starter mounting point and pool on top of the crankcase, potentially causing a safety hazard if the oil spills onto the rear tire.
In November 2011, Kawasaki Heavy Industries received a report from its Malaysian distributor that oil leaked from the crankcases machined surface. The leak was determined to have been caused by a blow hole in the crankcase casting at the affected area, Kawaski said in a July 31 letter to the NHTSA.
Customer recall letters went out to owners starting on Aug. 7. Kawasaki dealers will remove the starter and seal the crankcase.