Auto Recall Watch
U.S. public vehicle records

Suzuki DR-Z400S problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

4 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

1,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2000 to 2026 model years. Data updated: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 4 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues125.0%
Fuel system concerns125.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
1
Engine
1
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap
1
Tires
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery1
Engine1
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap1
Tires1

Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1; Engine: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap: 1; Tires: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
3
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0003
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 1 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2006
1
2008
1
2013
1
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20061
20081
20131
20231

2006: 1; 2008: 1; 2013: 1; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10228740 · 2008-05-23 (May 23, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI DRZ400S. WHILE STOPPING THE MOTORCYCLE TO APPROACH A STOP LIGHT, THE BATTERY SPONTANEOUSLY FAILED DISABLING THE VEHICLE. AS A CONSEQUENCE, HE WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THE THE BATTERY FAILED THREE TIMES. THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS TO SMALL FOR THE VEHICLE AND THE ONLY WAY TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM WAS TO KEEP THE BATTERY ON THE TRICKLE CHARGE FOR 24 HOURS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 700.…

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10228740 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10155726 · 2006-04-19 (April 19, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING OFF ROAD IN WARM WEATHER THE MOTORCYCLE RUNS ROUGH AND THERE IS A GAS SMELL. THE GAS CAP WAS TAKEN OFF OF THE VEHICLE; GASOLINE SPURTED FROM THE GAS TANK. THE DEALER STATED THE MOTORCYCLE NEEDED A VENTED GAS CAP, HOWEVER DUE TO THE MOTORCYCLE BEING OFF ROAD AND STREET LEGAL THERE IS NOT A VENTED GAS CAP AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10155726 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2018
1
2025
1
2026
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20181
20251
20261

2018: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1

Year-by-year records

Suzuki DR-Z400S model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
200010Not available
200210Not available
200610Not available
2007100
201801Not available
202501Not available
2026010
Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

4 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

75.0%Usable mileage3 / 4 records
100.0%Valid incident date4 / 4 records
100.0%Valid filing date4 / 4 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates4 / 4 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

Component complaint heatmap
Component201820252026
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

Engine
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

Tires
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
ComponentMileage range (25th–75th percentile)MedianUsable recordsExamples
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v BatteryToo few reports for a range200 mi1 (sparse)
ODI 10228740 · 200 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI DRZ400S. WHILE STOPPING THE MOTORCYCLE TO APPROACH A STOP LIGHT, THE BATTERY SPONTANEOUSLY FAILED DISABLING THE VEHICLE. AS A CONSEQUENCE, HE WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE THE THE BATTERY FAILED THREE TIMES. THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS TO SMALL FOR THE VEHICLE AND THE ONLY WAY TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM WAS TO KEEP THE BATTERY ON THE TRICKLE CHARGE FOR 24 HOURS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 700.…

Look up ODI 10228740 at NHTSA ↗

EngineToo few reports for a range4,100 mi1 (sparse)
ODI 10510941 · 4,100 mi

THE HEAD GASKET ON MY DR-Z400 BLEW AT 45 MPH WITH ONLY 4100 MILES, I USUALLY ONLY DRIVE THE MOTORCYCLE DURING THE SUMMER, AND I ALWAYS PUT NEW OIL AND NEW RADIATOR FLUID, AND DO ALL MAINTENANCE BEFORE I TAKE THE MOTORCYCLE OUT FOR THE YEAR, I WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45 ON THE ROAD AND THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, WHEN I GOT IT HOME AND TOOK THE HEAD OFF TO REPLACE THE HEAD GASKET, IT HAD PITTED ON THE UPPER AND LOWER SURFACES OF THE HEAD WHERE THE HEAD GASKET FITS FROM HOT GASES. HOWEVER, AFTER TAKING ALL THE ITEMS TO GET DOWN TO UNTORQUE THE HEAD BOL…

Look up ODI 10510941 at NHTSA ↗

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And CapToo few reports for a range1,500 mi1 (sparse)
ODI 10155726 · 1,500 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING OFF ROAD IN WARM WEATHER THE MOTORCYCLE RUNS ROUGH AND THERE IS A GAS SMELL. THE GAS CAP WAS TAKEN OFF OF THE VEHICLE; GASOLINE SPURTED FROM THE GAS TANK. THE DEALER STATED THE MOTORCYCLE NEEDED A VENTED GAS CAP, HOWEVER DUE TO THE MOTORCYCLE BEING OFF ROAD AND STREET LEGAL THERE IS NOT A VENTED GAS CAP AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

Look up ODI 10155726 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

25V873000 · 2025-12-171 reports2024-112026-10

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
MonthComplaintsCampaigns announcedExamples
2024-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2024-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-100None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-12025V873000

No examples available for this selection.

2026-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-10 (partial)0None

No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Age 0Age 1Age 21 reports

2007: 1 complaints · 2018: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model yearThrough age 0Through age 1Through age 2
2007011
2018000
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
YearIncident dates usedFiling date fallbacksExcluded dates
2007100
2018000

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
ComponentElectrical System:12v/24v/48v BatteryEngineFuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And CapTires
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery—000
Engine0—00
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap00—0
Tires000—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

1 patterns with matching reports.

Fuel smell or leak mentions

1 mentions · 25.0% of complaints

Median mileage: 1,500 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10155726 · 1,500 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING OFF ROAD IN WARM WEATHER THE MOTORCYCLE RUNS ROUGH AND THERE IS A GAS SMELL. THE GAS CAP WAS TAKEN OFF OF THE VEHICLE; GASOLINE SPURTED FROM THE GAS TANK. THE DEALER STATED THE MOTORCYCLE NEEDED A VENTED GAS CAP, HOWEVER DUE TO THE MOTORCYCLE BEING OFF ROAD AND STREET LEGAL THERE IS NOT A VENTED GAS CAP AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.

Look up ODI 10155726 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule\b(fuel leak\w*|gas leak\w*|gas(?:oline)? smell|smell\w* (?:of )?(?:fuel|gas))\b