The Kawasaki STX 160 has received one final update for 2025 ahead of a major model change in 2026 (which you can read about here).
The 2025 Kawasaki STX 160 has a new hood cover and latch – presumably to address faults with the previous design which led to two safety recalls in Australia, in 2020 and 2022.
Brighter colours are also part of the changes for the 2025 Kawasaki STX 160, joining the playful colour schemes used for fellow entry-point models such as the Sea-Doo Spark and Yamaha JetBlaster, which are popular with first-time riders and anyone new to the sport.
Based on the information provided so far there are no other significant changes.
The 2025 Kawasaki STX 160 still has the old school reverse lever on the left of the centre console and the craft still lacks trim adjustment (both issues addressed with the 2026 model which is still at least a year away).
The update to the hood cover and the larger and more secure latch should resolve safety concerns once and for all after the Kawasaki STX 160 was subject to two recalls for the same fault – after the first fix did not properly address the problem.
As reported by Watercraft Zone in October 2020 – more than 200 examples of the 2020 Kawasaki STX160X and STX 160LX Jet Skis were recalled in Australia because the front storage area compartment cover (or hood cover) could detach and injure the rider.
Authorities advised owners not to use the watercraft until it had been fixed.
“Consumers should stop operating their watercraft immediately,” said the recall notice issued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) in October 2020.
“If the front hatch cover detaches from the watercraft, it may propel towards the rider causing serious injury.”
The recall applied to 230 examples of the 2020 Kawasaki STX160X and the luxury version of the same watercraft, the Kawasaki STX160LX, sold in Australia between 1 October 2019 and 21 September 2020, within the first year of the model going on sale locally.
The Kawasaki STX 160 was recalled a second time for the same fault in February 2022 after the initial rectifications failed to fix the problem.
This prompted safety authorities to repeat warnings for owners to “stop riding immediately” until their watercraft has been fixed.
The faulty latch on 2020, 2021 and 2022 examples of the Kawasaki STX160 Jet Ski could cause the hood cover to flip open, detach, and impact the rider while the Jet Ski was being operated at speed.
“If the front hatch cover detaches from the watercraft, it may propel towards the rider, this may cause an accident, leading to serious injury or death,” said the second recall notice issued by Product Safety Australia, the Federal Government recall watchdog.
“High pressure water impact to the front hatch cover can result in the front hatch cover detaching from the watercraft,” the recall notice continued.
“Consumers should stop operating their watercraft immediately. Kawasaki Motors will notify all affected owners by direct letter or email and advise them to make an appointment for repair.”
The second recall applied to all 170 examples of the 2020 Kawasaki STX160 Jet Ski, all 227 examples of the 2021 Kawasaki STX160 Jet Ski, and six examples of the 2022 Kawasaki STX160 Jet Ski delivered to customers in Australia at the time.
In the end, a total of 403 examples of the Kawasaki STX 160 manufactured from October 2019 to January 2022 were recalled for the faulty hood latch.
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