Kawasaki Jet Ski has increased its factory-backed warranty to five years, giving it a clear lead over its rivals when it comes to consumer guarantees on manufacturing faults.
The Kawasaki Jet Ski five-year warranty comes into effect from 1 June 2020 and applies to all new models sold by authorised dealers in Australia.
Previous Kawasaki Jet Skis had a three-year warranty, but the five-year coverage now comfortably exceeds its rivals.
Market leader (by sales) Sea-Doo has two-year warranty coverage across its range, although it has in the past offered a three-year warranty on certain models during special promotional periods.
The second-biggest seller of personal watercraft in Australia, Yamaha, has had three-year warranty coverage for at least 10 years.
With the exception of the Kawasaki STX160 (pictured below, and which received a new top deck in 2019 but carries over the same hull introduced in 2003), Kawasaki currently has the oldest line-up in the Jet Ski and personal watercraft industry.
The move to a five-year warranty is believed to be an attempt to attract buyers back into Kawasaki showrooms – without an all-new model in the wings.
According to industry data, Kawasaki Jet Skis account for about 5 per cent of personal watercraft sales in Australia, versus about 70 per cent for Sea-Doo and about 25 per cent for Yamaha.
In a statement, Kawasaki said its Jet Ski product range “has been an essential part of the Kawasaki brand for 47 years”.
“Kawasaki Motors Australia (KMA) stands behind the quality of the Jet Ski range. In a ground-breaking initiative, Kawasaki will lead the industry and implement a five-year warranty on all new Jet Ski products,” the statement continued.
“The five-year warranty will apply to all Jet Ski units imported by (Kawasaki Motors Australia) and sold through the Kawasaki dealership network.”