Kawasaki VULCAN 900 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
11 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
400 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 to 2023 model years. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 11 complaints (27.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 36.4% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 18.2% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 9.1% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 9.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 9.1% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 3 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 2 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 |
| Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs | 1 |
Power Train: 3; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 2; Engine: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Unknown Or Other: 1; Vehicle Speed Control: 1; Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 2 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2012: 1; 2015: 1; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2021: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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 10735685 · 2015-07-22 (July 22, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 KAWASAKI VN900D. WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE WAS SHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR AND THE CLUTCH WAS ACTIVATED, THE ENGINE REVVED INDEPENDENTLY INTO HIGH GEAR AND THE THROTTLE SEIZED. WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BEING DEPRESSED, THE POWER STEERING FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A CURB AND A PARKED VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2. UPDATED 09/14/15*LJ …
Owner-reported narrative. 2 miles reported. Look up ODI 10735685 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11139246 · 2018-10-09 (October 9, 2018)
THE MOTORCYCLE WILL AT TIMES SPEED UP ON ITS OWN JUST LIKE SOMEONE IS TWISTING THE THROTTLE. THIS HAPPENS PRIMARILY WHEN YOU FIRST START THE MOTORCYCLE. AFTER IT IS RIDDEN FOR A WHILE, THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE. ONE TIME I STARTED THE MOTORCYCLE IN A PARKING LOT AND THE CYCLE AT FIRST WAS IDLING NICELY BUT AFTER SHIFTING IT INTO FIRST AND BEGINNING TO LEAVE IT REVVED UP A GREAT DEAL FORCING ME TO PULL THE CLUTCH IN AND SHUTTING IT OFF. IT IS LIKE THE THROTTLE CABLE GETS IN A BIND BUT I DON'T THINK IT IS THAT SINCE IT ONLY HAPPENS AFTER FIRST STA…
Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 11139246 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10970077 · 2017-04-03 (April 3, 2017)
MOTORCYCLE STALLS WHEN THROTTLE IS RELEASED DUE TO ENGINE CONTROL UNIT PROBLEM, ECU DRIVING DOWN STREET, PROBLEM OCCURS OCCATIONALLY AND THERE ARE RECALLS ON OTHER MODELS OF THE SAME MOTORCYCLE. BUT MY VEHICLE DOES'NT SEEM TO BE ON THE LIST OF RECALLED VIN'S. WHAT CAN I DO?
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10970077 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11576838 · 2024-03-12 (March 12, 2024)
On multiple occasions, while riding my Kawasaki the transmission shifts into neutral without any input from the operator. This has happened about a dozen times with a current odometer reading of 1635. The sudden loss of power is a safety risk because if it happens while negotiating a turn, the bike wants to drop. I took the bike into the dealer for warranty service on 2/17/2023. They had the bike until 3/7/2023 and advised they could not replicate the issue. However, they did not put more than 2 miles on the bike to test it. The dealer to…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11576838 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10282339 · 2009-08-30 (August 30, 2009)
AFTER FILLING UP GAS TANK ON MY 2009 KAWASAKI VULCAN 500 IT QUITS RUNNING AFTER 20 TO 60 MILES. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES. SINCE THE LAST TIME I HAVE BEEN RUNNING WITH THE FUEL VALVE ON RESERVE AND HAVE NOT HAD ANOTHER PROBLEM. ALSO MY SISTER IN LAW AND A FRIEND HAS HAD THE SAME WITH THEIR 2008 VULCAN 500'S. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,678 miles reported. Look up ODI 10282339 at NHTSA ↗
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
2008: 0; 2009: 0; 2010: 0; 2011: 1; 2015: 0; 2017: 0; 2020: 0; 2021: 0; 2023: 0