Kawasaki VULCAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
50 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
10,950 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 to 2010 model years. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel/Propulsion System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 50 complaints (10.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 7 | 14.0% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 12.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 10.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 8.0% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 4.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 3 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Engine: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 3; Power Train: 3; Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Electrical System: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 18 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 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: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 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 (18). 28 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 11 |
| 2001 | 5 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
2000: 11; 2001: 5; 2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 7; 2005: 5; 2006: 2; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2013: 3; 2018: 2; 2019: 2; 2021: 1; 2022: 2
Pattern summary
Fuel/Propulsion System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 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 10097739 · 2004-11-17 (November 17, 2004)
AFTER A 15 MPH FRONTAL CRASH FUEL TANK STARTED TO LEAK. MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL ABOUT THE MUFFLER BRACKET CRACKING. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 25,128 miles reported. Look up ODI 10097739 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121464 · 2005-05-16 (May 16, 2005)
2005 KAWASAKI VULCAN 2000 EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS TANK AS WELL AS THE FRONT TIRE IS INSTALLED BACKWARDS.*MR. GAS TANK CAP LEAKS FLUID AND FUMES, CAUSES POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD AND HEALTH PROBLEMS. HEADLIGHTS WON'T ADJUST AND MOVE DOWN, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR CONSUMER TO SEE ROAD AT NIGHT. ALSO, FRONT TIRE WAS INSTALLED BACKWARDS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10121464 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11278406 · 2019-11-06 (November 6, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 KAWASAKI VULCAN 1500 NOMAD. WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO BIG ST. CHARLES MOTORSPORTS (LOCATED AT 3830 WEST CLAY STREET, ST. CHARLES, MO 63301) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A PLASTIC GEAR IN THE OIL PUMP THAT CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL OVERRIDE IN THE MOTORCYCLE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11278406 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 883305 · 2001-03-16 (March 16, 2001)
WAS DRIVING MOTORCYCLE AT 70MPH WHEN IT SUDDENLY STALLED OUT FOR NO REASON. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE SO FAR. MOTORCYCLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 883305 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11096561 · 2018-05-17 (May 17, 2018)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 KAWASAKI VULCAN NOMAD 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR; HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION SWITCHED BACK INTO NEUTRAL AND THE MOTORCYCLE LOST ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO SWITCH INTO FIRST GEAR, BUT THE MOTORCYCLE SWITCHED INTO NEUTRAL AGAIN. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO DRIVE THE MOTORCYCLE HOME. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 79,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11096561 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8023295 · 2002-11-25 (November 25, 2002)
NO PARTS AVAILABLE THE CONSUMER RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE TRANSMISSION SHAFT. THE BUSINESS NAME IS FLORIDA SPORTS [phone removed] [XXX] TS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8023295 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10152058 · 2006-03-06 (March 6, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65MPH, THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE EMITTING FROM THE MOTORCYCLE FOLLOWED BY SMOKE. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE ERUPTED FROM THE TRANSFER CASE AND DRIVE TRAIN. UPON INITIAL INSPECTION, THE FIRE WAS SUSPECTED TO BE ELECTRICAL IN NATURE DUE TO DAMAGE SUSTAINED TO THE WIRING. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER.
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10152058 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10148645 · 2006-01-18 (January 18, 2006)
1996 KAWASAKI VULCAN REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. *TS THE TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT AND CAUSED THE LICENSE PLATE AND HOLDER TO BE TORN OFF. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10148645 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10425782 · 2011-09-16 (September 16, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KAWASAKI VULCAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME STUCK IN THIRD AND FIFTH GEARS, CAUSING DIFFICULTY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO POP THE VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR AND RE-ENGAGE. THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE CLUTCH IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE FAILURE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER WAS MADE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 400.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10425782 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
1995: 1; 1996: 0; 1997: 1; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 0; 2006: 0; 2009: 1; 2010: 1