2003 Kawasaki VULCAN: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
8 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
12,819 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 8 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:Driveline:Driveshaft is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 8 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 25.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 25.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 12.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 12.5% |
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:Driveline:Driveshaft | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 1 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 1 |
| Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint | 1 |
Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft: 2; Electrical System: 1; Engine: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 1; Power Train: 1; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 1; Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint: 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 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 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: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 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 (6). 0 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
2003: 1; 2004: 5; 2006: 1; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10022741 · 2003-06-10 (June 10, 2003)
FRONT FORKS ARE BENT. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 2,538 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022741 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053155 · 2004-01-14 (January 14, 2004)
REAR WHEEL LOCKED-UP BECAUSE OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE RIDING MOTORCYCLE. GEAR SHIFT WAS LOCKED-UP AND TRANSMISSION COULD NOT BE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL OR ANY OTHER GEAR. REPAIRING DEALER FOUND BROKEN PIECES IN TRANSMISSION. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE SIMILAR OR POSSIBLY IDENTICAL TO RECALL FOR 2002 MODEL YEAR MOTORCYCLES UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V261000.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 615 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053155 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053787 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
THE MOTORCYCLE'S SPLINES ON THE DRIVESHAFT WERE NOT PROPERLY LUBRICATED AT THE FACTORY. THIS CAUSED THE SPLINES TO OVER RUN, AND RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER TO THE REAR WHEELS. THIS MADE STOPPING THE MOTORCYCLE DIFFICULT. MODEL VN750 A-19. *AK *MR
Owner-reported narrative. 15,737 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053787 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059501 · 2004-02-19 (February 19, 2004)
WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOST OF DRIVING FORCE TO THE REAR WHEEL AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED SLOWING DOWN. *LA UPON INSPECTION OF THE MOTORCYCLE, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO LUBRICATE THE SPLINED COUPLING THAT WENT BETWEEN THE DRIVESHAFT OUTPUT AND THE FINAL DRIVE GEARBOX PINION ASSEMBLY. (2003 KAWASAKI, VULCAN 750A19). *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 15,737 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059501 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090964 · 2004-09-14 (September 14, 2004)
REAR DRIVE SPLINES ON 2003 KAWASAKI VULCAN 750 MOTORCYCLE WERE INSUFFICIENTLY LUBRICATED AT FACTORY. DEALER FAILED TO CHECK LUBRICATION AS REQURED AT 6000MI MAINTENANCE. READ DRIVE FAILED (SPLINES SHEARED) AT 9900 MILES. FORTUNATLY RIDER WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD WITH OUT INJURY. REAR DRIVE WAS REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. VULCAN-RIDING COMMUNITY HAS NOTED THIS PROBLEM MULTIPLE TIMES ON 2003 MODEL VULCAN 750 BIKES. RETURN OF FAILED PART WAS REQUESTED HOWEVER WAS NOT RETURNED TO CONSUMER.
Owner-reported narrative. 9,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090964 at NHTSA ↗
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 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 10524681 · 2013-07-13 (July 13, 2013)
THIS MOTORCYCLE AS OTHERS FROM CALIFORNIA, APPEARS TO RUN OUT OF FUEL WHEN THE TANK IS 1/2 FULL OR LESS. IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE VN FORUMS. IT HAS BEEN GIVEN A NAME OF POOGS WHICH STANDS FOR PHANTOM OUT OF GAS SYNDROME. THE DEALER ESCONDIDO CYCLE CENTER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT. I CONTACTED KAWASAKI BUT THEY WILL NOT CONNECT ME WITH A TECHNICAL ADVISER. MOST OWNERS REMOVE THE EMISSION CONTROLS. I DO NOT WANT TO. I HAVE HAD ALMOST 20 INCIDENTS ON THE FREEWAY WHEREBY I HAD TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER WITH NO POWER. THEN THE CRANKING R…
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10524681 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V023000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Reported: 2004-01-12 (January 12, 2004)
ON CERTAIN 2003 VULCAN 1500 CLASSIC, 1500 DRIFTER, 2003-2004 1500 MEAN STREAK, 2003 1600 CLASSIC, AND 2003-2004 NOMAD FL MODEL MOTORCYCLES, HIGH OIL PRESSURE UPON A COLD START-UP CAN DEFORM THE OIL FILTER CARTRIDGE.
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE OIL TO LEAK FROM THE OIL FILTER, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OIL FILTER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 2, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-949-770-0400.
NHTSA campaign record ↗