RoadVitals

1999 Kawasaki Drifter

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
4
Latest Feb 24, 2006
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Apr 6, 1999
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Kawasaki Drifter, most frequently naming the exterior lighting category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Exterior lighting1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
99V067000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

Apr 6, 1999
2,779 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES (VN1500-J1/L) EQUIPPED WITH A DIGITAL FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM AND A VEHICLE-DOWN SENSOR. THIS FEATURE IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FROM CONTINUING TO PUMP FUEL IF THE MOTORCYCLE FALLS DOWN, BY SHUTTING OFF THE IGNITION AND FUEL INJECTION PUMP. DURING BATTERY MAINTENANCE, THE VEHICLE-DOWN SENSOR CAN BE DISLODGED FROM ITS NORMAL MOUNTED POSITION. IF THE SENSOR IS OUT OF POSITION, THE MOTORCYCLE MAY NOT START OR MAY STALL DURING CERTAIN DRIVING MANEUVERS.
The risk: IF THE SENSOR IS NOT CORRECTLY INSTALLED, THE ENGINE CAN CRANK BUT NOT START OR THE ENGINE COULD STOP DURING CERTAIN RIDING SITUATIONS, LIKE LEANING OVER IN A TURN. SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER COULD CAUSE THE OPERATOR TO LOSE THEIR BALANCE RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER MOUNTING OF THE SENSOR AND RE-INSTALL IF IT IS NOT IN THE CORRECT POSITION. DEALERS WILL ALSO AFFIX TO THE MOTORCYCLE FRAME, A WARNING LABEL THAT PROVIDES INSTRUCTIONS ON REPOSITIONING THE VEHICLE-DOWN SENSOR AFTER SERVICING THE BATTERY.
KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 24, 2006

I OWN A 1999 KAWASAKI 1500 DRIFTER MOTORCYCLE THAT I BOUGHT NEW FROM G&G CYCLES, 142 LAFAYETTE ROAD, SALISBURY, MA, 01952. SINCE IT WAS NEW THE TURN SIGNAL WOULD COME ON WHEN I STARTED THE MOTORCYCLE. THE DEALER HAD NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM WHEN I POINTED OUT THAT IT CREATED A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE, IF I FAILED TO TURN IT OFF BEFORE DRIVING, IT WOULD SIGNAL OTHER DRIVERS THAT I WAS TURNING WHEN I WAS NOT IN FACT GOING TO DO SO, MAKING THEM TAKE DANGEROUS ACTION. IN THE LAST SEASON OF USING THE MOTORCYCLE THE PROBLEM WORSENED. NOW THE TURN SIGNALS WILL WORK FOR ONLY SEVERAL FLASHES AND THEN THEY BLOW THE MAIN FUSE FOR THE TURN SIGNALS RENDERING THEM INOPERATIVE, AGAIN, A SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALER TELLS ME THAT THERE IS NO WAY THAT THEY CAN FIX IT ASIDE FROM TRYING TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE ELECTRONICS ON THE MOTORCYCLE. THIS ALSO RENDERS THE MOTORCYCLE UNABLE TO PASS A SAFETY INSPECTION AND THEREFORE, INOPERABLE ON PUBLIC ROADS. I WOULD LIKE THE DEALER TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS ORIGINAL DEFECT AND FIX MY MOTORCYCLE. I AM USING AN INCIDENT DATE THAT COINCIDES WITH THE FIRST TIME, AT PURCHASE, THAT I NOTICED THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR HELPING WITH THIS, GARY LOWE 603-431-7484. *NM

NHTSA ID
10151125
Incident
May 13, 1999
Mileage
1 mi
Filed Nov 7, 2000

KICKSTAND HAS NO LOCKING DEVICE. THIS CAUSES THE STAND TO FAIL TO SUPPOT THE BIKE IN CERTAIN PARKING SITUATIONS.*AK

NHTSA ID
735953
Filed Nov 7, 2000

WITH THE CYCLE ON THE SIDE STAND, OF THE BIKE IS ON A SLIGHT DOWN HILL DECLINE OR GREATER, THE BIKE WILL MOVE FORWARD ON ITS OWN AND TIP OVER. THIS NOT ONLY CAUSES DAMAGE TO THE CYCLE, BUT COULD FALL ON TOP OF AN INDIVIDUAL CAUSING INJURY.*AK

NHTSA ID
735893
Incident
Jun 6, 2000
Filed Nov 5, 2000

WHEN MOTORCYCLE IS PARKED IDLING, THE BIKE WILL FALL OVER DUE TO NO LOCKING POSTION ON THE SIDESTAND. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN INJURY OF THE RIDER OR OTHERS STANDING NEAR THE MOTORCYCLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
735796
Incident
Nov 1, 2000

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Kawasaki Drifter by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2000100—
1999Viewing410—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.