RoadVitals

2004 Kawasaki VN2000 A1

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 Jun 2, 2008
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 Jul 30, 2004
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 2004 Kawasaki VN2000 A1, most frequently naming the engine and powertrain (other) categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

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

  • Engine375.0%
  • Powertrain (other)125.0%

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
04V367000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Jul 30, 2004
3,019 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE FRONT BRAKE HOSE CAN BECOME TRAPPED BETWEEN THE FRONT FORK AND FENDER, WITH SUBSEQUENT MOTION OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION ABRADING THE BRAKE HOSE.
The risk: CONTINUED USE OF THE MOTORCYCLE WITH THE BRAKE HOSE TRAPPED IN THIS POSITION COULD CAUSE A BRAKE FLUID LEAK CREATING THE POSSIBILITY OF A CRASH RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL ADD A BRACKET TO SUPPORT THE BRAKE HOSES, AND PREVENT THEM FROM INADVERTENTLY BEING PUSHED FORWARD INTO THE FENDER/FORK INTERFACE AREA. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 2, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-866-802-9381.
KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP., U.S.A.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Engine
Filed Jun 2, 2008

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD OIL ISSUES CAUSED BY POOR DESIGN SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2004. THE MANUAL CALLS FOR 4.5 QTS BUT IT TAKES 6QTS TO REACH PROPER LEVEL THE DIP STICK. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN PROPER OIL LEVEL. HAVE HAD TOP END NOISE, IGNORED BY DEALER, SINCE NEW. AT 42K MILES THE HYDRAULIC LIFTERS FAILED (8 X $60 + $900 LABOR) DUE TO LACK OF OIL. I AM TOLD BY THE DEALER THERE IS A PUMICE TYPE FILTER IN THE SYSTEM THAT CLOGS UP. THIS "FILTER" IS SUPPOSED TO LAST THE LIFE OF THE MOTORCYCLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10229636
Incident
May 24, 2008
Mileage
44,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 29, 2005

2004 KAWASAKI KLR 650A BROKEN TENSIONER SPRING. FAILURE FOUND AT 1700 MILE INSPECTION OF SUSPECTED BALANCER LEVER MECHANISM. NO ENGINE FAILURE OCCURRED. NEW AFTER MARKET UPGRADED PARTS AND TOOLS WERE PURCHASED AND REPAIRS WERE MADE.(BROKEN TENSIONER SPRING IS AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION). *NM

NHTSA ID
10130540
Incident
Jun 3, 2005
Mileage
1,700 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 27, 2005

2004 KAWASAKI VULCAN 2000 MOTORCYCLE REAR PULLEY (REAR BELT SPROCKET) BEARING FAILURE. SEE PICTURES AND SHORT .AVI MOVIE WITH SOUND AT HTTP://WWW.NEWSNOT.COM/~EMONK/PICTURES/MOTORCYCLE/VN2000/V2K_PULLEY_BEARING_BLOWOUT BEARING FAILED WHILE RIDING MOTORCYCLE SOUTH ON I-35 NEAR CLEAR LAKE, IA. SPEED WAS ABOUT 55 AT THE TIME (DUE TO RAIN). SLIGHT SHIMMY WAS MOMENTARILY FELT IN REAR OF BIKE (WHICH WENT AWAY), ALONG WITH A PERSISTENT NOISE. BEARING FAILED AT 15,400 MILES ON JUNE 20, 2005. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW IN MARCH 2004. I AM THE ONLY OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED, THOUGH I CAN SEE THIS POSSIBLY CAUSING A REAR TIRE LOCKUP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHICH WOULD SURELY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. FROM CONVERSATIONS WITH OTHER VULCAN 2000 OWNERS (SAME MAKE/MODEL/YEAR), THIS IS BY FAR NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS KIND OF FAILURE HAS HAPPENED. ONE OWNER'S BEARING FAILED AT 10,100 MILES. SEE HTTP://ROGUEOWNERSGROUP.COM/ROGUEBUGS.ASPX AND LOOK FOR ITEM DESCRIBED AS "BEARING AND SEAL FAILURE". THERE IS A REAL POSSIBILITY THAT THIS BEARING FAILURE COULD CAUSE A REAR TIRE LOCKUP AT SPEED, WHICH IS A SERIOUS SITUATION FOR A MOTORCYCLIST TO BE IN. KAWASAKI REPLACED ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT BEARING WITH A NEW ONE UNDER A PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY. IN THE NEAR FUTURE, I AM PLANNING ON REPLACING THE REPLACEMENT BEARING WITH A BOCA BEARING MR6006-2RS ($15.95), WHICH IS DOUBLE SEALED. ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT BEARING APPARENTLY ONLY HAS AN OUTSIDE DUST SHIELD. I BELIEVE WITH THE HIGH RISK OF FAILURE AND THE APPARENT HIGH RATE OF FAILURE THAT THIS ITEM SHOULD BE A VERY GOOD CANDIDATE FOR A SAFETY RECALL. MOTORCYCLE DEALER/SHOP THAT REPLACED FAILED BEARING UNDER WARRANTY (FOR INFORMATION ON REPLACED PART AND KAWASAKI PART NUMBER): ADAMS CYCLES INC. (515) 382-6900 631 W LINCOLN HWY NEVADA, IA 50201 PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU REQUIRE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA ID
10126627
Incident
Jun 20, 2005
Mileage
15,400 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 20, 2005

DT : CONTACT STATES: MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES. AT FIRST IT WAS MAKING A RATTLING NOISE AND THEY TRIED TO FIX IT WOULD START RATTLING AGAIN. THE FRONT PULLEY QUIT WORKING. AT A CORNER OR A CURVE, AND THE PULLEY GOES OUT COULD HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10125780
Incident
Mar 2, 2005

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

0607

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS

ENGINE PULLEY WEAR. *KB

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Kawasaki VN2000 A1 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2005000—
2004Viewing410—

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.