RoadVitals

2006 Kawasaki VN900D6F

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.
12
Latest May 24, 2010
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.
2
Latest Mar 11, 2008
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.
1
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 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2006 Kawasaki VN900D6F, most frequently naming the driver assistance, electrical and engine categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 NHTSA investigation names it.

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

  • Driver assistance753.8%
  • Electrical215.4%
  • Engine215.4%
  • Fuel system17.7%
  • Suspension17.7%

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

2 campaigns 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
08V114000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Mar 11, 2008
31,789 units potentially affected
The defect: KAWASAKI IS RECALLING 31,789 VULCAN 900 CLASSIC, CUSTOM AND CLASSIC LT MODELS, MY 2006 VN900B6F, VN900B6FL, VN900D6F, VN900D6FL, MY 2007 VN900B7F, VN900B7FL, VN900C7F, VN900C7FL, VN900D7F, VN900D7FL, MY 2008 VN900B8F, VN900B8FL, VN900C8F, VN900D8F AND VN900D8FL MOTORCYCLES. THE FUEL HOSE MAY NOT BE PROPERLY CONNECTED TO THE FUEL INJECTOR DELIVERY PIPE.
The risk: CONTINUED USE OF THE MOTORCYCLE CAN RESULT IN THE FUEL HOSE COMING OFF, CREASING THE POSSIBILITY OF A FUEL LEAK WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE OR EXPLOSION.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL HOSE CONNECTION AT THE FUEL INJECTOR AND FUEL PUMP AND WILL REPLACE THE FUEL HOSE IF THE JOINT LOCK IS FOUND TO BE DAMAGED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-866-802-9381.
KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP., U.S.A.Manufacturer number MC 08-05View on NHTSA.gov
07V215000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

May 17, 2007
5,906 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES MAY STALL UNDER DECELERATION DUE TO AN IMPROPER SETTING OF THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT (ECU).
The risk: THIS COULD CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH, RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ECU WITH ONE THAT CONTAINS REVISED SETTINGS THAT WILL ADDRESS THE ENGINE STALLING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-866-802-9381.
KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP., U.S.A.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE07004ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

DECELERATION (TIP-OUT) STALLING

Opened Jan 26, 2007
Closed May 23, 2007

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED ON THE BASIS OF DEALER FIELD REPORTS SUBMITTED BY KAWASAKI CONCERNING ALLEGED STALLING DURING THROTTLE ROLL-OFF.SUBSEQUENTLY, KAWASAKI NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WAS RECALLING THE SUBJECT MOTORCYCLES (NHTSA NO. 07V-215) TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULELed to recall 07V215000

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 12
Electrical
Filed May 24, 2010

PROBLEM: BAD DESIGN OF STATOR (CHARGING UNIT OF A MOTORCYCLE) FOR KAWASAKI VULCAN 900 (YEARS 2006 TO PRESENT, INCLUDING CUSTOM AND LT MODELS) CAUSES PREMATURE WEAR, WILL SHORT OUT ENGINE, COULD CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL OF MOTORCYCLE. MOTORCYCLE FORUMS ON THE INTERNET REPORT HIGH FREQUENCY OF THIS KIND OF REPAIR, FOR VEHICLES LESS THAN 20,000 MILES. FOR ME, I HAVE DRIVEN MY MOTORCYCLE ONLY A YEAR (BOUGHT USED AT 600 MILES, NOW IT HAS 15,500 MILES ON IT) AND IT NOW NEEDS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD LAST A LOT LONGER. FORTUNATELY, I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE; BUT SURE COULD HAVE! *TR

NHTSA ID
10332038
Incident
May 23, 2010
Mileage
15,500 mi
Suspension
Filed Jun 30, 2008

STEERING FORKS ON 2006 KAWASAKI VN900 ARE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. INLINE STABILITY AFFECTED IF HANDLEBARS TURNED TO STRAIGHTEN FORKS. STABILITY IN TURNS COMPROMISED DUE TO MISALIGNED FORKS/HANDLEBARS. TIRE WEAR ON FIRST SET OF TIRES SUPPORTS STATEMENT. TIRE WEAR ON NEW TIRES WAS EVIDENT IMMEDIATELY AFTER INSTALL. BIKE HAS NEVER BEEN "DROPPED", NOR HAS EVER SUFFERED ANY STRUCTURAL DAMAGE DUE TO COLLISION OR ROAD HAZARD. PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO DEALER. PROBLEM HAS BEEN DENIED BY KAWASAKI. KAWASAKI DENIES PROBLEM EXISTS. KAWASAKI BLAMES DEALER BUT HAS FAILED TO OFFER TECHNICAL SUPPORT. OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED ON INTERNET FORUMS OF SAME CONCERN, KAWASAKI DENIES OTHER OWNERS HAVE RAISED THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10232779
Incident
Jan 9, 2008
Mileage
13,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 27, 2008

I HAVE A 2006 VULCAN CLASSIC LT MOTORCYCLE. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL OCCURRENCES OF THE THROTTLE STICKING WHEN I START DOWNSHIFTING TO SLOW DOWN. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED TWO NEAR MISSES FOR ME. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED IN OCTOBER 2007. I WAS APPROACHING A ROUND ABOUT I WAS DOWN SHIFTING TO SLOW DOWN AND THE THROTTLE STUCK WHICH FORCED ME TO BREAK HARD AND IT MADE ME FISHTAIL AND VERY MISS THE MOTORCYCLE IN FROM OF ME. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED APRIL 26, 2008. I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION AND I HAD TO MAKE A TURN, MY LIGHT WAS GREEN SO STARTED TO DOWN SHIFT FROM 3RD GEAR TO SECOND TO MAKE MY TURN, THE NEXT THING I KNEW I WAS IN THE LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. LUCKILY THE CAR COMING AT ME SEEN ME AND SWERVED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD UNTIL I COULD GET MY BIKE IN CONTROL. AFTER THAT HAPPEN I NOTICED MY THROTTLE STICKING 4 TIMES AFTER THAT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10225818
Incident
Apr 26, 2008
Mileage
3,400 mi
Driver assistance
Filed May 7, 2007

I HAVE A KAWASAKI VULCAN 900 CLASSIC, AND IF RIDING IN 3RD GEAR AROUND 35-40 MPH AND LET OFF THE THROTTLE, THE MOTORCYCLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY WERE NOT VERY HELPFUL WITH THE PROBLEM. ALSO, KAWASAKI DENIED THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10189983
Incident
Apr 30, 2007
Mileage
1,200 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 29, 2007

SPEEDOMETER ON 2006 KAWASAKI 900 LT CLASSIC IS 10 MPH OFF. CONTACTED KAWASAKI AND THEY SAID ALL BIG BORE MOTORCYCLES ARE OFF. I CHECKED MY MOTORCYCLE WITH RADAR AND MY OWN CAR AND IT WAS 9-10 MPH TO FAST. I ALSO CHECKED OTHER MOTORCYCLES IN THE SAME CLASS AS MINE AND FOUND THEM TO BE FAST. THIS CAN LEAD TO CITATIONS FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENTS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10186486
Incident
Oct 15, 2006
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 26, 2007

WHILE RIDING MY 2006 KAWASAKI VULCAN 900 IN THIRD GEAR, BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MPH THE THROTTLE HAS A TENDENCY TO STICK AND MAINTAIN THAT SPEED EVEN WHEN I ROLLED V OFF THE THROTTLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE THROTTLE HAS DISENGAGED WHEN I BRAKE HARD ENOUGH, ENGAGE THE CLUTCH, OR REV THE THROTTLE. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS AT LEAST 40-50 TIMES IN THE MONTHS I HAVE HAD THE MOTORCYCLE. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHICH IS COMPOUNDED BY THE FACT THIS MOTORCYCLE IS FAVORED BY MANY NEW RIDERS. MY KAWASAKI DEALER CLAIMED TO CONTACT KAWASAKI ABOUT THE ISSUE AND RECEIVED NO RESOLUTION. I HAVE CONTACTED KAWASAKI ABOUT THE ISSUE AND WAS DIRECTED TO MY DEALER WITH NO APPARENT CARE REGARDING THE SERIOUS PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
10186245
Incident
Mar 18, 2007
Mileage
600 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 26, 2007

I OWN A 2006 KAWASAKI VULCAN 900 CLASSIC. I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCEING A THROTTLE STICKING PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE BIKE AND NEITHER MY DEALER NOR KAWASAKI HAVE DONE ANYTHING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THE THROTTLE ONLY STICKS IN 3RD GEAR AROUND 40 MPH. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY DANGEROUS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10186244
Incident
Jun 22, 2006
Mileage
50 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 26, 2007

KAWASAKI VULCAN 900 CLASSIC 2006 HAS A THROTTLE STICKING PROBLEM WHERE THE THROTTLE WILL NOT DISENGAGE INTERMITTANTLY WHEN IN 3RD GEAR, USUALLY CLOSE TO 35-40 MPH. DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH WILL ALLOW THE THROTTLE TO RETURN TO IDLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10186239
Incident
Mar 24, 2007
Mileage
3,453 mi