RoadVitals

1996 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500

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 17, 2020
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.
0
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 1996 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500, most frequently naming the suspension, fuel system and powertrain (other) categories.

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

  • Suspension250.0%
  • Fuel system125.0%
  • 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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 17, 2020

I WAS YIELDING INTO I-10 HIGHWAY AFTER LEAVING THE INTERSECTION LIGHT WHEN I SHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR TO SPEED UP THEN GEAR DROP TO NEUTRAL CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE TO JERK ENOUGH TO CAUSE ME TO VEER OF THE ROAD TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. MY PROBLEM IS NOW CONSTANT I SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND, I CAN CRUISE FINE FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN I SLIP INTO NEUTRAL (BUT THE NEUTRAL LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON). I SHIFT UP TO 3RD AND THEN BACK DOWN TO 2ND AND I HAVE NO SLIPPING.

NHTSA ID
11309660
Incident
Feb 10, 2020
Mileage
16,669 mi
Suspension
Filed Sep 23, 1996

PURCHASED MOTORCYCLE NEW, WHEN DRIVING THE MOTORCYCLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT DUE TO MISALIGNMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
801949
Fuel system
Filed Jul 23, 1996

WHILE RIDING HOME THE FUEL LINE BROKE. METAL PART OF THE TANK IS AGAINST THE FUEL LINE. *AK DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE FUEL LINE, CONSUMER FEELS THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. *SLC

NHTSA ID
987209
Incident
Jul 19, 1996
Suspension
Filed Oct 4, 1995

WHEN YOU LET THE HANDLES GO THE MOTORCYCLE WENT TO THE SIDE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ID
972905
Incident
Oct 3, 1995

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002600—
1999310—
1997700—
1996Viewing400—
1995500—
1994300—

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.