Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500, most frequently naming the suspension, engine and powertrain (other) categories. 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 2002 | 2 | 2 |
| Nov 2002 | 1 | 3 |
| Dec 2002 | 1 | 4 |
| Mar 2003 | 1 | 5 |
| Oct 2003 | 1 | 6 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
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.
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY MOTORCYCLE STALLED. DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE MOTORCYCLE, BUT IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER HE WALKED THE MOTORCYCLE OVER TO THE SHOULDER. THEN IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. BUT THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
THE FRONT END OF THE MOTORCYCLE MADE A LOUD NOISE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE MOTORCYCLE BY THE DEALERSHIP, THEY INDICATED THE FRONT WHEEL WAS WOBBLING AND THE SPACER BAR WAS MOBILE ALSO. THE SPACER BAR WAS TIGHTENED, HOWEVER 2 WEEKS LATER, THE FRONT END SEIZED UP AND THE BIKE FLIPPED OVER. *JB THE FRONT TIRE FAILED AND CAUSED THE BIKE TO FALL. THE CONSUMER HAS MADE REPEATED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FONT TIRE SINCE PURCHASE. SCC
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVE SHAFT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
WELDING TO DRIVE SHAFT WAS IMPROPERLY DONE RESULTING IN A REAR END CLICK NOISE. *TT
REAR END IS MAKING A POPPING AND CLICKING NOISES WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER, AND PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 30MPH HEARD CLUNKING NOISE. WHEN HITTING POTHOLE NOISE STOPPED. .DEALER NOTIFIED, AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. *AK
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
ON ELIGIBLE UNITS COOLANT CAN SEEP OUT OF THE COOLANT RESERVE TANK BECAUSE THE RUBBER CAP DOES NOT SEAL PROPERLY AGAINST THE FILLER NECK. NLM
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.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
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.