RoadVitals

1997 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic

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.
6
Latest Dec 1, 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 Jan 15, 1997
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 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic, most frequently naming the engine, transmission and other / unspecified categories. 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

  • Engine350.0%
  • Transmission233.3%
  • Other / unspecified116.7%

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

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
97V007000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

Jan 15, 1997
5,208 units potentially affected
The defect: PRESSURE ON THE BATTERY GROUND LEAD (THE CRIMPED AND SOLDERED TERMINATION OF THE BATTERY CABLE) FROM THE BASE OF THE OPERATOR'S SEAT CAN CAUSE THE BATTERY TERMINAL TO SHORT OUT INSIDE THE BATTERY.
The risk: THIS CONDITION COULD DISABLE THE BATTERY AND THE MOTORCYCLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BATTERY CABLES WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED CABLE AND INSPECT THE BATTERY TO VERIFY THAT NO DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED.
KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Transmission
Filed Dec 1, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KAWASAKI VULCAN CLASSIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE REAR TIRE LOCKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARD. THE CONTACT HAD TO ROLL THE VEHICLE BACK AND FORTH IN POSITION SEVERAL TIMES TO UNLOCK THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED, IS INOPERABLE, AND IS PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 25,100. UPDATED 12/22/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/22/08.*JB

NHTSA ID
10250259
Incident
Nov 29, 2008
Mileage
25,100 mi
Engine
Filed May 13, 2008

I HAVE A 1997 KAWASAKI VULCAN 1500 CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE. ON THIS BIKE AND OTHER MODELS, KAWASAKI INSTALLED A PLASTIC GEAR ON THE OIL PUMP. THIS GEAR FAILS CAUSING A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE AND IN SOME CASES DESTROYS MAJOR COMPONENTS OF THE ENGINE. THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME THAT IT WILL COST ME OVER $8,000.00 IN PARTS TO REPAIR. KAWASAKI IS ONLY WILLING TO REPLACE THE GEAR, PISTON RINGS, GASKETS AND LABOR NEEDED TO REPLACE THOSE PARTS BUT NOT ANY PART THAT WAS DAMAGED BY THE LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE. THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN PROBLEM FROM THE RESEARCH I HAVE DONE SINCE AT LEAST 1999. THE COST OF THE PARTS FROM THE DEALER IS JUST SHORT OF THE COST TO REPLACE THE BIKE WITH A BRAND NEW MODEL. THIS BEING A MANUFACTURES DEFECT, SHOULDN'T THEY BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES CAUSED BY THE FAILED GEAR? I JUST PURCHASED THIS BIKE LAST SUMMER. I ONLY LEARNED OF THE DEFECTIVE GEAR AFTER ITS FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP CONFIRMED IT WAS THE GEAR THAT FAILED SHEARING OFF THE GEAR TEETH. THE INSPECTED THE OIL PUMP AND FOUND IT TO STILL BE SERVICEABLE AND SAID THAT HAD THE GEAR NOT FAILED THAT I WOULD HAVE NOT LOST OIL PRESSURE. I DO NOT KNOW THE SPEED AT THE TIME. THE LAST TIME I RODE THE BIKE PRIOR TO DISCOVERING I HAD NO OIL PRESSURE, I HAD ONLY BEEN RIDING CLOSE TO HOME WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT IS NO MORE THAN 55MPH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10227603
Incident
Jan 15, 2008
Mileage
30,500 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Jun 15, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KAWASAKI VULCAN CLASSIC. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A RATTLING NOISE. THE LOCAL MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THE AFTERMARKET PART, A FORWARD CONTROL COMPONENT, AS THE CAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. THE PURCHASE DATE AND A VALID VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 12,000.

NHTSA ID
10193444
Incident
May 29, 2007
Mileage
12,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 14, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE OIL AND WATER WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED, THEN WENT OUT. THE BIKE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED AS AN OIL PRESSURE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED.

NHTSA ID
10173504
Incident
Oct 25, 2006
Mileage
22,120 mi
Engine
Filed May 26, 2004

I WAS RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE A 1997 KAWASAKI VULCAN CLASSIC AT APPROXIMATELY 35 -40 MPH WHEN IT STARTED TO MAKE A TAPPING NOISE. I PULL OVER AS SOON AS I HEARD THE NOISE. THE BIKE WAS PURCHASE USED FROM RUA MOTORCYCLES INDIAN TRAIL NC. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS RETURNED TO RUA CYCLES FOR REPAIRS THAT SAME DAY FEB 21 2004. AFTER RUA CYCLES WAS ABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE MOTOR WAS NOT GETTING THE OIL NEEDED TO MAINTAIN IT PROPERLY. WHILE RUA WAS PREPARING TO REPAIR THE MOTOR IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT KAWASAKI HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTOR FOR SOME TIME. KAWASAKI HAS BEEN DOING REPAIRS TO MOTORS THAT HAVE HAD DAMAGE FORM THE OIL PUMP GEAR FAILURE FOR SOME TIME IN THE USA AT NO COST TO THE OWNERS. KAWASAKI HAS FAILED TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM TO THE OWNERS OF THE VOLCANO'S WITH THE PLASTIC OIL PUMP GEAR AND HAVE ALLOWED THEM TO CONTINUE WITH THIS DAMAGE. KAWASAKI HAS ADMITTED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE GEAR THAT COULD BE HAZARDOUS TO THE PUBLIC. IF THE MOTOR ON THE MOTOR CYCLE WAS TO HAVE A OIL PUMP FAILURE AT HIGH SPEED IT IS VERY POSSIBLE THAT THE MOTOR COULD LOCKUP AND CAUSE THE RIDER TO LOSE CONTROL, RESULTING IN INJURY OR EVEN DEATH ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC AT RUA CYCLES. KAWASAKI HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THE MOTOR AND HAS SET A PRESIDENT OF REPAIRING THE MOTORS IN THE PAST. AT THIS TIME I HAVE NOT HAD THE REPAIR COMPLETED, AS KAWASAKI STATES THAT THE DAMAGE IS NOT CAUSED BY THE OIL PUMP GEAR. BUT IF YOU READ THE STATEMENT ABOUT THIS GEAR FAILURE AT WWW.VROC.ORG IN THE FAQ SECTION YOU WILL SEE THAT THE MOTOR DID JUST AS THE FAILURE IS DESCRIBED ON THIS WEB SITE. THIS MOTORCYCLE WAS PURCHASED AT 31829 MILE AND DAMAGE HAPPENED AT 32126 AND THE VEHICLE WAS OWNED FOR ONLY 4 MONTHS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10073216
Incident
Feb 21, 2004
Mileage
32,126 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 6, 1998

TRANSMISSION FAILS UPON EACH SHIFT TO SECOND GEAR.

NHTSA ID
537765

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Kawasaki Vulcan Classic by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001300—
1998400—
1997Viewing610—
1996210—

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.