Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Kawasaki Vulcan, most frequently naming the engine, brakes and electrical 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 1997 | 1 | 1 |
| Oct 1998 | 1 | 2 |
| Sep 1999 | 1 | 3 |
| Mar 2000 | 1 | 4 |
| May 2000 | 2 | 6 |
| Oct 2000 | 1 | 7 |
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.
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.govPOWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
BEARINGS IN STARTER MISSING UPON DELIVERY, BRAND NEW. *AK
MANY OIL PUMP GEARS HAVE FAILED ON THIS YEAR/MODEL. SOMEONE MAY GET KILLED IF THEY ARE NOT MADE TO REPLACE THESE. *AK
OIL PUMP GEAR FAILED - HAD TRAFFIC BEEN HEAVY ENGINE COULD HAVE SIEZED UP BEFORE I COULD SAFELY STOP
THE CLUTCH SLIPPED AND FAILED AT 12000 MILES, WHICH SEEMED PREMATURE. I REPLACED IT MYSELF AND NOW THE REPLACEMENT IS BEGINNING TO SLIP AT 25000 MILES. MY EXPERIENCE IN OPERATING MOTORCYCLES IS ABOUT 21 YEARS. MY RIDING HABITS ARE NORMAL WITH NO UNUSUAL USAGE (IE. RACING, COMPETITIONS, ETC.). CLUTCH FAILURE IS PREMATURE , WHICH I BELIEVE IS DUE TO POOR DESIGN. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND CONTACT ME WITH RESULTS. I DID NOT HAVE THE VIN AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THIS WRITING; HOWEVER, PLEASE CALL ME IF IT IS ESSENTIAL.*AK
REAR BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REBUILT THE MASTER CYLINDER AND OTHER PARTS, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE COUGHING ON ACCELERATION WHEN BACKFIRING, FLAMES SHOOT OUT 6-8 INCHES. DEALER CONTACTED AND REPAIRS DONE, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
ENGINE STALLS.
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.