RoadVitals

2003 Kawasaki Vulcan

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.
8
Latest Jul 13, 2013
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 12, 2004
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.
2
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Kawasaki Vulcan, most frequently naming the powertrain (other), electrical and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Powertrain (other)337.5%
  • Electrical112.5%
  • Engine112.5%
  • Fuel system112.5%
  • Suspension112.5%
  • Transmission112.5%

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
04V023000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Jan 12, 2004
6,958 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN 2003 VULCAN 1500 CLASSIC, 1500 DRIFTER, 2003-2004 1500 MEAN STREAK, 2003 1600 CLASSIC, AND 2003-2004 NOMAD FL MODEL MOTORCYCLES, HIGH OIL PRESSURE UPON A COLD START-UP CAN DEFORM THE OIL FILTER CARTRIDGE.
The risk: THIS COULD CAUSE OIL TO LEAK FROM THE OIL FILTER, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OIL FILTER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 2, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-949-770-0400.
KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP., U.S.A.Manufacturer number MC04-04View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Engine
Filed Jul 13, 2013

THIS MOTORCYCLE AS OTHERS FROM CALIFORNIA, APPEARS TO RUN OUT OF FUEL WHEN THE TANK IS 1/2 FULL OR LESS. IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE VN FORUMS. IT HAS BEEN GIVEN A NAME OF POOGS WHICH STANDS FOR PHANTOM OUT OF GAS SYNDROME. THE DEALER ESCONDIDO CYCLE CENTER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT. I CONTACTED KAWASAKI BUT THEY WILL NOT CONNECT ME WITH A TECHNICAL ADVISER. MOST OWNERS REMOVE THE EMISSION CONTROLS. I DO NOT WANT TO. I HAVE HAD ALMOST 20 INCIDENTS ON THE FREEWAY WHEREBY I HAD TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER WITH NO POWER. THEN THE CRANKING REQUIRED TO START THE VEHICLE DRAINS A BATTERY TO NEAR DESTRUCTION. KAWASAKI HAS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR EMISSIONS SYSTEM AND HAS NOT VOLUNTARILY OFFERED TO FIX IT. IT ONLY AFFECTS CA VEHICLES AND SINCE MANY OWNERS ARE SATISFIED WITH REMOVING ALL OF THE EMISSIONS SYSTEMS, COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN NEGLIGIBLE. I WANT TO SELL THIS VEHICLE WITHOUT A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IF YOU CAN NOT HELP, I MUST DISABLE THE EMISSIONS SO THAT THE FUTURE OWNER WILL NOT BE INJURED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10524681
Incident
Jun 2, 2004
Mileage
500 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 6, 2006
Fire reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65MPH, THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE EMITTING FROM THE MOTORCYCLE FOLLOWED BY SMOKE. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE ERUPTED FROM THE TRANSFER CASE AND DRIVE TRAIN. UPON INITIAL INSPECTION, THE FIRE WAS SUSPECTED TO BE ELECTRICAL IN NATURE DUE TO DAMAGE SUSTAINED TO THE WIRING. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER.

NHTSA ID
10152058
Incident
Mar 5, 2006
Mileage
35,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 17, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

AFTER A 15 MPH FRONTAL CRASH FUEL TANK STARTED TO LEAK. MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL ABOUT THE MUFFLER BRACKET CRACKING. *SC

NHTSA ID
10097739
Incident
Oct 4, 2004
Mileage
25,128 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 14, 2004

REAR DRIVE SPLINES ON 2003 KAWASAKI VULCAN 750 MOTORCYCLE WERE INSUFFICIENTLY LUBRICATED AT FACTORY. DEALER FAILED TO CHECK LUBRICATION AS REQURED AT 6000MI MAINTENANCE. READ DRIVE FAILED (SPLINES SHEARED) AT 9900 MILES. FORTUNATLY RIDER WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD WITH OUT INJURY. REAR DRIVE WAS REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. VULCAN-RIDING COMMUNITY HAS NOTED THIS PROBLEM MULTIPLE TIMES ON 2003 MODEL VULCAN 750 BIKES. RETURN OF FAILED PART WAS REQUESTED HOWEVER WAS NOT RETURNED TO CONSUMER.

NHTSA ID
10090964
Incident
Aug 24, 2004
Mileage
9,900 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 19, 2004

WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOST OF DRIVING FORCE TO THE REAR WHEEL AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED SLOWING DOWN. *LA UPON INSPECTION OF THE MOTORCYCLE, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO LUBRICATE THE SPLINED COUPLING THAT WENT BETWEEN THE DRIVESHAFT OUTPUT AND THE FINAL DRIVE GEARBOX PINION ASSEMBLY. (2003 KAWASAKI, VULCAN 750A19). *JB

NHTSA ID
10059501
Incident
Jan 2, 2004
Mileage
15,737 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 19, 2004

THE MOTORCYCLE'S SPLINES ON THE DRIVESHAFT WERE NOT PROPERLY LUBRICATED AT THE FACTORY. THIS CAUSED THE SPLINES TO OVER RUN, AND RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER TO THE REAR WHEELS. THIS MADE STOPPING THE MOTORCYCLE DIFFICULT. MODEL VN750 A-19. *AK *MR

NHTSA ID
10053787
Incident
Jan 2, 2004
Mileage
15,737 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 14, 2004

REAR WHEEL LOCKED-UP BECAUSE OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE RIDING MOTORCYCLE. GEAR SHIFT WAS LOCKED-UP AND TRANSMISSION COULD NOT BE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL OR ANY OTHER GEAR. REPAIRING DEALER FOUND BROKEN PIECES IN TRANSMISSION. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE SIMILAR OR POSSIBLY IDENTICAL TO RECALL FOR 2002 MODEL YEAR MOTORCYCLES UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V261000.*AK

NHTSA ID
10053155
Incident
Sep 7, 2003
Mileage
615 mi
Suspension
Filed Jun 10, 2003

FRONT FORKS ARE BENT. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10022741
Mileage
2,538 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

0305

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

RADIATOR FAN FUSE REPLACEMENT. *TT

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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Kawasaki Vulcan by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2010010—
2009510—
2006300—
2005600—
2004110—
2003Viewing810—
2002300—
2001300—
2000500—
1999800—
1998200—
1997710—
1996900—
1995210—

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.