2003 Kawasaki Vulcan Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 Kawasaki Vulcan, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT FORKS ARE BENT. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .