Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Kawasaki Vulcan, most frequently naming the fuel system, exterior lighting and electrical 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 |
|---|---|---|
| May 2005 | 1 | 1 |
| Nov 2005 | 2 | 3 |
| May 2008 | 1 | 4 |
| Aug 2022 | 1 | 5 |
| Oct 2022 | 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
My 2005 Kawasaki vulcan 1600 nomad have gas tank is leaking, and I looked on the internet and I saw that many people have this problem, is there a recall? The gas tank leaks in the left corner of the tank under the seat? Please let me know, and thank you for all you support.
My 2005 Vulcan 1600 has recent started seeping fuel from the bottom tabs that are welded onto the gas tank and is slowly progressively getting worse
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 (NA) KAWASAKI VULCAN. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A SCREECHING NOISE COMING FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT A BELT WAX ON THE DRIVE BELT WAS NEEDED; HOWEVER, THE NOISE STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,821 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,703.
FRONT TIRE OF MOTORCYCLE WEARS VERY UNEVENLY NOT ALLOWING FULL CONTACT OF RUBBER TO MEET THE ROAD. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS TIRE IS NOT FULLY CONTACTING THE ROAD SURFACE. IT HAS DONE THIS SINCE BIKE WAS NEW AND ON TWO SETS OF TIRES. I THINK THE RIM MAY BE THE PROBLEM CAUSING THIS UNEVEN WEAR. I HAD TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS INSTALL TIRES WITH THE SAME IDENTICAL RESULTS OF POOR ROAD CONTACT. KAWASAKI OF KINGMAN ARIZONA AND KAWASAKI OF RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA. *JB
MOTORCYCLE KEEPS BURNING UP BATTERIES ONCE EACH SIX MONTHS AND THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULB BURNS OUT EVERY 3,000 MILES. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE BIKE IN FEBRUARY OF 2005. EVEN MAIN HEADLIGHT FUSE HAS BURNED LEAVING ME STRANDED AT NIGHT. THE BULB BURNS IN DAYTIME AND I HAVE NO HEADLIGHT AND I DO NOT KNOW IT. I HAD TO USE A TOW TRUCK DUE TO BATTERY BEING COOKED IT LEFT ME STRANDED IN RENO, NEVADA. DEALER DID NOT REPLACE THE BATTERY ON WARRANTY AND CHARGED ME $150 FOR THE BATTERY. THESE PROBLEMS MAKE THIS MOTORCYCLE VERY DANGEROUS TO RIDE. BATTERY FAILED TWICE, HEADLIGHT BULBS FAILED SEVEN TIMES AND I ONLY HAD THE BIKE FOR NINE MONTHS. I BOUGHT IT NEW. I HAVE NO ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES ON THE BIKE. IT IS STOCK FROM THE FACTORY. *JB
2005 KAWASAKI VULCAN 2000 EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS TANK AS WELL AS THE FRONT TIRE IS INSTALLED BACKWARDS.*MR. GAS TANK CAP LEAKS FLUID AND FUMES, CAUSES POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD AND HEALTH PROBLEMS. HEADLIGHTS WON'T ADJUST AND MOVE DOWN, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR CONSUMER TO SEE ROAD AT NIGHT. ALSO, FRONT TIRE WAS INSTALLED BACKWARDS. *AK
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
ENGINE PULLEY WEAR. *TT FACTORY DIRECTED MODIFICATION. *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.
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.