RoadVitals

2009 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.
5
Latest Sep 9, 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 Oct 19, 2010
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.
1
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Kawasaki Vulcan, most frequently naming the engine, powertrain (other) and brakes 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

  • Engine240.0%
  • Powertrain (other)240.0%
  • Brakes120.0%

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
10V507000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

Oct 19, 2010
6,187 units potentially affected
The defect: KAWASAKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 VULCAN MOTORCYCLES. THE ENGINE MAY STALL IF THE RIDER IS COASTING WITH THE CLUTCH PULLED IN DUE TO AN IMPROPER SETTING OF THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT (ECU).
The risk: ENGINE STALLING COULD CREATE A POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ECU WITH ONE CONTAINING REVISED SETTINGS TO ADDRESS THE ENGINE STALLING. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 1, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KAWASAKI CONSUMER SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT 1-866-802-9381.
KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP., U.S.A.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Brakes
Filed Sep 9, 2013
Crash reported1 injury reported

2009 KAWASAKI VULCAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE STALLING RECALL NOTICE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, DUE TO THE STALLING ISSUE. FINALLY, WHILE RIDING THE BIKE ONE DAY, IT STALLED AGAIN. ONLY THIS TIME, THE CONSUMER HAD AN ACCIDENT, AND WAS THROWN OFF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES. RECALL# 10V507000.

NHTSA ID
10541680
Incident
Sep 2, 2013
Engine
Filed Jul 29, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KAWASAKI VULCAN 1700 VOYAGER MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE RIDING THE BIKE, THERE WAS A LOUD WHISTLING NOISE EMITTED CONTINUOUSLY. THE BIKE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE UNDER DRIVE PULLEY AND BELT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. UPDATED 09/05/13*LJ THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE DRIVE BELT, ENGINE PULLEY AND REAR TIRE PULLEY WERE BAD, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY DIRT, AND THE MANUFACTURER REFUSED TO COVER THE REPAIRS. UPDATED 09/05/13

NHTSA ID
10532418
Incident
May 6, 2010
Mileage
1,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 16, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KAWASAKI VULCAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BECOME STUCK IN THIRD AND FIFTH GEARS, CAUSING DIFFICULTY WHEN ATTEMPTING TO BRAKE. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO POP THE VEHICLE OUT OF GEAR AND RE-ENGAGE. THE DEALER ADJUSTED THE CLUTCH IN AN ATTEMPT TO CORRECT THE FAILURE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE DEALER WAS MADE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 400.

NHTSA ID
10425782
Incident
Feb 18, 2009
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 24, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 KAWASAKI VULCAN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVE BELT HAD A CUT IN IT LENGTH-WISE. THE REASON FOR THE CUT WAS THAT THERE WAS NO PROTECTIVE SHIELD FOR THE TOP PORTION OF THE DRIVE BELT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A ROCK LODGED IN THE FRONT HOUSING TRAPPED THE ROCK CAUSING IT TO CUT THE BELT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS A DESIGN FLAT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 6,100.

NHTSA ID
10367360
Incident
Nov 23, 2010
Mileage
6,100 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 21, 2010

THE KAWASAKI VULCAN 1700 VOYAGER - 2009 GENERATES EXCESSIVE HEAT. I RECEIVED SECOND DEGREE BURNS FROM IT. KAWASAKI ADMITTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND PROVIDED A HEAT SHIELD KIT THAT DID NOTHING TO REDUCE THE HEAT BUT MOVED IT TO THE PASSENGER-RIDER. KAWASAKI HAS DONE NOTHING TO THIS MODEL YEAR MOTORCYCLE TO FIX THE HEAT PROBLEM. RIDERS OF THIS BIKE STILL COMPLAIN ABOUT THE HEAT, SEE MOST ANY FORUM DISCUSSING THIS MOTORCYCLE FOR MANY COMPLAINTS AND SPECIFICALLY KAWASAKI'S UNWILLINGNESS TO ADMIT THAT THEY CAN NOT OR WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. IN THE 2010 MODEL ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN THEY CLAIM TO HAVE FIXED IT, YET THE PROBLEM REMAINS BASED ON THE FORUM CONVERSATIONS. WHEN COMPLAINTS ARE MADE TO KAWASAKI, BY MYSELF OR OTHER FORUM PARTICIPANTS, KAWASAKI EITHER IGNORES THE SITUATION OR BLAMES THE RIDER FOR USING THE BIKE INCORRECTLY OR RIDING WITH BARE LEGS OR SOMETHING SIMILAR. THIS BIKE IS DANGEROUS AND THAT IT IS BEING RESOLD TO A PUBLIC THAT IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE DOCUMENTED AND ADMITTED EXCESSIVE HEAT PROBLEM REPRESENTS A CLEAR DANGER TO THE PUBLIC. I WAS BURNED RIDING THE BIKE ON A 750 MILE, ONE WAY RIDE DOWN I-5 AND ALONG THE CALIFORNIA COAST. THE BIKE WAS USED AS INTENDED AND MELTED PARTS OF MY PANTS WERE FOUND ON THE MOTORCYCLE BY A TECHNICAL EXPERT FROM KAWASAKI, NOT BY ME. SO KAWASAKI IS INTIMATELY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY SUGGESTED I SELL THE MOTORCYCLE, KNOWING IT WAS DEFECTIVE, TO SOMEONE ELSE AND BUY ANOTHER BIKE. SO KAWASAKI IS OPENLY SUGGESTING THAT A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT BE RESOLD INCREASING THE DANGER OF MORE PEOPLE BEING BURNED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10367018
Incident
Jul 27, 2009
Mileage
400 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Kawasaki Vulcan by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2010010—
2009Viewing510—
2006300—
2005600—
2004110—
2003810—
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.