AI Damage2005 Kawasaki VN1600B2: common problems
Owners of the 2005 Kawasaki VN1600B2 filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
- involving a crash
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 100% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 33% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 3 complaints (100% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (33% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 3 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 1 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The engine sounds like it has a lot of marbles rattling around in the cylinders when I roll on the throttle. This happens when I'm climbing a hill and sometimes when I accelerate going around a corner" .
Ive done everything possible to convince all parties (dealer, manufacture, and bank), that this motorcycle has had major defects from the factory from the time of purchase. It has all fallen on deaf ears as far as they are concerned, and I desperately need assistance in what to do next.
I will now plead my case to the department federal safety and transportation, because I do not feel that this motorcycle is mechanically safe to drive. I have already filed a complaints with the attorney general and bbb of my state, (will fax copies).
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 17,152 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 47% most complained about).
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Kawasaki VN1600B2?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, powertrain. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: engine failure or replacement (33%), knocking, grinding or other noise (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2005 Kawasaki VN1600B2?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2005 Kawasaki VN1600B2 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2005 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.