AI DamageKawasaki Vulcan 1500: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 across 6 model years: 28 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Suspension 36% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 14% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel system 14% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 14% of all complaints
- 5 Engine 4% of all complaints
- 6 Seats 4% of all complaints
- 7 Steering 4% of all complaints
- 8 Tires 4% of all complaints
- Suspension: 10 complaints (36% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine and cooling: 4 complaints (14% of all).
- Fuel system: 4 complaints (14% of all).
- Powertrain: 4 complaints (14% of all).
- Engine: 1 complaints (4% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 28 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Other | 4 | 0 | 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 front end of the motorcycle made a loud noise. Upon inspection of the motorcycle by the dealership, they indicated the front wheel was wobbling and the spacer bar was mobile also. The spacer bar was tightened, however 2 weeks later, the front end seized up and the bike flipped over.
Https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=kawasaki+vulcan+plastic+oil+pump+gear&fr=yhs-att-att_001&type=att_pc_homerun_portal_bucket_anim_nogl&hsimp=yhs-att_001&hspart=att&ei=utf-8 kawaski motorcycles have a plastic oil pump drive gear that strips and causes the motor to seize whil driving. No recall.
I was yielding into I-10 highway after leaving the intersection light when I shifted to second gear to speed up then gear drop to neutral causing the motorcycle to jerk enough to cause me to veer of the road to the emergency lane.
The contact stated that whenever he shifted into second gear, the vehicle would slip out of gear. The dealer was contacted who stated there was a recall undder nhtsa campaign id number: 97v233000 (power train: manual transmission) but the vehicle was not included in the recall.
While parked in the garage, the contact's 2.5 year old grandson knocked over the vehicle. The handle bars were turned to the right, which was the reason why his grandson was able to push over the vehicle.
The motorcycle's engine compartment caught on fire while the contact was traveling 50 mph. The motorcycle burned up due to the fuel system, and the contact suffered minor injuries. A police report was taken. The insurance company had the motorcycle towed to their facilities for further inspection.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other models of this make
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 2026-11-05.