AI Damage1999 Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad: common problems
Owners of the 1999 Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad filed 13 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 13
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 69% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 15% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 8% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 8% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 9 complaints (69% of all).
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (15% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (8% of all).
- Engine: 1 complaints (8% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (8% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 13 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 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 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.
I was riding my 1999 kawasaki vulcan nomad at 60mph when with no warning the engine lost power and died out, good thing my hand was covering the clutch. I immediately pulled it in and coasted to the side of the road. Had it towed to my house.
The ontact was driving approximately 70-75 mph when the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who performed a diagnostic that located the failure at the plastic and metal gear. The plastic and metal gear failed and caused the oil pump to fail.
Tl contact owns a 2009 kawasaki vulcan nomad.(n/a) the contact received a recall notice from the manufacturer pertaining to the electronic control unit; nhtsa campaign recall number 10v507000, service brakes, hydraulic:pedals and linkages.
The only times the area was touched was when there was an electrical fire was under the tank right below the light. The other time was when the official kawasaki mechanics rebuilt the ignition switch/light.
Plastic oil gear failure results in total loss of oil pressure, which could lead to engine failure, which would result in total loss of control. Mine started and warmed normally, but the oil pressure light came on less than five miles down the road.
1999 kawasaki nomad motorcycle lost power. While driving the motorcycle's oil pressure light came on and the motorcycle lost all power. The bike was towed to the consumer's home. The consumer removed the oil filter and found deposits of nylon material.
Dealer made repairs on three separate occasions within a month, but speedometer is still inoperative. Consumer unable to determine proper speed. Manufacturer was contacted, and informed consumer that no solution can be found at this time. Feel free to provide any further information.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 9,843 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 27% 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.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1999 Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, powertrain, electrical system. Total complaints: 13. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: loss of power / limp mode (23%), warning lights, check engine (15%), engine failure or replacement (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1999 Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad?
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 1999 Kawasaki Vulcan Nomad 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 1999 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 2026-11-05.