Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 4 of 4 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
4 reports
68,000 miles · May 27, 2012
Fuel System, GasolineFuel/propulsion System
FUEL TANK STARTED TO LEAK WHILE SITTING IN GARAGE, FUEL WAS PUDDLING ON THE FLOOR. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TANK WAS LEAKING WHERE THE MOUNTING PLATE IS ATTACHED TO THE FUEL TANK. CORRESPONDS WITH RECALL #07V216000 ISSUED IN JUNE 2007. A VIN SEARCH ON KAWASAKI'S WEBSITE RESULTED IN A NOTICE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS N…
Read full complaint
FUEL TANK STARTED TO LEAK WHILE SITTING IN GARAGE, FUEL WAS PUDDLING ON THE FLOOR. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TANK WAS LEAKING WHERE THE MOUNTING PLATE IS ATTACHED TO THE FUEL TANK. CORRESPONDS WITH RECALL #07V216000 ISSUED IN JUNE 2007. A VIN SEARCH ON KAWASAKI'S WEBSITE RESULTED IN A NOTICE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE TANKS IS LEAKING AS DESCRIBED BY THE MENTIONED RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #10459767
35,000 miles · May 24, 2006
Power TrainFire
I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON STATE ROAD 17 FROM DAYTON BIKE WEEK WHEN MY KAWASAKI VULCAN 1600 STARTED TO MAKE A HIGH PITCHED WINDING NOISE THEN THE COVER JUST BEFORE THE DIVE SHAFT SHOOT OFF IN TO THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME, THEN THE MOTOR CYCLE CAUGHT FIRE. I PULLED OF THE ROAD AND A BYSTANDER HAD SOME WATER IN A COOLER WE EXTINGUISHED …
Read full complaint
I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON STATE ROAD 17 FROM DAYTON BIKE WEEK WHEN MY KAWASAKI VULCAN 1600 STARTED TO MAKE A HIGH PITCHED WINDING NOISE THEN THE COVER JUST BEFORE THE DIVE SHAFT SHOOT OFF IN TO THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME, THEN THE MOTOR CYCLE CAUGHT FIRE. I PULLED OF THE ROAD AND A BYSTANDER HAD SOME WATER IN A COOLER WE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, I PUT MY BIKE IN THE SHOP AT JACKSONVILLE POWER SPORT IT WAS THERE FOR ABOUT A MONTH THEY SAID ALL THEY COULD DO WAS REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS WHICH CAME OUT TO OVER $900.00 NOW ITS AT ANOTHER KAWASAKI SHOP IN JACKSONVILLE AND THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS FIXING IT TO. SO FAR THEY HAVE CHANGED THE FINAL GEAR DRIVE AND NOW THEY SAY IT MIGHT BE A BEVEL GEAR THAT IS NOT LINED UP RIGHT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10158180
16,000 miles · Oct 25, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A HAIRLINE CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK. HE FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE SMELL OF LEAKING FUEL. ALSO, WHERE THE EXHAUST PIPE BRACKET CONNECTS TO THE MUFFLER WAS WEAK FROM STRESS CRACK FAILURES. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE EXHAUST PIPE ISSUE, WHICH WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. …
Read full complaint
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A HAIRLINE CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK. HE FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE SMELL OF LEAKING FUEL. ALSO, WHERE THE EXHAUST PIPE BRACKET CONNECTS TO THE MUFFLER WAS WEAK FROM STRESS CRACK FAILURES. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE EXHAUST PIPE ISSUE, WHICH WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. NOW, THE EXHAUST PIPE HAS A WELDING PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10140772
19,700 miles · Jul 20, 2005
Fuel System, Gasoline
UNEXPECTED GAS SLEAKAGE FROM GAS TANK. NO ACCIDENT OR ANY OTHER INCIDENT TO JUSTIFY THE LEAK. TANK WILL HAVE TO BE REMOVED AND REWELDED. LEAKAGE AMOUNTS TO 1/2 TEASPOON A DAY. CONCEREND ABOUT HOUSING VEHICE IN GARAGE
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE FUEL TANK IS MOUNTED TO THE CHASSIS BY MEANS OF TABS THAT ARE SPOT WELDED TO THE TANK, THEN BRAISED/WELDED AROUND A PORTION OF THEIR CIRCUMFERENCE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, REPEATED STRESS CAN CRACK THE TANK AT THE LOCATION OF THE TABS, AND ALLOW FUEL TO LEAK.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 25, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-866-802-9381.
ON CERTAIN 2003 VULCAN 1500 CLASSIC, 1500 DRIFTER, 2003-2004 1500 MEAN STREAK, 2003 1600 CLASSIC, AND 2003-2004 NOMAD FL MODEL MOTORCYCLES, HIGH OIL PRESSURE UPON A COLD START-UP CAN DEFORM THE OIL FILTER CARTRIDGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE OIL TO LEAK FROM THE OIL FILTER, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OIL FILTER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 2, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-949-770-0400.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
THIS PE WAS OPENED ON THE BASIS OF EWR DEALER FIELD REPORTS SUBMITTED BY KAWASAKI.SUBSEQUENTLY, KAWASAKI NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT IS RECALLING THE SUBJECT MOTORCYCLES (NHTSA NO. 07V-216) TO ADDRESS THE FUEL TANK LEAKS.
2003 Kawasaki VN1600-A1 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
Illustration