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1997 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
7Owner complaints

Model-year median: 4.5

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
3
19945
19954
19967
19973
1999
Compare all Vulcan 1500 years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
2Power Train
2Unknown Or Other
2Engine
1Suspension
1

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: 3 of 7 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. 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 reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Power Train complaints

2 reports
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6,000 miles · May 12, 2011
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KAWASKI VULCAN 1500 MOTORCYCLE. 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 TH…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KAWASKI VULCAN 1500 MOTORCYCLE. 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. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO CONFIRMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED AND OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

NHTSA ODI #10400669

9,965 miles · Jul 8, 2005
Power Train

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KAWASAKI VULCAN. HE STATES THAT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 97V233000 CONCERNING MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS ISSUED. THE CONSUMER CALLED KAWASAKI AND THEY STATED HIS MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE RECALL. *AK THE GEA…

Read full complaint

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KAWASAKI VULCAN. HE STATES THAT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 97V233000 CONCERNING MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS ISSUED. THE CONSUMER CALLED KAWASAKI AND THEY STATED HIS MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE RECALL. *AK THE GEAR LOCKED UP. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10126264

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.