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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

Unknown Or Other complaints

2 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2004
Unknown Or Other

PLASTIC GEARS IN OIL PUMP OF 1500 VULACN..... THE MOTORCYCLE DOESN'T WORK. KAWASAKI SAID WILL NOT REPLACE WITHOUT ESTIMATE. AT 69.00$ A PAGE... *JB

NHTSA ODI #10054968

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHILE WARMING MOTORCYCKLE UP, CONTACTED DEALER BY PHONE. DEALER ASKED TYPE MOTORCYCLE YEAR AND MILAGE AFTER BEING TOLD THE INFORMATION I WAS INFORMED KAWASAKI USED A PLASTIC GEAR IN OIL PUMP AND FAILURE HAPPEN AROUND THAT MILEAGE. DEALER CHARGED ME $384 AND TOOK 9WEEKS TO REPAIR. FOUND FOR OWNERS THEY HAD PAY…

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OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHILE WARMING MOTORCYCKLE UP, CONTACTED DEALER BY PHONE. DEALER ASKED TYPE MOTORCYCLE YEAR AND MILAGE AFTER BEING TOLD THE INFORMATION I WAS INFORMED KAWASAKI USED A PLASTIC GEAR IN OIL PUMP AND FAILURE HAPPEN AROUND THAT MILEAGE. DEALER CHARGED ME $384 AND TOOK 9WEEKS TO REPAIR. FOUND FOR OWNERS THEY HAD PAYED NO NOTHING FOR REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #765683

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.