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2009 Kawasaki Vulcan

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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

What owners reported most

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 5 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.

  • 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 →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. 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.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

1 reports
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400 miles · Nov 21, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE KAWASAKI VULCAN 1700 VOYAGER - 2009 GENERATES EXCESSIVE HEAT. I RECEIVED SECOND DEGREE BURNS FROM IT. KAWASAKI ADMITTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND PROVIDED A HEAT SHIELD KIT THAT DID NOTHING TO REDUCE THE HEAT BUT MOVED IT TO THE PASSENGER-RIDER. KAWASAKI HAS DONE NOTHING TO THIS MODEL YEAR MOTORCYCLE TO FIX THE HEAT PROBLEM…

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THE KAWASAKI VULCAN 1700 VOYAGER - 2009 GENERATES EXCESSIVE HEAT. I RECEIVED SECOND DEGREE BURNS FROM IT. KAWASAKI ADMITTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND PROVIDED A HEAT SHIELD KIT THAT DID NOTHING TO REDUCE THE HEAT BUT MOVED IT TO THE PASSENGER-RIDER. KAWASAKI HAS DONE NOTHING TO THIS MODEL YEAR MOTORCYCLE TO FIX THE HEAT PROBLEM. RIDERS OF THIS BIKE STILL COMPLAIN ABOUT THE HEAT, SEE MOST ANY FORUM DISCUSSING THIS MOTORCYCLE FOR MANY COMPLAINTS AND SPECIFICALLY KAWASAKI'S UNWILLINGNESS TO ADMIT THAT THEY CAN NOT OR WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. IN THE 2010 MODEL ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN THEY CLAIM TO HAVE FIXED IT, YET THE PROBLEM REMAINS BASED ON THE FORUM CONVERSATIONS. WHEN COMPLAINTS ARE MADE TO KAWASAKI, BY MYSELF OR OTHER FORUM PARTICIPANTS, KAWASAKI EITHER IGNORES THE SITUATION OR BLAMES THE RIDER FOR USING THE BIKE INCORRECTLY OR RIDING WITH BARE LEGS OR SOMETHING SIMILAR. THIS BIKE IS DANGEROUS AND THAT IT IS BEING RESOLD TO A PUBLIC THAT IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE DOCUMENTED AND ADMITTED EXCESSIVE HEAT PROBLEM REPRESENTS A CLEAR DANGER TO THE PUBLIC. I WAS BURNED RIDING THE BIKE ON A 750 MILE, ONE WAY RIDE DOWN I-5 AND ALONG THE CALIFORNIA COAST. THE BIKE WAS USED AS INTENDED AND MELTED PARTS OF MY PANTS WERE FOUND ON THE MOTORCYCLE BY A TECHNICAL EXPERT FROM KAWASAKI, NOT BY ME. SO KAWASAKI IS INTIMATELY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY SUGGESTED I SELL THE MOTORCYCLE, KNOWING IT WAS DEFECTIVE, TO SOMEONE ELSE AND BUY ANOTHER BIKE. SO KAWASAKI IS OPENLY SUGGESTING THAT A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT BE RESOLD INCREASING THE DANGER OF MORE PEOPLE BEING BURNED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10367018

Official recalls

1

10V507000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages

Oct 19, 2010

KAWASAKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 VULCAN MOTORCYCLES. THE ENGINE MAY STALL IF THE RIDER IS COASTING WITH THE CLUTCH PULLED IN DUE TO AN IMPROPER SETTING OF THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT (ECU).

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: ENGINE STALLING COULD CREATE A POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ECU WITH ONE CONTAINING REVISED SETTINGS TO ADDRESS THE ENGINE STALLING. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 1, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KAWASAKI CONSUMER SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT 1-866-802-9381.

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.