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2003 Kawasaki VN1600-A1

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
4Owner complaints

Model-year median: 4

3Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
4
2003
Compare all VN1600-A1 years →

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

What owners reported most

Fuel System, Gasoline
3Engine And Engine Cooling
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Power Train
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: 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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

1 reports
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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. …

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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

Official recalls

3

07V216000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

May 17, 2007

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.

04V063000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:exhaust System:manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe

Feb 18, 2004

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE MUFFLER BRACKETS COULD CRACK ALLOWING THE MUFFLER TO BECOME LOOSE AND POTENTIALLY SEPARATE FROM THE MAIN EXHAUST PIPES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE MUFFLER BRACKETS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 17, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-866-802-9381.

04V023000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Jan 12, 2004

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 ↗

NHTSA investigations

1

PE07005 · Fuel Tank Leaks

Opened Jan 26, 2007 · Closed May 23, 2007

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

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.