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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

View recall details →

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

Fuel/propulsion System complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
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

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.