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1996 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500

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: 1 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.

  • Suspension. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. 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

What owners actually said

4 reports
16,669 miles · Feb 17, 2020
Power Train

I WAS YIELDING INTO I-10 HIGHWAY AFTER LEAVING THE INTERSECTION LIGHT WHEN I SHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR TO SPEED UP THEN GEAR DROP TO NEUTRAL CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE TO JERK ENOUGH TO CAUSE ME TO VEER OF THE ROAD TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. MY PROBLEM IS NOW CONSTANT I SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND, I CAN CRUISE FINE FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN I…

Read full complaint

I WAS YIELDING INTO I-10 HIGHWAY AFTER LEAVING THE INTERSECTION LIGHT WHEN I SHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR TO SPEED UP THEN GEAR DROP TO NEUTRAL CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE TO JERK ENOUGH TO CAUSE ME TO VEER OF THE ROAD TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. MY PROBLEM IS NOW CONSTANT I SHIFT FROM 1ST TO 2ND, I CAN CRUISE FINE FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN I SLIP INTO NEUTRAL (BUT THE NEUTRAL LIGHT DOESN'T COME ON). I SHIFT UP TO 3RD AND THEN BACK DOWN TO 2ND AND I HAVE NO SLIPPING.

NHTSA ODI #11309660

Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 1996
Suspension

PURCHASED MOTORCYCLE NEW, WHEN DRIVING THE MOTORCYCLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT DUE TO MISALIGNMENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #801949

Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 1996
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHILE RIDING HOME THE FUEL LINE BROKE. METAL PART OF THE TANK IS AGAINST THE FUEL LINE. *AK DUE TO THE LOCATION OF THE FUEL LINE, CONSUMER FEELS THIS COULD HAPPEN AGAIN. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #987209

Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 1995
Suspension

WHEN YOU LET THE HANDLES GO THE MOTORCYCLE WENT TO THE SIDE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA ODI #972905

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.