IllustrationTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 KAWASAKI VULCAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING MAJOR DEFECTS AND IS A BIG SAFETY HAZARD. HE BELIEVES A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED RELATING TO THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 21,000.
1996 Kawasaki Vulcan
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Vulcan years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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 9 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 →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 2 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
9 reports1996 KAWASAKI VULCAN REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. *TS THE TREAD SEPARATION CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT AND CAUSED THE LICENSE PLATE AND HOLDER TO BE TORN OFF. *NM
REAR VIEW MIRRORS DO NOT ADJUST OUTWARD .AS INSTALLED THEY ARE TOO CLOSE TO CENTER .IN ORDER TO SEE BEHIND YOU YOU MUST LEAN TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE TO CLEAR THE FIELD OF VIEW.I WEIGH 260 AND HAVE WIDE SHOULDERS WHICH COMPLICATES THE MATTER. *AK
WHEN COMING TO A STOP THE BACK BRAKES DON'T ENGAGE. THE DEALER WILL INSPECT THE MOTORCYCLE. *AK
INNER WELD ON INNER PIPES (EXHAUST PIPE) BROKE, CAUSING NOISE AND EXHAUST LEAK.
THE GAS TANK BUILDS UP PRESSURE AND DUMPS THE GAS OUT OF THE TANK ONTO THE GROUND.*AK
OWNER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE IN FEBRUARY, CONTACTED DEALER AND WAS TOLD THEY HAD TO ORDER PARTS, DEALER STILL HAS NOT RECEIVED PARTS FROM MANUFACTURER. RECALL#97V007000. *AK
THE SIDE MIRROR CAME OFF.
OIL SEAT/RING FAILURE, CAUSING OIL TO RUN OUT ONTO RIMS/TIRES, POSING RISK OF ACCIDENT.
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.