IllustrationBEARINGS IN STARTER MISSING UPON DELIVERY, BRAND NEW. *AK
1997 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
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: 0 of 7 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 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. 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 reports1 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
7 reportsMANY OIL PUMP GEARS HAVE FAILED ON THIS YEAR/MODEL. SOMEONE MAY GET KILLED IF THEY ARE NOT MADE TO REPLACE THESE. *AK
OIL PUMP GEAR FAILED - HAD TRAFFIC BEEN HEAVY ENGINE COULD HAVE SIEZED UP BEFORE I COULD SAFELY STOP
THE CLUTCH SLIPPED AND FAILED AT 12000 MILES, WHICH SEEMED PREMATURE. I REPLACED IT MYSELF AND NOW THE REPLACEMENT IS BEGINNING TO SLIP AT 25000 MILES. MY EXPERIENCE IN OPERATING MOTORCYCLES IS ABOUT 21 YEARS. MY RIDING HABITS ARE NORMAL WITH NO UNUSUAL USAGE (IE. RACING, COMPETITIONS, ETC.). CLUTCH FAILURE IS PREMATURE , WH…
Read full complaint
THE CLUTCH SLIPPED AND FAILED AT 12000 MILES, WHICH SEEMED PREMATURE. I REPLACED IT MYSELF AND NOW THE REPLACEMENT IS BEGINNING TO SLIP AT 25000 MILES. MY EXPERIENCE IN OPERATING MOTORCYCLES IS ABOUT 21 YEARS. MY RIDING HABITS ARE NORMAL WITH NO UNUSUAL USAGE (IE. RACING, COMPETITIONS, ETC.). CLUTCH FAILURE IS PREMATURE , WHICH I BELIEVE IS DUE TO POOR DESIGN. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND CONTACT ME WITH RESULTS. I DID NOT HAVE THE VIN AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THIS WRITING; HOWEVER, PLEASE CALL ME IF IT IS ESSENTIAL.*AK
REAR BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER HAS REBUILT THE MASTER CYLINDER AND OTHER PARTS, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE COUGHING ON ACCELERATION WHEN BACKFIRING, FLAMES SHOOT OUT 6-8 INCHES. DEALER CONTACTED AND REPAIRS DONE, PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
ENGINE STALLS.
Official recalls
197V233000 · Power Train:manual Transmission
Dec 16, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION GEAR CAN CAUSE WEAKENING AND EVENTUAL BREAKAGE OF AN ADJACENT GEAR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: GEAR BREAKAGE CAN RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, CAUSING THE OPERATOR TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE MOTORCYCLES AND REPAIR AFFECTED UNITS.
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.