SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

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 →
7Owner complaints

Model-year median: 4

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
19959
19967
19972
19988
19995
2000
Compare all Vulcan years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
4Electrical System
1Power Train
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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: 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

Power Train complaints

1 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2000
Power Train

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

NHTSA ODI #719739

Official recalls

1

97V233000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.