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: 8 of 8 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.
Power Train. 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 →
Engine. 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.
1 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
8 reports
500 miles · Jul 13, 2013
Engine
THIS MOTORCYCLE AS OTHERS FROM CALIFORNIA, APPEARS TO RUN OUT OF FUEL WHEN THE TANK IS 1/2 FULL OR LESS. IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE VN FORUMS. IT HAS BEEN GIVEN A NAME OF POOGS WHICH STANDS FOR PHANTOM OUT OF GAS SYNDROME. THE DEALER ESCONDIDO CYCLE CENTER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT. I CONTACTED KAWASAKI BUT THEY WILL NOT…
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THIS MOTORCYCLE AS OTHERS FROM CALIFORNIA, APPEARS TO RUN OUT OF FUEL WHEN THE TANK IS 1/2 FULL OR LESS. IT IS WELL DOCUMENTED ON THE VN FORUMS. IT HAS BEEN GIVEN A NAME OF POOGS WHICH STANDS FOR PHANTOM OUT OF GAS SYNDROME. THE DEALER ESCONDIDO CYCLE CENTER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT. I CONTACTED KAWASAKI BUT THEY WILL NOT CONNECT ME WITH A TECHNICAL ADVISER. MOST OWNERS REMOVE THE EMISSION CONTROLS. I DO NOT WANT TO. I HAVE HAD ALMOST 20 INCIDENTS ON THE FREEWAY WHEREBY I HAD TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER WITH NO POWER. THEN THE CRANKING REQUIRED TO START THE VEHICLE DRAINS A BATTERY TO NEAR DESTRUCTION. KAWASAKI HAS A PROBLEM WITH THEIR EMISSIONS SYSTEM AND HAS NOT VOLUNTARILY OFFERED TO FIX IT. IT ONLY AFFECTS CA VEHICLES AND SINCE MANY OWNERS ARE SATISFIED WITH REMOVING ALL OF THE EMISSIONS SYSTEMS, COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN NEGLIGIBLE. I WANT TO SELL THIS VEHICLE WITHOUT A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. IF YOU CAN NOT HELP, I MUST DISABLE THE EMISSIONS SO THAT THE FUTURE OWNER WILL NOT BE INJURED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10524681
35,000 miles · Mar 6, 2006
Electrical SystemFire
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65MPH, THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE EMITTING FROM THE MOTORCYCLE FOLLOWED BY SMOKE. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE ERUPTED FROM THE TRANSFER CASE AND DRIVE TRAIN. UPON INITIAL INSPECTION, THE FIRE WAS SUSPECTED TO BE ELECTRICAL IN NATURE DUE TO DAMAGE SUS…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65MPH, THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE EMITTING FROM THE MOTORCYCLE FOLLOWED BY SMOKE. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE ERUPTED FROM THE TRANSFER CASE AND DRIVE TRAIN. UPON INITIAL INSPECTION, THE FIRE WAS SUSPECTED TO BE ELECTRICAL IN NATURE DUE TO DAMAGE SUSTAINED TO THE WIRING. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER.
NHTSA ODI #10152058
25,128 miles · Nov 17, 2004
Fuel System, GasolineCrashInjury
AFTER A 15 MPH FRONTAL CRASH FUEL TANK STARTED TO LEAK. MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WILL BE NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL ABOUT THE MUFFLER BRACKET CRACKING. *SC
NHTSA ODI #10097739
9,900 miles · Sep 14, 2004
Power Train
REAR DRIVE SPLINES ON 2003 KAWASAKI VULCAN 750 MOTORCYCLE WERE INSUFFICIENTLY LUBRICATED AT FACTORY. DEALER FAILED TO CHECK LUBRICATION AS REQURED AT 6000MI MAINTENANCE. READ DRIVE FAILED (SPLINES SHEARED) AT 9900 MILES. FORTUNATLY RIDER WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD WITH OUT INJURY. REAR DRIVE WAS REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED…
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REAR DRIVE SPLINES ON 2003 KAWASAKI VULCAN 750 MOTORCYCLE WERE INSUFFICIENTLY LUBRICATED AT FACTORY. DEALER FAILED TO CHECK LUBRICATION AS REQURED AT 6000MI MAINTENANCE. READ DRIVE FAILED (SPLINES SHEARED) AT 9900 MILES. FORTUNATLY RIDER WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD WITH OUT INJURY. REAR DRIVE WAS REPLACED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. VULCAN-RIDING COMMUNITY HAS NOTED THIS PROBLEM MULTIPLE TIMES ON 2003 MODEL VULCAN 750 BIKES. RETURN OF FAILED PART WAS REQUESTED HOWEVER WAS NOT RETURNED TO CONSUMER.
NHTSA ODI #10090964
15,737 miles · Feb 19, 2004
Power Train
WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOST OF DRIVING FORCE TO THE REAR WHEEL AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED SLOWING DOWN. *LA UPON INSPECTION OF THE MOTORCYCLE, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO LUBRICATE THE SPLINED COUPLING THAT WENT BETWEEN THE DRIVESHAFT OUTPUT AND THE FINAL DRIVE GEARBOX PINION AS…
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WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOST OF DRIVING FORCE TO THE REAR WHEEL AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED SLOWING DOWN. *LA UPON INSPECTION OF THE MOTORCYCLE, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE MANUFACTURER FAILED TO LUBRICATE THE SPLINED COUPLING THAT WENT BETWEEN THE DRIVESHAFT OUTPUT AND THE FINAL DRIVE GEARBOX PINION ASSEMBLY. (2003 KAWASAKI, VULCAN 750A19). *JB
NHTSA ODI #10059501
15,737 miles · Feb 19, 2004
Power Train
THE MOTORCYCLE'S SPLINES ON THE DRIVESHAFT WERE NOT PROPERLY LUBRICATED AT THE FACTORY. THIS CAUSED THE SPLINES TO OVER RUN, AND RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER TO THE REAR WHEELS. THIS MADE STOPPING THE MOTORCYCLE DIFFICULT. MODEL VN750 A-19. *AK *MR
NHTSA ODI #10053787
615 miles · Jan 14, 2004
Power Train
REAR WHEEL LOCKED-UP BECAUSE OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE RIDING MOTORCYCLE. GEAR SHIFT WAS LOCKED-UP AND TRANSMISSION COULD NOT BE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL OR ANY OTHER GEAR. REPAIRING DEALER FOUND BROKEN PIECES IN TRANSMISSION. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE SIMILAR OR POSSIBLY IDENTICAL TO RECALL FOR 2002…
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REAR WHEEL LOCKED-UP BECAUSE OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE RIDING MOTORCYCLE. GEAR SHIFT WAS LOCKED-UP AND TRANSMISSION COULD NOT BE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL OR ANY OTHER GEAR. REPAIRING DEALER FOUND BROKEN PIECES IN TRANSMISSION. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE SIMILAR OR POSSIBLY IDENTICAL TO RECALL FOR 2002 MODEL YEAR MOTORCYCLES UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 02V261000.*AK
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2003 Kawasaki Vulcan Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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