SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

2003 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 →
8Owner 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
5
20003
20013
20028
20031
20046
20053
2006
Compare all Vulcan years →

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

What owners reported most

Power Train
4Electrical System
1Engine
1Fuel System, Gasoline
1Suspension
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: 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

Power Train complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
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…

Read full complaint

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…

Read full complaint

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…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #10053155

Official recalls

1

04V023000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Jan 12, 2004

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.