2003 KAWASAKI VN1600-A1 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
7
Owner Complaints
3
Recalls
0
Service Bulletins
1
Investigation
Overview of the 2003 KAWASAKI VN1600-A1
The 2003 KAWASAKI VN1600-A1 has received a total of 7 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 3 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systemmanifoldheadermufflertail Pipe (1 complaint), Fuel System Gasolinestorage (1 complaint), and Fuel System Gasolinestoragetank Assembly (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 2003 KAWASAKI VN1600-A1
NHTSA has recorded 3 recalls for the 2003 KAWASAKI VN1600-A1, potentially affecting up to 17,160 vehicles.
Recall 07V216000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
| 4,352 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE FUEL TANK IS MOUNTED TO THE CHASSIS BY MEANS OF TABS THAT ARE SPOT WELDED TO THE TANK, THEN BRAISED/WELDED AROUND A PORTION OF THEIR CIRCUMFERENCE.
Consequence: UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, REPEATED STRESS CAN CRACK THE TANK AT THE LOCATION OF THE TABS, AND ALLOW FUEL TO LEAK.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 25, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-866-802-9381.
View full details →Recall 04V063000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
| 5,850 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE MUFFLER BRACKETS COULD CRACK ALLOWING THE MUFFLER TO BECOME LOOSE AND POTENTIALLY SEPARATE FROM THE MAIN EXHAUST PIPES.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE MUFFLER BRACKETS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 17, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-866-802-9381.
View full details →Recall 04V023000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
| 6,958 vehicles affected
Defect: 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: 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.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 KAWASAKI VN1600-A1
7 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 KAWASAKI VN1600-A1. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systemmanifoldheadermufflertail Pipe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System Gasolinestorage | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System Gasolinestoragetank Assembly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System Gasolinestoragetank Assemblymounting | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuelpropulsion System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Traindriveline | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainmanual Transmission | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
FUEL TANK STARTED TO LEAK WHILE SITTING IN GARAGE, FUEL WAS PUDDLING ON THE FLOOR. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TANK WAS LEAKING WHERE THE MOUNTING PLATE IS ATTACHED TO THE FUEL TANK. CORRESPONDS WITH RECALL #07V216000 ISSUED IN JUNE 2007. A VIN SEARCH ON KAWASAKI'S WEBSITE RESULTED IN A NOTICE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE TANKS IS LEAKING AS DESCRIBED BY THE MENTIONED RECALL.
FUEL TANK STARTED TO LEAK WHILE SITTING IN GARAGE, FUEL WAS PUDDLING ON THE FLOOR. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE TANK WAS LEAKING WHERE THE MOUNTING PLATE IS ATTACHED TO THE FUEL TANK. CORRESPONDS WITH RECALL #07V216000 ISSUED IN JUNE 2007. A VIN SEARCH ON KAWASAKI'S WEBSITE RESULTED IN A NOTICE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL, HOWEVER THE TANKS IS LEAKING AS DESCRIBED BY THE MENTIONED RECALL.
I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON STATE ROAD 17 FROM DAYTON BIKE WEEK WHEN MY KAWASAKI VULCAN 1600 STARTED TO MAKE A HIGH PITCHED WINDING NOISE THEN THE COVER JUST BEFORE THE DIVE SHAFT SHOOT OFF IN TO THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME, THEN THE MOTOR CYCLE CAUGHT FIRE. I PULLED OF THE ROAD AND A BYSTANDER HAD SOME WATER IN A COOLER WE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, I PUT MY BIKE IN THE SHOP AT JACKSONVILLE POWER SPORT IT WAS THERE FOR ABOUT A MONTH THEY SAID ALL THEY COULD DO WAS REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS WHICH CAME OUT TO OVER $900.00 NOW ITS AT ANOTHER KAWASAKI SHOP IN JACKSONVILLE AND THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS FIXING IT TO. SO FAR THEY HAVE CHANGED THE FINAL GEAR DRIVE AND NOW THEY SAY IT MIGHT BE A BEVEL GEAR THAT IS NOT LINED UP RIGHT. *JB
I WAS TRAVELING NORTH ON STATE ROAD 17 FROM DAYTON BIKE WEEK WHEN MY KAWASAKI VULCAN 1600 STARTED TO MAKE A HIGH PITCHED WINDING NOISE THEN THE COVER JUST BEFORE THE DIVE SHAFT SHOOT OFF IN TO THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME, THEN THE MOTOR CYCLE CAUGHT FIRE. I PULLED OF THE ROAD AND A BYSTANDER HAD SOME WATER IN A COOLER WE EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, I PUT MY BIKE IN THE SHOP AT JACKSONVILLE POWER SPORT IT WAS THERE FOR ABOUT A MONTH THEY SAID ALL THEY COULD DO WAS REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS WHICH CAME OUT TO OVER $900.00 NOW ITS AT ANOTHER KAWASAKI SHOP IN JACKSONVILLE AND THEY ARE HAVING PROBLEMS FIXING IT TO. SO FAR THEY HAVE CHANGED THE FINAL GEAR DRIVE AND NOW THEY SAY IT MIGHT BE A BEVEL GEAR THAT IS NOT LINED UP RIGHT. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A HAIRLINE CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK. HE FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM BECAUSE OF THE SMELL OF LEAKING FUEL. ALSO, WHERE THE EXHAUST PIPE BRACKET CONNECTS TO THE MUFFLER WAS WEAK FROM STRESS CRACK FAILURES. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THE EXHAUST PIPE ISSUE, WHICH WAS REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL. NOW, THE EXHAUST PIPE HAS A WELDING PROBLEM. *AK
View all Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systemmanifoldheadermufflertail Pipe complaints →
Safety Rating for the 2003 KAWASAKI VN1600-A1
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 KAWASAKI VN1600-A1 in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 KAWASAKI VN1600-A1
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 KAWASAKI VN1600-A1
NHTSA has opened 1 investigation into potential safety defects in the 2003 KAWASAKI VN1600-A1.
Other Model Years of the KAWASAKI VN1600-A1
- 2003 KAWASAKI VN1600-A1 (current)
Other KAWASAKI Models
- KAWASAKI KLR650 — 229 total complaints
- KAWASAKI KAWASAKI — 102 total complaints
- KAWASAKI NINJA 300 — 77 total complaints
- KAWASAKI NINJA ZX-6R — 77 total complaints
- KAWASAKI VULCAN — 70 total complaints
- KAWASAKI CONCOURS 14 — 64 total complaints
- KAWASAKI NINJA — 53 total complaints
- KAWASAKI VULCAN 1500 — 31 total complaints