2003 KAWASAKI VULCAN — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
8
Owner Complaints
1
Recall
0
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 KAWASAKI VULCAN
The 2003 KAWASAKI VULCAN has received a total of 8 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There has been 1 recall campaign affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. The most commonly reported problems involve the Power Traindrivelinedriveshaft (2 complaints), Electrical System (1 complaint), and Engine (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 2003 KAWASAKI VULCAN
NHTSA has recorded 1 recall for the 2003 KAWASAKI VULCAN, potentially affecting up to 6,958 vehicles.
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 VULCAN
8 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 KAWASAKI VULCAN. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Traindrivelinedriveshaft | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System Gasolinestoragetank Assembly | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Power Train | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainmanual Transmission | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspensionfrontcontrol Armlower Ball Joint | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
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
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.
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
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.
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
Safety Rating for the 2003 KAWASAKI VULCAN
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 KAWASAKI VULCAN in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 KAWASAKI VULCAN
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 KAWASAKI VULCAN
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the KAWASAKI VULCAN
- 1998 KAWASAKI VULCAN — 2 complaints
- 1999 KAWASAKI VULCAN — 8 complaints
- 2000 KAWASAKI VULCAN — 5 complaints
- 2001 KAWASAKI VULCAN — 4 complaints
- 2002 KAWASAKI VULCAN — 3 complaints
- 2003 KAWASAKI VULCAN (current)
- 2004 KAWASAKI VULCAN — 1 complaint
- 2005 KAWASAKI VULCAN — 11 complaints
- 2006 KAWASAKI VULCAN — 3 complaints
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 CONCOURS 14 — 64 total complaints
- KAWASAKI NINJA — 53 total complaints
- KAWASAKI VULCAN 1500 — 31 total complaints
- KAWASAKI KL650E — 23 total complaints