1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V023000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Reported: 2004-01-12 (January 12, 2004) · Model years: 2003, 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: 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.
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
4 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
75.0%Usable mileage3 / 4 records
100.0%Valid incident date4 / 4 records
100.0%Valid filing date4 / 4 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates4 / 4 records
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
Component complaint heatmap
Component
2003
2004
Electrical System
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
150.0%ODI 10765178 · 9,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KAWASAKI NOMAD 1700 (NA) MOTORCYCLE. WHILE INSPECTING THE MOTORCYCLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE IGNITION WIRING WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE WIRE MAKING CONTACT WITH THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED BY THE OWNER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KAWASAKI NOMAD FL. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR THE ENGINE ROCKER ARM COVER THAT WAS LEAKING OIL. THE DEALER TOOK THE ENGINE APART IN ORDER TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE, THE ENGINE HAD LOOSE BOLTS AND A DISCONNECTED RADIATOR HOSE. THE RADIATOR WAS ALSO LEAKING AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT PUSHED IT DOWN A HILL IN AN ATTEMPT TO POP THE CLUTCH AND START THE VEHICLE. HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE CONTACT WAS PINNED BETWEEN THE VEHICLE A…
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 KAWASAKI NOMAD 1500. THE REAR TIRE WAS GOING FLAT AND WENT BACK TO THE SHOP. CONSUMER THOUGHT HE HAD A DEFECTIVE REAR TIRE. SO THEY ORDERED HIM A NEW TIRE. WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH WITH 6200 MILES ON THE MOTORCYCLE THE TIRE BLEW OUT. T DEALERSHIP PUT ON ANOTHER TIRE. ON THE TIRE IT STATED FRONT USE ONLY. THEY PUT THIS TIRE ON THE REAR. HE WAS LUCKY TO BE ALIVE AFTER THIS ACCIDENT BECAUSE THERE WAS A 18 WHEELER BEHIND HIM. DEALERSHIP WANTED THE TIRE TO BE KEPT IT SO THE TIRE WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR INVESTIGATION. …
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STATIONARY TOP PART OF THE WINDSHIELD FRACTURED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED THE AFFECTED PART OF THE WINDSHIELD, HOWEVER AFTER A MONTH IT FRACTURED ONE MORE TIME. THE SAFETY ISSUE WAS THAT THE WINDSHIELD COULD BREAK INTO PIECES WHILE RIDING. UPDATED 8/7/2006 - *NM
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
Component failure mileage distribution
Component
Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)
Median
Usable records
Examples
Electrical System
Too few reports for a range
9,000 mi
1 (sparse)
ODI 10765178 · 9,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 KAWASAKI NOMAD 1700 (NA) MOTORCYCLE. WHILE INSPECTING THE MOTORCYCLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE IGNITION WIRING WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THE WIRE MAKING CONTACT WITH THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE WAS REPAIRED BY THE OWNER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KAWASAKI NOMAD FL. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR THE ENGINE ROCKER ARM COVER THAT WAS LEAKING OIL. THE DEALER TOOK THE ENGINE APART IN ORDER TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE, THE ENGINE HAD LOOSE BOLTS AND A DISCONNECTED RADIATOR HOSE. THE RADIATOR WAS ALSO LEAKING AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT PUSHED IT DOWN A HILL IN AN ATTEMPT TO POP THE CLUTCH AND START THE VEHICLE. HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE CONTACT WAS PINNED BETWEEN THE VEHICLE A…
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE STATIONARY TOP PART OF THE WINDSHIELD FRACTURED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. THE SERVICE DEALER REPLACED THE AFFECTED PART OF THE WINDSHIELD, HOWEVER AFTER A MONTH IT FRACTURED ONE MORE TIME. THE SAFETY ISSUE WAS THAT THE WINDSHIELD COULD BREAK INTO PIECES WHILE RIDING. UPDATED 8/7/2006 - *NM
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month
Complaints
Campaigns announced
Examples
2024-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2024-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-10
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-11
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2025-12
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-01
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-02
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-03
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-04
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-05
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-06
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-07
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-08
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-09
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2003: 1 complaints · 2004: 1 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
2003
0
1
1
2004
0
1
1
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
2003
2
0
0
2004
2
0
0
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
Component co-occurrence matrix
Component
Electrical System
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
Tires
Visibility:Windshield
Electrical System
—
0
0
0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
0
—
0
0
Tires
0
0
—
0
Visibility:Windshield
0
0
0
—
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
1 patterns with matching reports.
Battery drain and no-start mentions
1 mentions · 25.0% of complaints
Median mileage: 24,000 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10217136 · 24,000 mi
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 KAWASAKI NOMAD FL. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER RECALL FOR THE ENGINE ROCKER ARM COVER THAT WAS LEAKING OIL. THE DEALER TOOK THE ENGINE APART IN ORDER TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. AFTER THE REPAIR WAS MADE, THE ENGINE HAD LOOSE BOLTS AND A DISCONNECTED RADIATOR HOSE. THE RADIATOR WAS ALSO LEAKING AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT PUSHED IT DOWN A HILL IN AN ATTEMPT TO POP THE CLUTCH AND START THE VEHICLE. HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL. THE CONTACT WAS PINNED BETWEEN THE VEHICLE A…