Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
7 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
9,965 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data updated: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Power Train:Manual Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 7 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 28.6% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 14.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 2 |
| Unknown Or Other | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Suspension:Front | 1 |
Power Train:Manual Transmission: 2; Unknown Or Other: 2; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Suspension:Front: 1
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 4 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 1 |
| 1998 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
1997: 1; 1998: 1; 2002: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2011: 1; 2020: 1
Power Train:Manual Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KAWASAKI VULCAN. HE STATES THAT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 97V233000 CONCERNING MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS ISSUED. THE CONSUMER CALLED KAWASAKI AND THEY STATED HIS MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE RECALL. *AK THE GEAR LOCKED UP. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 9,965 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126264 at NHTSA ↗
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KAWASKI VULCAN 1500 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR, THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIP OUT OF GEAR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THERE WAS A RECALL UNDDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V233000 (POWER TRAIN: MANUAL TRANSMISSION) BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO CONFIRMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED AND OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10400669 at NHTSA ↗
WHEN DRIVING THE MOTORCYCLE STALLS AND BACKFIRES. OWNER HAS BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND THAT THE PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 821384 at NHTSA ↗
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
7 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
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 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1999 | 2002 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension:Front | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 240.0% | 250.0%ODI 801949PURCHASED MOTORCYCLE NEW, WHEN DRIVING THE MOTORCYCLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT DUE TO MISALIGNMENT. *AK | 114.3%ODI 810679LOUD NOISE, MISSING NUT BOLT ON THE LEFT FRONT SPINDLE/AXLE *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 10014577THE FRONT END OF THE MOTORCYCLE MADE A LOUD NOISE. UPON INSPECTION OF THE MOTORCYCLE BY THE DEALERSHIP, THEY INDICATED THE FRONT WHEEL WAS WOBBLING AND THE SPACER BAR WAS MOBILE ALSO. THE SPACER BAR WAS TIGHTENED, HOWEVER 2 WEEKS LATER, THE FRONT END SEIZED UP AND THE BIKE FLIPPED OVER. *JB THE FRONT TIRE FAILED AND CAUSED THE BIKE TO FALL. THE CONSUMER HAS MADE REPEATED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE FONT TIRE SINCE PURCHASE. SCC |
| Unknown Or Other | 133.3%ODI 831944WHILE OWNER WAS DRIVING THE MOTORCYCLE, THE FOOT PEG BROKE OFF. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK | 120.0%ODI 524246MOTORCYCLE SIDE STAND DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE, WHEN HANDLE BAR IS TURNED TO THE RIGHT IT IS EXTREMELY UNSTABLE AND FALLS. THE MOTORCYCLE FELL AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE GAS TANK, EXHAUST PIPES AND HANDLEBAR GRIP. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 228.6%ODI 10054968PLASTIC GEARS IN OIL PUMP OF 1500 VULACN..... THE MOTORCYCLE DOESN'T WORK. KAWASAKI SAID WILL NOT REPLACE WITHOUT ESTIMATE. AT 69.00$ A PAGE... *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 120.0%ODI 972795OIL LIGHT COME ON EVERY TIME MOTORCYCLE COMES TO A STOP, INDICATING THAT THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ENGINE. TT | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 765683OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHILE WARMING MOTORCYCKLE UP, CONTACTED DEALER BY PHONE. DEALER ASKED TYPE MOTORCYCLE YEAR AND MILAGE AFTER BEING TOLD THE INFORMATION I WAS INFORMED KAWASAKI USED A PLASTIC GEAR IN OIL PUMP AND FAILURE HAPPEN AROUND THAT MILEAGE. DEALER CHARGED ME $384 AND TOOK 9WEEKS TO REPAIR. FOUND FOR OWNERS THEY HAD PAYED NO NOTHING FOR REPAIRS. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 10044218WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY MOTORCYCLE STALLED. DRIVER TRIED TO RESTART THE MOTORCYCLE, BUT IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER HE WALKED THE MOTORCYCLE OVER TO THE SHOULDER. THEN IT WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. BUT THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 266.7%ODI 831943WHILE DRIVING THE MOTORCYCLE DRIVER COULD SMELL A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL. UPON TAKING MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, DEALER FOUND FUEL TANK TO BE LEAKING FROM THE WELDS. THE FUEL TANK HAS BEEN REPAIRED. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 228.6%ODI 10126264 · 9,965 miDT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KAWASAKI VULCAN. HE STATES THAT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 97V233000 CONCERNING MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS ISSUED. THE CONSUMER CALLED KAWASAKI AND THEY STATED HIS MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE RECALL. *AK THE GEAR LOCKED UP. *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Suspension | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 120.0%ODI 983709KICK STAND ON MOTOR CYCLE WILL NOT HOLD MOTOR CYCLE, WHEN WHEEL WAS TURN ON ANGLE MOTORCYCLE FELL OVER. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 116.7%ODI 8017047WHILE DRIVING 30MPH HEARD CLUNKING NOISE. WHEN HITTING POTHOLE NOISE STOPPED. .DEALER NOTIFIED, AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. *AK |
| Suspension:Rear | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 233.3%ODI 8017524REAR END IS MAKING A POPPING AND CLICKING NOISES WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE BEEN TO DEALER, AND PROBLEM IS STILL OCCURRING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK |
| Engine | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 11319784 · 17,000 miHTTPS://SEARCH.YAHOO.COM/YHS/SEARCH?P=KAWASAKI+VULCAN+PLASTIC+OIL+PUMP+GEAR&FR=YHS-ATT-ATT_001&TYPE=ATT_PC_HOMERUN_PORTAL_BUCKET_ANIM_NOGL&HSIMP=YHS-ATT_001&HSPART=ATT&EI=UTF-8 KAWASKI MOTORCYCLES HAVE A PLASTIC OIL PUMP DRIVE GEAR THAT STRIPS AND CAUSES THE MOTOR TO SEIZE WHIL DRIVING. NO RECALL. REPORTING THIS FOR SAFETY OF OTHERS | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | Too few reports for a range | 7,983 mi | 2 (sparse) | ODI 10126264 · 9,965 miDT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KAWASAKI VULCAN. HE STATES THAT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 97V233000 CONCERNING MANUAL TRANSMISSION WAS ISSUED. THE CONSUMER CALLED KAWASAKI AND THEY STATED HIS MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN THE RECALL. *AK THE GEAR LOCKED UP. *JB ODI 10400669 · 6,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 KAWASKI VULCAN 1500 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER HE SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR, THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIP OUT OF GEAR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED WHO STATED THERE WAS A RECALL UNDDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V233000 (POWER TRAIN: MANUAL TRANSMISSION) BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHO CONFIRMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED AND OFFERED NO OTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. |
| Engine | Too few reports for a range | 17,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 11319784 · 17,000 miHTTPS://SEARCH.YAHOO.COM/YHS/SEARCH?P=KAWASAKI+VULCAN+PLASTIC+OIL+PUMP+GEAR&FR=YHS-ATT-ATT_001&TYPE=ATT_PC_HOMERUN_PORTAL_BUCKET_ANIM_NOGL&HSIMP=YHS-ATT_001&HSPART=ATT&EI=UTF-8 KAWASKI MOTORCYCLES HAVE A PLASTIC OIL PUMP DRIVE GEAR THAT STRIPS AND CAUSES THE MOTOR TO SEIZE WHIL DRIVING. NO RECALL. REPORTING THIS FOR SAFETY OF OTHERS |
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.
| 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. |
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.
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.
1999: 1 complaints · 2002: 6 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2002 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 | 6 | 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.
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Power Train:Manual Transmission | Unknown Or Other | Engine | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | Suspension:Front |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unknown Or Other | 0 | — | 0 | 1ODI 765683OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHILE WARMING MOTORCYCKLE UP, CONTACTED DEALER BY PHONE. DEALER ASKED TYPE MOTORCYCLE YEAR AND MILAGE AFTER BEING TOLD THE INFORMATION I WAS INFORMED KAWASAKI USED A PLASTIC GEAR IN OIL PUMP AND FAILURE HAPPEN AROUND THAT MILEAGE. DEALER CHARGED ME $384 AND TOOK 9WEEKS TO REPAIR. FOUND FOR OWNERS THEY HAD PAYED NO NOTHING FOR REPAIRS. *AK | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 0 | 1ODI 765683OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHILE WARMING MOTORCYCKLE UP, CONTACTED DEALER BY PHONE. DEALER ASKED TYPE MOTORCYCLE YEAR AND MILAGE AFTER BEING TOLD THE INFORMATION I WAS INFORMED KAWASAKI USED A PLASTIC GEAR IN OIL PUMP AND FAILURE HAPPEN AROUND THAT MILEAGE. DEALER CHARGED ME $384 AND TOOK 9WEEKS TO REPAIR. FOUND FOR OWNERS THEY HAD PAYED NO NOTHING FOR REPAIRS. *AK | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Suspension:Front | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
1 patterns with matching reports.
1 mentions · 14.3% of complaints
Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).
WHEN DRIVING THE MOTORCYCLE STALLS AND BACKFIRES. OWNER HAS BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THERE WAS A RECALL AND THAT THE PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER. *AK
\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b