Car Problem DataNHTSA records

1996 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic

Routine

Owners filed 2 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train › manual transmission. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train › Manual Transmission2
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery › Cables97V007000
Filed Jan 15, 19975,208 vehiclesKawasaki Motors Corp.

Defect. PRESSURE ON THE BATTERY GROUND LEAD (THE CRIMPED AND SOLDERED TERMINATION OF THE BATTERY CABLE) FROM THE BASE OF THE OPERATOR'S SEAT CAN CAUSE THE BATTERY TERMINAL TO SHORT OUT INSIDE THE BATTERY.

Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD DISABLE THE BATTERY AND THE MOTORCYCLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BATTERY CABLES WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED CABLE AND INSPECT THE BATTERY TO VERIFY THAT NO DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Sep 19, 2000FL

MOTORCYCLE GRINDS WHEN SHIFTED FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND JUMPS BACK INTO NEUTRAL. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON THE LATER MODELS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED*AK.

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Jul 6, 1998CT

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ACCELERATING OUT OF FIRST GEAR, THE MOTORCYCLE WILL JUMP OUT OF FIRST GEAR INTO NOWHERE. THE DEALER IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE MOTORCYCLE. *AK

2 of 2 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1997
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20013000Routine
19984000Routine
19976100Routine
1996 — this page2100Routine

Compare every Vulcan Classic year →

Other Kawasaki models

All Kawasaki models →
KLR650 207Kawasaki 82Ninja ZX-6R 64Vulcan 62Concours 14 52Ninja 300 45Ninja 42Vulcan 1500 28KL650E 20ZX-6R 18

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jan 15, 1997. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.