Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2005 Kawasaki Vulcan
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Fuel & Propulsion
327.3%
Lights
218.2%
Median failure at 3,000 miles
Electrical System
218.2%
Median failure at 3,000 miles
Other & Unspecified
19.1%
Wheels
19.1%
Median failure at 12,000 miles
Tires
19.1%
Engine & Cooling
19.1%
Median failure at 2,703 miles
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
May 2005peak 4Oct 2022
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Bakersfield, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My 2005 Kawasaki vulcan 1600 nomad have gas tank is leaking, and I looked on the internet and I saw that many people have this problem, is there a recall? The gas tank leaks in the left corner of the tank under the seat? Please let me know, and thank you for all you support.
NHTSA complaint #11489884 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Bakersfield, CA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
My 2005 Kawasaki vulcan 1600 nomad have gas tank is leaking, and I looked on the internet and I saw that many people have this problem, is there a recall? The gas tank leaks in the left corner of the tank under the seat? Please let me know, and thank you for all you support.
NHTSA complaint #11489884 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ramer, AL
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
My 2005 Vulcan 1600 has recent started seeping fuel from the bottom tabs that are welded onto the gas tank and is slowly progressively getting worse
NHTSA complaint #11481490 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,703 milesJasper, AL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 (NA) KAWASAKI VULCAN. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A SCREECHING NOISE COMING FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT A BELT WAX ON THE DRIVE BELT WAS NEEDED; HOWEVER, THE NOISE STILL PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,821 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,703.
NHTSA complaint #10228164 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,000 milesLivingston, TX
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
MOTORCYCLE KEEPS BURNING UP BATTERIES ONCE EACH SIX MONTHS AND THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULB BURNS OUT EVERY 3,000 MILES. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE BIKE IN FEBRUARY OF 2005. EVEN MAIN HEADLIGHT FUSE HAS BURNED LEAVING ME STRANDED AT NIGHT. THE BULB BURNS IN DAYTIME AND I HAVE NO HEADLIGHT AND I DO NOT KNOW IT. I HAD TO USE A TOW TRUCK DUE TO BATTERY BEING COOKED IT LEFT ME STRANDED IN RENO, NEVADA. DEALER DID NOT REPLACE THE BATTERY ON WARRANTY AND CHARGED ME $150 FOR THE BATTERY. THESE PROBLEMS MAKE THIS MOTORCYCLE VERY DANGEROUS TO RIDE. BATTERY FAILED TWICE, HEADLIGHT BULBS FAILED SEVEN TIMES AND I ONLY HAD THE BIKE FOR NINE MONTHS. I BOUGHT IT NEW. I HAVE NO ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES ON THE BIKE. IT IS STOCK FROM THE FACTORY.
NHTSA complaint #10143154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,000 milesLivingston, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
MOTORCYCLE KEEPS BURNING UP BATTERIES ONCE EACH SIX MONTHS AND THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULB BURNS OUT EVERY 3,000 MILES. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE BIKE IN FEBRUARY OF 2005. EVEN MAIN HEADLIGHT FUSE HAS BURNED LEAVING ME STRANDED AT NIGHT. THE BULB BURNS IN DAYTIME AND I HAVE NO HEADLIGHT AND I DO NOT KNOW IT. I HAD TO USE A TOW TRUCK DUE TO BATTERY BEING COOKED IT LEFT ME STRANDED IN RENO, NEVADA. DEALER DID NOT REPLACE THE BATTERY ON WARRANTY AND CHARGED ME $150 FOR THE BATTERY. THESE PROBLEMS MAKE THIS MOTORCYCLE VERY DANGEROUS TO RIDE. BATTERY FAILED TWICE, HEADLIGHT BULBS FAILED SEVEN TIMES AND I ONLY HAD THE BIKE FOR NINE MONTHS. I BOUGHT IT NEW. I HAVE NO ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES ON THE BIKE. IT IS STOCK FROM THE FACTORY.
NHTSA complaint #10143154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12,000 milesLivingston, TX
WHEELS:RIM
FRONT TIRE OF MOTORCYCLE WEARS VERY UNEVENLY NOT ALLOWING FULL CONTACT OF RUBBER TO MEET THE ROAD. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION AS TIRE IS NOT FULLY CONTACTING THE ROAD SURFACE. IT HAS DONE THIS SINCE BIKE WAS NEW AND ON TWO SETS OF TIRES. I THINK THE RIM MAY BE THE PROBLEM CAUSING THIS UNEVEN WEAR. I HAD TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS INSTALL TIRES WITH THE SAME IDENTICAL RESULTS OF POOR ROAD CONTACT. KAWASAKI OF KINGMAN ARIZONA AND KAWASAKI OF RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA.
NHTSA complaint #10143156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,000 milesLivingston, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MOTORCYCLE KEEPS BURNING UP BATTERIES ONCE EACH SIX MONTHS AND THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT BULB BURNS OUT EVERY 3,000 MILES. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I BOUGHT THE BIKE IN FEBRUARY OF 2005. EVEN MAIN HEADLIGHT FUSE HAS BURNED LEAVING ME STRANDED AT NIGHT. THE BULB BURNS IN DAYTIME AND I HAVE NO HEADLIGHT AND I DO NOT KNOW IT. I HAD TO USE A TOW TRUCK DUE TO BATTERY BEING COOKED IT LEFT ME STRANDED IN RENO, NEVADA. DEALER DID NOT REPLACE THE BATTERY ON WARRANTY AND CHARGED ME $150 FOR THE BATTERY. THESE PROBLEMS MAKE THIS MOTORCYCLE VERY DANGEROUS TO RIDE. BATTERY FAILED TWICE, HEADLIGHT BULBS FAILED SEVEN TIMES AND I ONLY HAD THE BIKE FOR NINE MONTHS. I BOUGHT IT NEW. I HAVE NO ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES ON THE BIKE. IT IS STOCK FROM THE FACTORY.
NHTSA complaint #10143154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Livingston, TX
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
2005 KAWASAKI VULCAN 2000 EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS TANK AS WELL AS THE FRONT TIRE IS INSTALLED BACKWARDS.*MR. GAS TANK CAP LEAKS FLUID AND FUMES, CAUSES POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD AND HEALTH PROBLEMS. HEADLIGHTS WON'T ADJUST AND MOVE DOWN, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR CONSUMER TO SEE ROAD AT NIGHT. ALSO, FRONT TIRE WAS INSTALLED BACKWARDS.
NHTSA complaint #10121464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Livingston, TX
TIRES
2005 KAWASAKI VULCAN 2000 EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS TANK AS WELL AS THE FRONT TIRE IS INSTALLED BACKWARDS.*MR. GAS TANK CAP LEAKS FLUID AND FUMES, CAUSES POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD AND HEALTH PROBLEMS. HEADLIGHTS WON'T ADJUST AND MOVE DOWN, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR CONSUMER TO SEE ROAD AT NIGHT. ALSO, FRONT TIRE WAS INSTALLED BACKWARDS.
NHTSA complaint #10121464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Livingston, TX
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
2005 KAWASAKI VULCAN 2000 EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE GAS TANK AS WELL AS THE FRONT TIRE IS INSTALLED BACKWARDS.*MR. GAS TANK CAP LEAKS FLUID AND FUMES, CAUSES POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD AND HEALTH PROBLEMS. HEADLIGHTS WON'T ADJUST AND MOVE DOWN, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR CONSUMER TO SEE ROAD AT NIGHT. ALSO, FRONT TIRE WAS INSTALLED BACKWARDS.
NHTSA complaint #10121464 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.