FaultScore

FaultScore report

2005 Kawasaki Vulcan problems

Owners have filed 11 complaints about the 2005 Kawasaki Vulcan with NHTSA between 2005 and 2022. The largest single group is the fuel & propulsion.

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

11

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

3,000 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

100%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

How 2005 compares with every other Kawasaki Vulcan

Click any bar to open that year's report.

95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 09
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 3 27.3%
Lights 2 18.2%

Median failure at 3,000 miles

Electrical System 2 18.2%

Median failure at 3,000 miles

Other & Unspecified 1 9.1%
Wheels 1 9.1%

Median failure at 12,000 miles

Tires 1 9.1%
Engine & Cooling 1 9.1%

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 2005 peak 4 Oct 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 miles Jasper, 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 miles Livingston, 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 miles Livingston, 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 miles Livingston, 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 miles Livingston, 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.