1997 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Vulcan Classic years
- Not enough data 1st of 4 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic. That is the most of any Vulcan Classic model year in the database (4 years). The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (3 complaints, 50%), typically at around 30,500 miles. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 6owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 50% | 30,500 | — | — |
| Power Train | 2 | 33% | 25,100 | — | — |
| Equipment | 1 | 17% | 12,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:12v/24v/48v battery:cables
Problem: 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.
Fix: Dealers will replace the existing battery cables with a newly designed cable and inspect the battery to verify that no damage has occurred.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 kawasaki vulcan classic. While driving approximately 10 mph on normal road conditions, the rear tire locked without warning. The transmission failed immediately afterward. The contact had to roll the vehicle back and forth in position several times to unlock the tire. The…
I have a 1997 kawasaki vulcan 1500 classic motorcycle. On this bike and other models, kawasaki installed a plastic gear on the oil pump. This gear fails causing a loss of oil pressure and in some cases destroys major components of the engine. The dealership is telling me that it will cost me over…
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 kawasaki vulcan classic. While driving approximately 65 mph, the contact heard a rattling noise. The local mechanic diagnosed the aftermarket part, a forward control component, as the cause of the transmission failure. The transmission was replaced. The purchase date and…
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 65 mph, the oil and water warning lights illuminated, then went out. The bike was towed to a service dealer where the problem was identified as an oil pressure failure. The manufacturer was contacted.
I was riding my motorcycle a 1997 kawasaki vulcan classic at approximately 35 -40 mph when it started to make a tapping noise. I pull over as soon as i heard the noise. The bike was purchase used from rua motorcycles indian trail nc. The motorcycle was returned to rua cycles for repairs that same…
Other Kawasaki Vulcan Classic years
← 1996 Vulcan Classic · 1998 Vulcan Classic →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 Vulcan Classic | 3 | 0 |
| 1998 Vulcan Classic | 4 | 0 |
| 1997 | 6 | 1 |
| 1996 Vulcan Classic | 2 | 1 |
See all Kawasaki Vulcan Classic problems by year, every Kawasaki model, or the VIN decoder.
Similar Kawasaki models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, power train, equipment problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 3 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Vulcan Classic model years, the 1997 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.