2003 Kawasaki Vulcan Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Vulcan years
- Not enough data 2nd of 14 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Kawasaki Vulcan. That ranks 2nd out of 14 Vulcan model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is power train (4 complaints, 50%), typically at around 12,819 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 fire, 1 injury. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
- 8owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 1complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Kawasaki Vulcan 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 4 | 50% | 12,819 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 13% | 35,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 13% | 500 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 13% | 25,128 | — | — |
| Suspension | 1 | 13% | 2,538 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Kawasaki Vulcan recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Engine and engine cooling
Problem: On certain 2003 vulcan 1500 classic, 1500 drifter, 2003-2004 1500 mean streak, 2003 1600 classic, and 2003-2004 nomad fl model motorcycles, high oil pressure upon a cold start-up can deform the oil filter cartridge.
Risk: This could cause oil to leak from the oil filter, which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the oil filter. Owner notification began on february 2, 2004. Owners should contact kawasaki at 1-949-770-0400.
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.
This motorcycle as others from california, appears to run out of fuel when the tank is 1/2 full or less. It is well documented on the vn forums. It has been given a name of poogs which stands for phantom out of gas syndrome. The dealer escondido cycle center has not been able to fix it. I contacted…
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 65mph, there was a whining noise emitting from the motorcycle followed by smoke. The contact managed to pull over and extinguish the fire. The fire erupted from the transfer case and drive train. Upon initial inspection, the fire was suspected to be electrical…
After a 15 mph frontal crash fuel tank started to leak. Motorcycle was towed. Dealership will be notified. *ak the consumer received a recall about the muffler bracket cracking. *sc
Rear drive splines on 2003 kawasaki vulcan 750 motorcycle were insufficiently lubricated at factory. Dealer failed to check lubrication as requred at 6000mi maintenance. Read drive failed (splines sheared) at 9900 miles. Fortunatly rider was able to pull to side of road with out injury. Rear drive…
The motorcycle's splines on the driveshaft were not properly lubricated at the factory. This caused the splines to over run, and resulted in loss of power to the rear wheels. This made stopping the motorcycle difficult. Model vn750 a-19. *ak *mr
Other Kawasaki Vulcan years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 Vulcan | 0 | 1 |
| 2009 Vulcan | 5 | 1 |
| 2006 Vulcan | 3 | 0 |
| 2005 Vulcan | 6 | 0 |
| 2004 Vulcan | 1 | 1 |
| 2003 | 8 | 1 |
| 2002 Vulcan | 3 | 0 |
| 2001 Vulcan | 3 | 0 |
| 2000 Vulcan | 5 | 0 |
| 1999 Vulcan | 8 | 0 |
| 1998 Vulcan | 2 | 0 |
| 1997 Vulcan | 7 | 1 |
| 1996 Vulcan | 9 | 0 |
| 1995 Vulcan | 2 | 1 |
See all Kawasaki Vulcan 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 2003 Kawasaki Vulcan?
Owners most often report power train, electrical system, engine problems. The top one, power train, accounts for 4 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Kawasaki Vulcan?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Kawasaki Vulcan a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Vulcan model years, the 2003 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.