The 2003 Kawasaki Vn1600-A1 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 17,160 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE FUEL TANK IS MOUNTED TO THE CHASSIS BY MEANS OF TABS THAT ARE SPOT WELDED TO THE TANK, THEN BRAISED/WELDED AROUND A PORTION OF THEIR CIRCUMFERENCE.
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, REPEATED STRESS CAN CRACK THE TANK AT THE LOCATION OF THE TABS, AND ALLOW FUEL TO LEAK.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 25, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-866-802-9381.
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE MUFFLER BRACKETS COULD CRACK ALLOWING THE MUFFLER TO BECOME LOOSE AND POTENTIALLY SEPARATE FROM THE MAIN EXHAUST PIPES.
THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REINFORCE THE MUFFLER BRACKETS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 17, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-866-802-9381.
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.
THIS COULD CAUSE OIL TO LEAK FROM THE OIL FILTER, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OIL FILTER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 2, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-949-770-0400.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Fuel tank started to leak while sitting in garage, fuel was puddling on the floor. Further investigation revealed that the tank was leaking where the mounting plate is attached to the fuel tank. Corresponds with recall #07v216000 issued in june 2007. A vin search on kawasaki's website resulted in…”
“Fuel tank started to leak while sitting in garage, fuel was puddling on the floor. Further investigation revealed that the tank was leaking where the mounting plate is attached to the fuel tank. Corresponds with recall #07v216000 issued in june 2007. A vin search on kawasaki's website resulted in…”
“I was traveling north on state road 17 from dayton bike week when my kawasaki vulcan 1600 started to make a high pitched winding noise then the cover just before the dive shaft shoot off in to the traffic behind me, then the motor cycle caught fire. I pulled of the road and a bystander had some…”
“I was traveling north on state road 17 from dayton bike week when my kawasaki vulcan 1600 started to make a high pitched winding noise then the cover just before the dive shaft shoot off in to the traffic behind me, then the motor cycle caught fire. I pulled of the road and a bystander had some…”
“Dt: the contact stated that there was a hairline crack in the fuel tank. He first noticed the problem because of the smell of leaking fuel. Also, where the exhaust pipe bracket connects to the muffler was weak from stress crack failures. There was a recall for the exhaust pipe issue, which was…”
“Dt: the contact stated that there was a hairline crack in the fuel tank. He first noticed the problem because of the smell of leaking fuel. Also, where the exhaust pipe bracket connects to the muffler was weak from stress crack failures. There was a recall for the exhaust pipe issue, which was…”
“Unexpected gas sleakage from gas tank. No accident or any other incident to justify the leak. Tank will have to be removed and rewelded. Leakage amounts to 1/2 teaspoon a day. Concerend about housing vehice in garage”
THIS PE WAS OPENED ON THE BASIS OF EWR DEALER FIELD REPORTS SUBMITTED BY KAWASAKI.SUBSEQUENTLY, KAWASAKI NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT IS RECALLING THE SUBJECT MOTORCYCLES (NHTSA NO. 07V-216) TO ADDRESS THE FUEL TANK LEAKS.
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2003 Kawasaki Vn1600-A1 as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.