The 1997 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 5,208 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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.
THIS CONDITION COULD DISABLE THE BATTERY AND THE MOTORCYCLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BATTERY CABLES WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED CABLE AND INSPECT THE BATTERY TO VERIFY THAT NO DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“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.…”
“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…”
“Transmission fails upon each shift to second gear.”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1997 Kawasaki Vulcan Classic as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.