RecallMyCar

2003 Kawasaki VN1500-L4 Recalls, Complaints & Specs

1 safety recall lists the 2003 Kawasaki VN1500-L4, and owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

1
safety recall
2
owner complaints to NHTSA

1 safety recall for the 2003 Kawasaki VN1500-L4

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Engine and engine cooling

    NHTSA 04V023000 Reported 6,958 vehicles potentially affected KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP., U.S.A.

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the oil filter. Owner notification began on february 2, 2004. Owners should contact kawasaki at 1-949-770-0400.

2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2003 Kawasaki VN1500-L4 have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 127,920 miles. Complaints peaked in 2006 with 1 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The rubber on my rear tire (160/80 b 16 m/c 75h) broke at the tread groves and separated from the casing, causing the tire to go flat. Fortunately the bike was parked when the tire went flat. This is”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 22, 2013 · Tires

“Kawasaki's unlimited mileage warranty is a ripoff! I own a 2003 kawasaki nomad motorcycle with 170,345 miles on the odometer and my extended "unlimited mileage" warranty expires on 8/19/2008. On 9-25-”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 27, 2006 · Engine and engine cooling

Checking a specific 2003 Kawasaki VN1500-L4

How do I know if my 2003 Kawasaki VN1500-L4 has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2003 Kawasaki VN1500-L4; your car may already have been repaired under it.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Kawasaki dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 04V023000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Kawasaki models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.