1997 Kawasaki VN1500 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 1997 Kawasaki VN1500, and owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 1997 Kawasaki VN1500
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Manual transmission (power train)
Vehicle description: motorcycles. An improperly manufactured transmission gear can cause weakening and eventual breakage of an adjacent gear.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect these motorcycles and repair affected units.
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Cables (electrical system)
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the existing battery cables with a newly designed cable and inspect the battery to verify that no damage has occurred.
2 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 Kawasaki VN1500 have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Complaints peaked in 2001 with 1 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Transmission locked up after changing into 2nd gear after leaving a stop... Kawasaki had a recall for this problem for certain bikes this same year but tell me that my bike does not one of the bikes u”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, November 14, 2017 · Power train
“Tire should carry 28 PSI. Cccconsumer called dunlop manufacturer, and dunlop stated that tire should have 35 to 40 PSI. Tires make sidewall wear before center.*ak”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 5, 2001 · Tires
Compare Kawasaki VN1500 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Kawasaki VN1500 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 Kawasaki VN1500 | 1 | 1 |
| 1997 Kawasaki VN1500 | 2 | 2 |
| 1998 Kawasaki VN1500 | 0 | 1 |
| 1999 Kawasaki VN1500 | 1 | 2 |
| 2000 Kawasaki VN1500 | 0 | 2 |
| 2001 Kawasaki VN1500 | 0 | 3 |
| 2002 Kawasaki VN1500 | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 1997 Kawasaki VN1500
How do I know if my 1997 Kawasaki VN1500 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. 2 campaigns currently list the 1997 Kawasaki VN1500; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
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 97V007000).
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.
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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.