2003 Kawasaki Vulcan Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2003 Kawasaki Vulcan, and owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 2003 Kawasaki Vulcan
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
-
Engine and engine cooling
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.
8 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Kawasaki Vulcan have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 13,144 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004 with 5 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 phan”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 13, 2013 · Engine
“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 t”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 6, 2006 · Electrical system
Compare Kawasaki Vulcan model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Kawasaki Vulcan model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 Kawasaki Vulcan | 1 | 2 |
| 1996 Kawasaki Vulcan | 0 | 9 |
| 1997 Kawasaki Vulcan | 1 | 7 |
| 1998 Kawasaki Vulcan | 0 | 2 |
| 1999 Kawasaki Vulcan | 0 | 8 |
| 2000 Kawasaki Vulcan | 0 | 5 |
| 2001 Kawasaki Vulcan | 0 | 3 |
| 2002 Kawasaki Vulcan | 0 | 3 |
| 2003 Kawasaki Vulcan | 1 | 8 |
| 2004 Kawasaki Vulcan | 1 | 1 |
| 2005 Kawasaki Vulcan | 0 | 6 |
| 2006 Kawasaki Vulcan | 0 | 3 |
| 2009 Kawasaki Vulcan | 1 | 5 |
| 2010 Kawasaki Vulcan | 1 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2003 Kawasaki Vulcan
How do I know if my 2003 Kawasaki Vulcan 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 Vulcan; 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
- KLR650204 complaints
- Kawasaki82 complaints
- Ninja ZX-6R64 complaints
- Concours 1452 complaints
- Ninja 30045 complaints
- Ninja42 complaints
- Vulcan 150028 complaints
- KL650E20 complaints
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.