NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Kawasaki VN1500-L4 Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 Kawasaki VN1500-L4 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 2 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Kawasaki dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Kawasaki VN1500-L4. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2003 Kawasaki VN1500-L4 owner complaints

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Kawasaki VN1500-L4, describing incidents dated September 25, 2006 to September 21, 2013.

Most-cited components

Engine 1 complaint
Tires 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10544861 · Filed September 22, 2013
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 THE SECOND INCIDENT I HAVE HAD WITH THIS BRAND AND MODEL. THE FIRST THE SIDEWALL HAD SEPARATED…
ODI #10171980 · Filed October 27, 2006
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 9-25-06, I NOTICED A MAJOR OIL LEAK COMING FROM A HOLE IN THE LEFT SIDE #1 CYLINDER SPARK PLUG SLEEVE. ON…

Read all 2 complaints

KAWASAKI/OIL FILTER

NHTSA #04V023000 · Engine and Engine Cooling · NHTSA notice

Reported January 12, 2004 · KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP., U.S.A.

Potentially affected: 6,958 vehicles

Kawasaki campaign MC04-04 · Owners notified February 2, 2004 · Vehicles built June 1, 2002 – February 28, 2003 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

THIS COULD CAUSE OIL TO LEAK FROM THE OIL FILTER, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OIL FILTER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 2, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT KAWASAKI AT 1-949-770-0400.

Notes

KAWASAKI RECALL NO. MC04-04.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2003 Kawasaki VN1500-L4. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

2 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Kawasaki VN1500-L4.

Tires

ODI #10544861

Incident: September 21, 2013 · Filed: September 22, 2013

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 THE SECOND INCIDENT I HAVE HAD WITH THIS BRAND AND MODEL. THE FIRST THE SIDEWALL HAD SEPARATED RESULTING IN A LARGE BULGE. IT ALSO WENT FLAT WHILE PARKED. TIRE PRESSURES ARE CHECKED ONCE PER WEEK AND BEFORE ANY LONG TRIP. PRESSURE IS MAINTAINED AT 40PSI PER MANUF. SPEC

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10171980

Incident: September 25, 2006 · Filed: October 27, 2006

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 9-25-06, I NOTICED A MAJOR OIL LEAK COMING FROM A HOLE IN THE LEFT SIDE #1 CYLINDER SPARK PLUG SLEEVE. ON 9-27-06, I TOOK MY BIKE (BY TRAILER) TO MY DEALER IN ORDER TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. ON 10-14-06, I WAS NOTIFIED BY MY DEALER (WHO WAS EAGER TO REPAIR THE BIKE) THAT KAWASAKI WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE WARRANTY WORK TO BE DONE BECAUSE OF NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. ON 10-16-06, I CALLED KAWASAKI CUSTOMER SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THAT BECAUSE OF THE HIGH MILEAGE ON MY BIKE, KAWASAKI WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO WEAR AND DETERIORATION OCCASIONED BY USE OF THE PRODUCT. THE OIL LEAK WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE AUTOMATIC CAM CHAIN TENSIONERS WHICH ALLOWED THE CAM CHAIN OVER TIME TO STRETCH AND RUB A HOLE IN THE SPARK PLUG SLEEVE. IF THE CAM CHAIN WERE TO BREAK, THIS COULD CAUSE THE MOTOR TO SIEZE AND CAUSE INJURY TO THE RIDER. I HAVE DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MOST KAWASAKI ENGINES AND ONE KAWASAKI SHOULD BE AWARE OF. IN FACT, KAWASAKI OF CANADA HAS A CAM CHAIN TENSIONER EXTENDER (PART #92027-1500-DE) THAT CORRECTS THIS PROBLEM, YET KAWASAKI USA HAS NO SUCH PART. WHY IS THIS? FURTHERMORE, I ASKED WHY KAWASAKI MOTORS REPAIRED MY BIKE IN MARCH 2006 FOR A WORN OUT STATOR, IN JUNE 2006 FOR WORN OUT WHEEL BEARINGS AND FORK SEALS AND IN AUGUST 2006 FOR A WORN OUT U-JOINT AND DRIVE SHAFT; ALL UNDER THE "UNLIMITED MILEAGE" WARRANTY. THEY AGAIN HAD NO ANSWER. WELL, I THINK I KNOW THE ANSWER: M-O-N-E-Y! IN ORDER TO FIX THE OIL LEAK, KAWASAKI WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE ENGINE FROM THE FRAME, REPLACE CAM CHAINS, SPARK PLUG SLEEVES, GASKETS, ETC. ETC. THIS WOULD COST KAWASAKI MEGABUCKS, SO THEY SAID IN ESSENCE WE WON'T HONOR THE WARRANTY SO FIX IT YOURSELF. I ORDERED THE PARTS AND DID THE REPAIR WORK MYSELF. *NM

Check your 2003 Kawasaki VN1500-L4 VIN

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