2009 Kawasaki Vulcan problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes, Hydraulic (1) · Power Train:driveline (1) · Power Train (1)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Kawasaki Vulcan model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (1)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:pedals And Linkages 2010-10-19 · campaign 10V507000 · 6,187 vehicles
Defect: KAWASAKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 VULCAN MOTORCYCLES. THE ENGINE MAY STALL IF THE RIDER IS COASTING WITH THE CLUTCH PULLED IN DUE TO AN IMPROPER SETTING OF THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT (ECU).
Risk: ENGINE STALLING COULD CREATE A POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ECU WITH ONE CONTAINING REVISED SETTINGS TO ADDRESS THE ENGINE STALLING. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 1, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KAWASAKI CONSUMER SERVICES DEPARTMENT AT 1-866-802-9381.
What owners report
2013-09-09 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 💥 crash“2009 kawasaki vulcan. consumer writes in regards to engine stalling recall notice. *smd the consumer stated he took the motorcycle back to the dealer several times, due to the stalling issue. finally, while riding the bike one day, it stalled again. only this time, the consumer had an accident, and was thrown off the motorcycle. the consumer suf…”
2013-07-29 · Engine · 1,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2009 kawasaki vulcan 1700 voyager motorcycle. the contact stated that while riding the bike, there was a loud whistling noise emitted continuously. the bike was taken to an authorized dealer for diagnosis. the technician informed the contact that the engine under drive pulley and belt would need to be replaced. the manufactur…”
2011-09-16 · Power Train“tl* the contact owns a 2009 kawasaki vulcan. the contact stated that the vehicle would become stuck in third and fifth gears, causing difficulty when attempting to brake. the contact would have to pop the vehicle out of gear and re-engage. the dealer adjusted the clutch in an attempt to correct the failure but to no avail. the dealer was made unabl…”
2010-11-24 · Power Train:driveline · 6,100 mi“tl*the contact owns a 2009 kawasaki vulcan. while the vehicle was being serviced, the contact was informed that the drive belt had a cut in it length-wise. the reason for the cut was that there was no protective shield for the top portion of the drive belt. the contact stated that a rock lodged in the front housing trapped the rock causing it to cu…”
2010-11-21 · Engine And Engine Cooling · 400 mi“the kawasaki vulcan 1700 voyager - 2009 generates excessive heat. i received second degree burns from it. kawasaki admitted there was a problem and provided a heat shield kit that did nothing to reduce the heat but moved it to the passenger-rider. kawasaki has done nothing to this model year motorcycle to fix the heat problem. riders of this bi…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.