Model year record

1997 Kawasaki VN1500 recalls & problems

The 1997 Kawasaki VN1500 has 2 safety recalls and 2 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is tires (1 complaint).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints2filed by owners

Crashes · fires0 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Power trainDec 16, 1997

Manual transmission

Recall 97V233000544 vehicles

Problem: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION GEAR CAN CAUSE WEAKENING AND EVENTUAL BREAKAGE OF AN ADJACENT GEAR.
Risk: GEAR BREAKAGE CAN RESULT IN TRANSMISSION LOCKUP, CAUSING THE OPERATOR TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE MOTORCYCLES AND REPAIR AFFECTED UNITS.

Electrical systemJan 15, 1997

12v/24v/48v battery › Cables

Recall 97V0070005,208 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD DISABLE THE BATTERY AND THE MOTORCYCLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BATTERY CABLES WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED CABLE AND INSPECT THE BATTERY TO VERIFY THAT NO DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Tires	1	0	0	0	—
Power train	1	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Power train
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 UNDER THE RECALL. ONLY 25,600 MILES ON THE BIKE.
Sep 15, 2017
Tires
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
Sep 1, 2001

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.