Known Recalls

Model year record

1999 KAWASAKI VN1500

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 2 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 99V067000

Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system
Manufacturer
KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP.
Vehicles affected
2,779
Reported to NHTSA
1999-04-06
Owners notified
1999-04-09

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES (VN1500-J1/L) EQUIPPED WITH A DIGITAL FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM AND A VEHICLE-DOWN SENSOR. THIS FEATURE IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM FROM CONTINUING TO PUMP FUEL IF THE MOTORCYCLE FALLS DOWN, BY SHUTTING OFF THE IGNITION AND FUEL INJECTION PUMP. DURING BATTERY MAINTENANCE, THE VEHICLE-DOWN SENSOR CAN BE DISLODGED FROM ITS NORMAL MOUNTED POSITION. IF THE SENSOR IS OUT OF POSITION, THE MOTORCYCLE MAY NOT START OR MAY STALL DURING CERTAIN DRIVING MANEUVERS.

Safety risk

IF THE SENSOR IS NOT CORRECTLY INSTALLED, THE ENGINE CAN CRANK BUT NOT START OR THE ENGINE COULD STOP DURING CERTAIN RIDING SITUATIONS, LIKE LEANING OVER IN A TURN. SUDDEN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER COULD CAUSE THE OPERATOR TO LOSE THEIR BALANCE RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR PROPER MOUNTING OF THE SENSOR AND RE-INSTALL IF IT IS NOT IN THE CORRECT POSITION. DEALERS WILL ALSO AFFIX TO THE MOTORCYCLE FRAME, A WARNING LABEL THAT PROVIDES INSTRUCTIONS ON REPOSITIONING THE VEHICLE-DOWN SENSOR AFTER SERVICING THE BATTERY.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Engine and engine cooling128,250 mi
Unknown or other1—

The 1998 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. The 2000 model has roughly the same number of complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.