The defect
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.
The risk
THIS CONDITION COULD DISABLE THE BATTERY AND THE MOTORCYCLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING BATTERY CABLES WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED CABLE AND INSPECT THE BATTERY TO VERIFY THAT NO DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Kawasaki VN1500 | 1996, 1997 |
| Kawasaki Vulcan Classic | 1996, 1997 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kawasaki VN1500 | 1996 | 1 | 1 |
| Kawasaki VN1500 | 1997 | 2 | 2 |
| Kawasaki Vulcan Classic | 1996 | 2 | 1 |
| Kawasaki Vulcan Classic | 1997 | 6 | 1 |
Other electrical system recalls in 1997
22 of the 268 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1997 concerned the electrical system; KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP. filed 38 campaigns in all.
| 97V237000 31 Dec 1997 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
| 97V230000 15 Dec 1997 | YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION, USA |
| 97V208001 25 Nov 1997 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 97V208002 25 Nov 1997 | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED |
| 97V215000 24 Nov 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V213000 20 Nov 1997 | TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD. |
| 97V184001 29 Oct 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V184002 28 Oct 1997 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1997