NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Honda VTX1800 Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2003 Honda VTX1800 right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 53 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Honda VTX1800.

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2003 Honda VTX1800 owner complaints

Owners have filed 53 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Honda VTX1800, describing incidents dated February 20, 2002 to March 28, 2016.

Most-cited components

Power Train 18 complaints
Suspension 17 complaints
Wheels 11 complaints
Tires 3 complaints
Engine 2 complaints
Exterior Lighting 2 complaints

Of the 53 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash; across all 53 complaints, owners report 2 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10969010 · Filed March 28, 2017
JUST HAD REAR TIRE REPLACED ON MY VTX 1800R AT HONDA DEALER. WAS INFORMED BY TECHNICIAN THAT MY REAR BEARING NEEDS REPLACED. THE BIKE ONLY HAS 13,500 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT. THIS SEEMS WAY TO EARLY FOR THIS TO HAVE WORN OUT ALREADY. I SEE ON THIS FORUM THAT THIS PROBLEM IS ENORMOUSLY COMMON ON THE…
ODI #10651272 · Filed October 29, 2014
NOTICED ODD TIRE WEAR ON THE REAR TIRE OF THE MOTORCYCLE WHILE AWAY FROM HOME. TIRE SEEMED TO HAVE WORN DOWN VERY QUICKLY. AFTER ANOTHER 100 MILES RIDDEN, NOTICED TREAD ON LEFT SIDE OF TIRE WAS WORN DOWN TO THE CORDS OF THE TIRE AND VERY CLOSE TO HAVING A BLOW OUT. REMOVED TIRE AND WHEEL TO REPLACE…
ODI #10534604 · Filed August 9, 2013
THE REAR WHEEL FLANGE BEARINGS WERE FOUND DAMAGED AND MISSING. *TR

Read all 53 complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 2003 Honda VTX1800 right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2003 Honda VTX1800. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

53 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Honda VTX1800.

Suspension

ODI #10969010

Incident: March 28, 2016 · Filed: March 28, 2017

JUST HAD REAR TIRE REPLACED ON MY VTX 1800R AT HONDA DEALER. WAS INFORMED BY TECHNICIAN THAT MY REAR BEARING NEEDS REPLACED. THE BIKE ONLY HAS 13,500 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT. THIS SEEMS WAY TO EARLY FOR THIS TO HAVE WORN OUT ALREADY. I SEE ON THIS FORUM THAT THIS PROBLEM IS ENORMOUSLY COMMON ON THE 1800S. PRETTY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS. ORDERING REPLACEMENT PARTS AND HOPING THE BEARINGS HAVE BEEN UPGRADED IN THE LAST 13 YEARS.

Wheels

ODI #10651272

Incident: October 26, 2014 · Filed: October 29, 2014

NOTICED ODD TIRE WEAR ON THE REAR TIRE OF THE MOTORCYCLE WHILE AWAY FROM HOME. TIRE SEEMED TO HAVE WORN DOWN VERY QUICKLY. AFTER ANOTHER 100 MILES RIDDEN, NOTICED TREAD ON LEFT SIDE OF TIRE WAS WORN DOWN TO THE CORDS OF THE TIRE AND VERY CLOSE TO HAVING A BLOW OUT. REMOVED TIRE AND WHEEL TO REPLACE TIRE. DISCOVERED THAT THE BEARING IN THE FLANGE WAS DESTROYED, THIS BEARING WAS ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE TIRE THAT HAD WORN DOWN TO THE CORDS. BEARING HAD METAL PIECES LOOSE INSIDE AND BALL BEARINGS WERE LOOSE AND SCATTERED AROUND BEARING. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND HAVE FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF PREVIOUS FAILURE. *TR

Wheels

ODI #10534604

Incident: August 9, 2013 · Filed: August 9, 2013

THE REAR WHEEL FLANGE BEARINGS WERE FOUND DAMAGED AND MISSING. *TR

Steering; Vehicle Speed Control; Wheels

ODI #10507265

Incident: March 28, 2012 · Filed: April 5, 2013

MAJOR FRONT END WOBBLE (ESPECIALLY IF NOT GRIPPING WITH BOTH HANDS) BETWEEN 35-50MPH. SEVERAL HUNDRED COMPLAINTS ONLINE, BUT NOBODY HAS A 100% FIX. ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT DURING A TURN WITH THE WOBBLE. ALMOST FEELS LIKE YOU'RE GOING TO LOSE CONTROL. BROUGHT IT TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE ALSO BROUGHT IN THERE BIKES WITH THE SAME ISSUE, BUT NO KNOWN FIXES. *TR

Wheels

ODI #10469436

Incident: August 6, 2012 · Filed: August 6, 2012

I HEARD A NOISE WHEN TURNING OR CORNERIG BOTH DIRECTIONS. REMOVED REAR WHEEL AND FOUND DRIVE FLANGE BEARING HAD FAILED BREAKING APART INTO SMALL PIECES. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10453528

Incident: May 13, 2005 · Filed: March 30, 2012

REAR DRIVE SIDE FLANGE BEARING TOTAL FAILURE 4 TIMES BEFORE 30000 MILES. BEARINGS TOTALLY GROUND DOWN AND ROUGH. T $220.00 A POP, IT IS BECOMING EXPENSIVE AND AN IMMINENT DANGER TO ALL RIDERS. *JS

Suspension

ODI #10408891

Incident: June 1, 2011 · Filed: June 25, 2011

WHEN CHANGING REAR TIRE CHECKED FLANGE BEARING AND NOTICED BEARING WAS COMING APART. SEAL GONE AND METAL PIECES PRESENT ALONG WITH ROUGH AND LOOSE BEARINGS. 14,000 MILES ON 03 1800 VTX C. *TR

Tires

ODI #10386522

Incident: March 1, 2011 · Filed: March 5, 2011

FLANGE BEARING WORN AT ONLY 11,000 MILES...LUCKILY I HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR TIRE FOR A 1200 MILE TRIP I WAS GETTING READY TO TAKE OR ELSE IT COULD OF MADE FOR A REALLY BAD TRIP FOR SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AFTER ONLY THIS MANY MILES...SPENT 35 BUCKS AND GOT THEM REPLACED.. *TR

Wheels

ODI #10356549

Incident: September 2, 2009 · Filed: September 20, 2010

THE REAR FLANGE BEARING ON MY 2003 HONDA VTX 1800C FAILED RESULTING IN A VERY SCARY DRIVING SITUATION FOR ME. IT HASN'T HAPPENED SINCE THE INITIAL FAILURE ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 2 OF LAST YEAR, BUT THE REAR WHEEL IS STARTING TO TURN A LITTLE HARDER AGAIN RECENTLY AND I AM LOOKING INTO REPLACING THE BEARING SOON. THE DEALERSHIP (HONDA/YAHAMA OF SAVANNAH, GA) REPLACED THE BEARING AT MY COST AND TOLD ME THAT IT JUST HAPPENS AND IT'S A PART OF THE DESIGN. I WASN'T AWARE THAT THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AN ITEM SUBJECT TO WEAR AND TEAR REPLACEMENT. *TR

Suspension

ODI #10333977

Incident: May 31, 2010 · Filed: May 31, 2010

WHILE REMOVING THE REAR TIRE FOR REPLACEMENT I NOTICED THE FLANGE BEARING HAS FAILED. 11,000 MILES, FIRST TIME INSPECTING THE BEARING. WILL REPLACE WITH NEW BEARINGS AND POSSIBLY MACHINE THE FLANGE FOR BETTER FIT. *TR

Check your 2003 Honda VTX1800 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Honda VTX1800 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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