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FaultScore report

2006 Honda VTX1300 problems

Owners have filed 43 complaints about the 2006 Honda VTX1300 with NHTSA between 2006 and 2020. The largest single group is the steering. Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 5 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Honda VTX1300 All 2006 cars
C

FaultScore 54/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Honda VTX1300.

How this is worked out

The numbers

43

Complaints

2

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

2

Injuries reported

6,800 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

100%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.

Complaint volume 39 vs 50 Severity 48 vs 50 Early failure 100 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 39
Against the median year of the Honda VTX1300. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 48
9.3% of these complaints involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of 9.7%.
Early failure — 100
100% of failures with a mileage on record happened under 36,000 miles, against a national rate of 29%.

How 2006 compares with every other Honda VTX1300

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2006 Honda VTX1300

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Steering 23 53.5%

Median failure at 5,500 miles

Electrical System 6 14.0%

Median failure at 13,000 miles

Suspension 5 11.6%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 16,118 mi

Fuel & Propulsion 4 9.3%

Median failure at 7,496 miles

Other & Unspecified 1 2.3%

Median failure at 15,000 miles

Wheels 1 2.3%

Median failure at 1,500 miles

Tires 1 2.3%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 16,118 mi

Lights 1 2.3%

Median failure at 4,200 miles

Body & Structure 1 2.3%

Median failure at 6,800 miles

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

Under 1,000 miles 2 5.3%
1,000 – 9,999 miles 21 55.3%
10,000 – 24,999 miles 12 31.6%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 3 7.9%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Sep 2006 peak 3 Oct 2020

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 16,118 miles Holbrook, AZ Crash 2 injured

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA VT1300S MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AT 75 MPH, HE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR AND THE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER WERE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED TO A TOWING YARD. THE FAILURE WAS NOT INVESTIGATED. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE BEARING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 16,118. SM. UPDATED 6/20/12

NHTSA complaint #10457806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 16,118 miles Holbrook, AZ Crash 2 injured

TIRES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA VT1300S MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AT 75 MPH, HE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR AND THE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER WERE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED TO A TOWING YARD. THE FAILURE WAS NOT INVESTIGATED. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE BEARING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 16,118. SM. UPDATED 6/20/12

NHTSA complaint #10457806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 30,000 miles Broken Arrow, OK

STEERING

THE FRONT END STARTS TO GET THE DEATH WOBBLE WHEN LET OFF THE GAS GOING AROUND 45 MPH. AND IT IS STARTING TO DO IT AT MORE SPEEDS NOW. BUT THAT IS WHEN IT IS THE WORST. CAN'T TAKE BOTH HANDS OF THE HANDLE BARS OR GRIP IT LIGHTLY OR ELSE IT WILL SHAKE TO MUCH AND CAUSE ME TO WRECK.

NHTSA complaint #11364765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Broken Arrow, OK

SUSPENSION

THE FRONT END STARTS TO GET THE DEATH WOBBLE WHEN LET OFF THE GAS GOING AROUND 45 MPH. AND IT IS STARTING TO DO IT AT MORE SPEEDS NOW. BUT THAT IS WHEN IT IS THE WORST. CAN'T TAKE BOTH HANDS OF THE HANDLE BARS OR GRIP IT LIGHTLY OR ELSE IT WILL SHAKE TO MUCH AND CAUSE ME TO WRECK.

NHTSA complaint #11364765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 18,500 miles Bakersfield, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY STARTER MAGNET SHORTED OUT & BURNED CONNECTING PLUG & ELECTRICAL HARNESS. MY BIKE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE LIKE ALWAYS. I WENT OUT IN MORNING TO START BIKE & NOTHING HAPPENED, A FEW SECONDS LATER I NOTICE A BURNED SMELL & IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF KEY. I THEN DISCONNECTED MY BATTERY & STARTED TO LOOK FOR THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE BATTERY CHECKED OUT TO BE GOOD , I STARTED CHECKING FUSES , WHEN I NOTICE THE STRING BURNED SMELL FROM THE STARTER MAGNET AREA , THE MAIN FUSE WAS STILL GOOD BUT NOTICED THE CONNECTOR PLUG SLIGHTLY MELTED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION OF PLUG, I NOTICED THE CONNECTORS & SOME WIRING WERE BURNT.

NHTSA complaint #11209344 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Vallejo, CA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

PETCOCK IS LEAKING THEY WERE RECALLED ON THE 07-09 BUT NOT THE 06 WHEN ITS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING WHILE I WAS RIDING

NHTSA complaint #11190394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Vallejo, CA

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

PETCOCK IS LEAKING THEY WERE RECALLED ON THE 07-09 BUT NOT THE 06 WHEN ITS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING WHILE I WAS RIDING

NHTSA complaint #11190394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Winchester, TN

SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA VTX1300 MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOBBLED WHILE ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. THE PIONEER EQUIPMENT HONDA DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE DUE TO THE WHEEL BEARING OR TIRES; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

NHTSA complaint #10992480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,000 miles Powhatan, VA

STEERING

THE BIKE WOBBLES AND SHAKES VERY BAD WHEN DECELERATING FROM 45 MPH. THIS OCCURS ON STRAIGHT OR WHILE TURNING.

NHTSA complaint #10865795 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,800 miles Ofallon, MO

STEERING

WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 25 OR 30 MPH THE HANDLEBARS SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. TRIED NEW TIRES, DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM

NHTSA complaint #10862937 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 8,700 miles Sarasota, FL

STEERING

WOBBLE WHEN DRIVING. WOBBLE GETS MUCH WORSE WHEN 1 OR 2 HANDS ARE NOT FIRMLY ON HANDLEBARS. GETS MUCH WORSE DURING DECELERATION.

NHTSA complaint #10680310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 16,000 miles Draper, UT

STEERING

HONDA VTX 1300C.. BOUGHT USED.. NOTICED THAT AT AN APPROX. SPEED THE FRONT END WOULD START TO WOBBLE.. SPOKE TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING BEFORE.. TIRES ARE NEW AND ALIGNED.

NHTSA complaint #10676270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 11,000 miles Carrollton, KY

STEERING

SEVERE STEERING WOBBLE ON DECELERATION FROM ANY SPEED. GETS WORSE IF I TAKE HANDS OFF BARS, BAD ENOUGH TO CRASH.

NHTSA complaint #10668470 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,850 miles Memphis, TN

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

HANDLEBARS SHAKE BETWEEN 35-45 MPH NOW EVEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS, WOBBLE. GO INTO A TURN IT SEEMS TO DROP JUST A LITTLE ENOUGH TO SCARE THE S--- OUT OF YOU. I SEE YOU HAVE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM. CAN YOU LET ME KNOW YOUR FINDINGS, PLEASE. WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS I JUST ASSUMED YOU HAVE NOT HAD THE TIME TO INVESTIGATE. THIS IS TRULY A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. SOMEONE MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN HURT OR WORSE. NO ONE HAS PROVED THE FRONT STEERING BEARINGS WERE BAD. SOMETHING I THOUGHT YOU WERE SUPPOSE TO INVESTIGATE, AFTER ANY COMPLAINT.

NHTSA complaint #10644152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,850 miles Memphis, TN

STEERING

HANDLEBARS SHAKE BETWEEN 35-45 MPH NOW EVEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS, WOBBLE. GO INTO A TURN IT SEEMS TO DROP JUST A LITTLE ENOUGH TO SCARE THE S--- OUT OF YOU. I SEE YOU HAVE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM. CAN YOU LET ME KNOW YOUR FINDINGS, PLEASE. WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS I JUST ASSUMED YOU HAVE NOT HAD THE TIME TO INVESTIGATE. THIS IS TRULY A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. SOMEONE MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN HURT OR WORSE. NO ONE HAS PROVED THE FRONT STEERING BEARINGS WERE BAD. SOMETHING I THOUGHT YOU WERE SUPPOSE TO INVESTIGATE, AFTER ANY COMPLAINT.

NHTSA complaint #10644152 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 11,250 miles Salem, OR

STEERING

EXTREME STEERING WOBBLE WITH LIGHT OR SINGLE HANDED GRIP HANDLE BARS. VERY SEVERE!

NHTSA complaint #10631300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,000 miles Memphis, TN

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA VTX 1300 MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING AND FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.

NHTSA complaint #10622287 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,000 miles Columbus, OH

STEERING

THE STEERING WILL SHAKE/VIBRATE AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 25-40MPH, SOMETIMES MORE VIOLENTLY THAN OTHERS. THE FRONT BEARING WAS INSPECTED AND APPEARED TO BE OK. THE FRONT TIRE WAS RECENTLY REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN 2007.

NHTSA complaint #10620929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 19,786 miles Carthage, MO

STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA VTX1300C. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,786.

NHTSA complaint #10574072 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 9,450 miles N Tonawanda, NY

STEERING

MY STEERING ON MY 2006 VTX1300C SHAKES WHEN YOU LET GO OF ONE SIDE OF THE HANDLEBARS. IF YOU TAKE PRESSURE OFF THE GRIPS WITH BOTH HANDS THE BIKE SHAKES VIOLENTLY. I JUST HAD TWO BRAND NEW TIRES PUT ON THE BIKE THINKING IT MAY HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE TIRES CAUSING THE ISSUE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED EVEN AFTER THE NEW TIRES WERE INSTALLED.

NHTSA complaint #10463522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 16,118 miles Holbrook, AZ Crash 2 injured

SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA VT1300S MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AT 75 MPH, HE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR AND THE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER WERE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED TO A TOWING YARD. THE FAILURE WAS NOT INVESTIGATED. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE BEARING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 16,118. SM. UPDATED 6/20/12

NHTSA complaint #10457806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 16,118 miles Holbrook, AZ Crash 2 injured

TIRES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA VT1300S MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AT 75 MPH, HE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR AND THE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER WERE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED TO A TOWING YARD. THE FAILURE WAS NOT INVESTIGATED. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE BEARING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 16,118. SM. UPDATED 6/20/12

NHTSA complaint #10457806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 13,000 miles LAS Vegas, NV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA VTX1300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH HE HEARD A POPPING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 13,000. UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUSE TO THE IGNITION KEPT BLOWING WHEN HE STARTED THE MOTORCYCLE. THE FUSE WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. UPDATED 12/13/11

NHTSA complaint #10408821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 13,000 miles LAS Vegas, NV

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA VTX1300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH HE HEARD A POPPING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 13,000. UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUSE TO THE IGNITION KEPT BLOWING WHEN HE STARTED THE MOTORCYCLE. THE FUSE WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. UPDATED 12/13/11

NHTSA complaint #10408821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 3,602 miles Elkhorn, NE

STEERING

FRONT WHEEL WOBBLES ON 2006 HONDA VTX 1300R WHEN SLOWING DOWN THROUGH 45-40 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #10397279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Carmichael, CA

STEERING

2006 HONDA VTX 1300 RETRO: THE FRONT END WOBBLES DURING DECELERATION FROM SPEEDS OF ABOUT 30 MPH. CHANGING THE FRONT TIRE TEMPORARILY REDUCES THE PROBLEM, BUT IT RECURS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE I BOUGHT IT OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR IN OCTOBER 2007.

NHTSA complaint #10355803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,800 miles Monrovia, CA

STRUCTURE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA VTX1300C MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LICENSE PLATE BRACKET WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE LICENSE PLATE FRACTURED FROM THE MOTORCYCLE THREE TIMES WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE CONTACT INSTALLED A STEEL PLATE TO REINFORCE THE LICENSE PLATE BUT THE BRACKET ALSO FRACTURED AND THERE WAS NO WAY FOR THE LICENSE TO STAY ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE FAILURE AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17, 2000.

NHTSA complaint #10355561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.