17 of the
61 complaints about the 2003 Honda VTX1800 are about the
suspension — 28% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
14,465 miles.
C
17
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Rear
952.9%
Suspension
423.5%
Wheel Bearing
211.8%
Shock Absorber
15.9%
Spindle
15.9%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
Nixa, MO
SUSPENSION
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.
NHTSA complaint #10969010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 14,200 milesLinn Creek, MO
SUSPENSION
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.
NHTSA complaint #10408891 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 11,000 milesRuther Glen, VA
SUSPENSION:REAR
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.
NHTSA complaint #10333977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
NHTSA complaint #10275138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 14,465 milesPalm Beach Gardens, FL
SUSPENSION:REAR
WHEN THE REAR TIRE WAS REPLACED, I HAD THE TECHNICIAN CHECK THE CONDITION OF THE REAR FLANGE BEARINGS. THEY WERE VERY ROUGH. I ORDERED TWO BEARINGS AND REPLACED THEM ON 12/04/2008 WITH 14,465 MILES ON THE MOTORCYCLE. UPON REMOVAL FROM THE FLANGE, THE BEARINGS WERE IN A STATE OF TOTAL FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10250777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 8,371 milesHays, KS
SUSPENSION:REAR
HONDA VTX 1800C DURING REAR TIRE REPLACEMENT AT 8,371 MILES DISCOVERED WHEEL BEARING ON THE RIGHT SIDE (BRAKE SIDE) WAS VERY BAD...HAD NO WARNING BUT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN VERY LONG. LONGEST TRIP HAS BEEN 100 MILES REST IS ALL CITY. NO REASON FOR THIS FAILURE!
NHTSA complaint #10235727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,000 milesChesapeake, VA
SUSPENSION
DRIVEN FLANGE BEARING SET FAILURE DISCOVERED WHEN REAR TIRE WAS REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10235654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 37,000 milesSouthlake, TX
SUSPENSION
FLANGE BEARING FAILURE APPROXIMATE DATE OF FAILURE: JUNE 2008 YEAR OF MANUFACTURE: 2003 MODEL: R MILEAGE: 36,000 BEARING CONDITION: INNER BEARING COMPLETELY DESTROYED...FOUND WHEN I CHANGED OUT THE TIRE....SEAL BULGED OUT AND METAL PIECES EVERYWHERE. ACCIDENT : NO HOW FIXED: PURCHASED PART FROM BEARING SUPPLY STORE AND REPLACED IT MYSELF.......HOPING IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN!
NHTSA complaint #10232657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 9,000 milesEllington, CT
SUSPENSION:REAR
FAILURE OF FLANGE BEARING, REAR WHEEL AT 9000 MILES CHECK BEARING AT TIRE REPLACEMENT REPLACE FLANGE BEARING UNIT-HONDA DOES NOT SELL BEARINGS ONLY.
NHTSA complaint #10227149 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
RR#3 Elmvale, CA
SUSPENSION:REAR
HONDA MOTORCYCLE 2003 VTX C REAR WHEEL BEARING.
NHTSA complaint #10221801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 31,300 milesHouston, TX
SUSPENSION:REAR
REAR WHEEL FLANGE BEARING FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10215159 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 11,467 milesKirkland, WA
SUSPENSION:REAR
FAILURE OF FLANGE BEARING ON 2003 HONDA VTX 1800S MOTORCYCLE
NHTSA complaint #10194756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 49,999 milesMcalester, OK
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
2003 HONDA VTX 1800C ALL FLANGE BEARINGS DESTROYED NEAR 50K MILES INNER WHEEL BEARINGS STARTING TO HAVE PLAY FOUND WHEN CHANGING TIRE, I'VE BEEN ON A HONDA SINCE I WAS A KID NEVER SEEN HONDA HAVE THIS POOR A A DESIGN! ESPECIALLY ON A TWO WHEEL MACHINE. SHOULD BE A RECALL !! I DID NOT KNOW OR HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS OF FAILURE. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS HURT OR KILLED.
NHTSA complaint #10183004 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hattiesburg, MS
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
2003 HONDA VTX 1800C FLANGE BEARING FAILURE. DISCOVERED WHILE REAR WHEEL OFF FOR POLISHING. INNER 6905 BEARING OK, OUTER 6905RS BEARING ROUGH TO TURN. HATTIESBURG HONDA WOULD NOT EVEN TALK TO ME ABOUT IT, COLUMBIA HONDA REPLACED BOTH BEARINGS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #10162920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 6,572 milesBark River, MI
SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ADJUSTING THE VEHICLE FOR THE RIDERS HEIGHT THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS BROKE AT THE WELD. THE CONTACT WAS PERFORMING THE REPAIR WORK WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.
NHTSA complaint #10153163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 24,000 milesAurora, OH
SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE
2003 HONDA VTX 1800 RETRO REAR WHEEL WAS REMOVED FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT AND FOUND THE REAR FLANGE BEARING TO BE ROUGHLY TURNING INDICATING PREMATURE FAILURE. MANY CASES OF THIS HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED IN THESE SAME MODELS AND NO FACTORY RECALL HAS BEEN DIRECTED. THIS BEARING FAILURE IF NOT DETECTED CAN CAUSE REAR AXLE DAMAGE AND FAILURE AND OR SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO BOTH OPERATOR AND PASSENGER.
NHTSA complaint #10150042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chattanooga, TN
SUSPENSION:REAR
THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ON MY HONDA VTX 1800 MOTORCYCLE 2003 MODEL. MANY PEOPLE SAY THESE BEARINGS FAIL. SHOULD I BE CONCERNED?
NHTSA complaint #10112333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.