20 of the 61 complaints about the 2003 Honda VTX1800 are about the transmission — 33% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 9,468 miles.
20
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN
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.
NHTSA complaint #10453528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
REAR TIRE WAS WORN OUT UPON REPLACING TIRE I INSPECTED BEARINGS AND THEY FELL OUT. ORDERED NEW BEARINGS ON LINE AND REPLACED THEM.
NHTSA complaint #10248322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
REAR TIRE WAS WORN OUT UPON REPLACING TIRE I INSPECTED BEARINGS AND THEY FELL OUT. ORDERED NEW BEARINGS ON LINE AND REPLACED THEM.
NHTSA complaint #10248322 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
I WAS REMOVING REAR WHEEL ON MY 2003 HONDA VTX C MODEL TO REPLACE WORN TIRE AND WITH THE WHEEL OFF I DID A CHECK OF THE WHEEL BEARINGS. I FREQUENTLY VISIT THE HONDA VTX OWNERS SITE TO KEEP UP ON MAINTENANCE ISSUES AND HAVE FOUND THAT MANY OTHER OWNER HAVE HAD A FAILURE OF THIS ONE PARTICULAR BEARING ASSEMBLY REFERRED TO AS " FINAL DRIVEN FLANGE A , HONDA PART NUMBER 42630-MCH-000. I DID A CHECK OF THE BEARING AND FOUND THAT IT WOULD BARELY ROTATE, IT HAD COMPLETELY FAILED. CONSIDERING THIS IS ON A MOTORCYCLE, I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE ORDERED A NEW PART FROM HONDA AND I HOPE THAT THEY HAVE ADDRESSED THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10241257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
FLANGE BEARING ON MOTORCYCLE FINAL DRIVE ENGAGEMENT FELL APART AFTER 9500 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10234120 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
HONDA VTX DRIVE FLANGE BEARING FAILURE. REPAIRED AT HOME. NO ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10228200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
(1)VIBRATION IN REAR WHEEL OF HONDA VTX1800C 2003 (2)UPON DISASSEMBLY OF REAR WHEEL, BEARINGS IN THE SPLINE FLANGE WERE FOUND TO BE TOTALLY DISINTEGRATED. ALTHOUGH THE BEARINGS HAD NOT YET WELDED THEMSELVES TOGETHER. (3)MOTORCYCLE HAD HONDA WARRANTY, HONDA REFUSED TO REPAIR,FIXED MYSELF. STILL HAVE OLD PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10172079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
(1) 2003 HONDA VTX 1800C MOTORCYCLE REAR DRIVEN FLANGE BEARING FAILURE. WHEN REMOVING TIRE/WHEEL ASSEMBLY FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT, (2) I DISCOVERED THE SMALL BEARINGS PRESSED INTO THE DRIVEN FLANGE (MOUNTED ON REAR WHEEL) WERE VERY ROUGH AND HARD TO SPIN, USING MY INDEX FINGER IN THE AXLE HOLE. I REMOVED THE FLANGE FROM THE WHEEL AND DISCOVERED THE BEARING SEAL MISSING, PROBABLY CHEWED UP; THE CAGE THAT SPACES THE BALL BEARINGS HAD DISINTEGRATED INTO LITTLE PIECES AND HAD BEEN EXPELLED FROM THE BEARING/SLEEVE AREA ONTO THE MAIN REAR AXLE BEARING (WHICH IS STILL OKAY); THE TWO BEARINGS INSIDE THE FLANGE WERE ROUGH AND FELT LIKE THEY RATCHETED INSTEAD OF TURNING SMOOTHLY. (3) I PRESSED THEM OUT, MEASURED THE HOUSING BORE, CLEANED IT AND SLIGHTLY ENLARGED (APPROX 0.0005 IN.) THE BOTTOM OF THE BORE WITH MACHINE TOOLS AND SANDING DRUMS TO WHERE THE NEW BEARINGS ARE A PRESS FIT WITHOUT BINDING -- THE ORIGINAL BORE SEEMED SLIGHTLY TAPERED -CONE SHAPED- AND CAUSED THE OUTER BEARING RACE TO PINCH DOWN ON THE BALLS AND REMOVE ANY CLEARANCE BUILT INTO THE BEARING, CAUSING THE RATCHETING FEELING. REFERRED TO THIS SITE BY VTXOA (VTX OWNER'S ASSOCIATION) WEBSITE.
NHTSA complaint #10161113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
REAR AXLE BUSHING/BEARING FAILURE. 1 OF THE 2 BEARINGS HAD FAILED. I FOUND THIS BY PURE LUCK CHANGING MY REAR TIRE. THIS WAS DISCOVERED IN PREPARATION FOR A LONG WEEKEND RIDE TO THE HONDA GATHERING AT THERE FACTORY. I PURCHASED NEW BEARINGS FOR $54 A PIECE. AND REPLACED THEM MYSELF .
NHTSA complaint #10135465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CENTER SUPPORT BEARING
2003 HONDA VTX1800R MOTORCYCLE REAR DRIVE UNIT BEARING FAILURE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TWO YEARS OLD WITH 20K MILES ON IT. DURING A ROUTINE REAR WHEEL REMOVAL, THE TWO RADIAL BALL BEARINGS P/N: 6304UU (20X47X20.9) (TOYO) WERE FOUND TO BE SEVERELY DAMAGED, MISSING BEARINGS ETC.... THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THIS CAN RESULT IN A CATASTROPHIC REAR DRIVE FAILURE WHILE OPERATING THE MOTOR VEHICLE WITH DEATH AND INJURY AS A POSSIBLE RESULT ALSO WHO EVER IT WAS AT HONDA REPORTING THE VTX TO HAVE 106HP SHOULD BE FLAGGED FOR A FLAT OUT LIE.
NHTSA complaint #10135248 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
WHILE REPLACING REAR TIRE ON MY VTX 1800C I NOTICED THE FLANGE BEARING WAS ROUGH,THE LOCAL DEALER REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY. NO ACCIDENTS OR DAMAGE.
NHTSA complaint #10133389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
DURING ROUTINE INSPECTION OF REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY WHILE DOING A TIRE CHANGE, I IDENTIFIED A BAD PAIR OF BEARINGS. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS ONLY 7,000 MILES ON IT. I REPLACED WITH NEW BEARINGS.
NHTSA complaint #10130724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
PREMATURE FAILURE IN THE DRIVEN FLANGE BEARING SET OF VTX1800S (ALL MODELS). MINE HAS NOW FAILED WITH 16,000 MILES ON THE BIKE.
NHTSA complaint #10128970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS
FELT GRINDING IN REAR WHEEL WHILE RIDING MOTORCYCLE DISCOVERED FAILED BEARINGS(2) IN DRIVEFLANGE WHILE CHANGING REAR TIRE DEALER REPLACED DRIVE FLANGE UNDER WARRANTY, OLD PART WAS RETURNED TO HONDA MOTORS.
NHTSA complaint #10125746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS
1. BEARING FAILURE WAS FOUND IN THE DRIVE FLANGE ASSEMBLY DURING REAR TIRE REPLACEMENT AT JUST UNDER 8,000 MILES ON MOTORCYCLE. 2.BEARING WAS TURNING ROUGH AND TRYING TO SIEZE UP, BUT WAS FOUND BEFORE ANY DAMAGE OR ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED. 3.HONDA ONLY SHOWS REPLACEMENT OF WHOLE DRIVE FLANGE (APPROXIMATELY $180). HOWEVER I HAVE LOCATED REPLACEMENT BEARINGS AND I AM IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THEM PRESSED INTO THE DRIVE FLANGE. I WILL KEEP OLD BEARINGS.
NHTSA complaint #10122372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
CLACK IN REAR DRIVE SHAFT
NHTSA complaint #10120600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT
CLACK IN REAR DRIVE SHAFT
NHTSA complaint #10120600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
2003 HONDA VTX1800C MOTORCYCLE REAR DRIVE UNIT BEARING FAILURE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TWO YEARS OLD WITH 13K MILES ON IT. DURING A ROUTINE REAR WHEEL REMOVAL, THE TWO RADIAL BALL BEARINGS P/N: 6304UU (20X47X20.9) (TOYO) WERE FOUND TO BE SEVERLY DAMAGED. THIS CAN RESULT IN A CATASTROPHIC REAR DRIVE FAILURE WHILE OPERATING THE MOTOR VEHICLE WITH DEATH AND INJURY AS A RESULT.
NHTSA complaint #10112273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS
BEARING FAILLURE ON READ DRIVE HUB ON VEHIVLE 2003 HONDA MOTORCYCLE MODEL 1800R AT 8000 MILES. BEARING IS HONDA PART NUMBER # 91052-KZ4-J21
NHTSA complaint #10112294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING MOTORCYCLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE MOTORCYCLE, AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR RIGHT BOLT THAT HOLDS THE AXLE SEPARATED. THE AXLE WAS HALF INCH OUT OF THE SWING ARM AND RESTED AGAINST IT. THE BOLT SHOULD NOT HAVE SEPARATED BECAUSE IT HAD A LOCK KNOT THAT PREVENTED IT FROM COMING OFF THE AXLE.
NHTSA complaint #10080178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.