Owners have filed 12 complaints
about the 2009 Victory Vision with NHTSA between 2008 and 2017.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 4 worst.
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.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 32
Against the median year of the Victory Vision. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% 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%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2009 Victory Vision
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Electrical System
325.0%
Median failure at 30,100 miles
Fuel & Propulsion
216.7%
Median failure at 100 miles
Brakes
216.7%
Median failure at 2,750 miles
Engine & Cooling
216.7%
Median failure at 350 miles
Equipment & Accessories
18.3%
Median failure at 16,500 miles
Acceleration & Cruise Control
18.3%
Median failure at 15 miles
Steering
18.3%
Median failure at 16,500 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
440.0%
1,000 – 9,999 miles
220.0%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
220.0%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
220.0%
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.
Oct 2008peak 2Feb 2017
NHTSA investigations into the 2009 Victory Vision
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE14006Opened 10 Mar 2014Closed 22 May 2015STRUCTURE
Motorcycle steering lockup
This Preliminary Evaluation (PE14006) was opened after NHTSA became aware of alleged steering lockup involving Victory Vision motorcycles built by Polaris Industries, Inc. (Polaris).This issue has been the subject of numerous online forum posts by the filer of VOQ 10534733.Both the VOQs and forum posts (from all sources) formed the foundation of our investigation. The subject motorcycles are equipped with a two-piece, plastic, front fender.The back half (the all-black portion in the photo below) is secured to the fork with a single fastener on each side.It is secured to the front half of the f...
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 30,100 milesSleepy Hollow, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PHOTOS TO ADD TO NHTSA ID# 10948113
NHTSA complaint #10948918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 30,100 milesSleepy Hollow, IL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR 30K SERVICE ON 01/20/17. THE TECH FOUND THAT THE GAS TANK WAS ENERGIZED BY ELECTRICITY. UPON DIAGNOSIS THEY FOUND THE SHARP SEAM ON THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK CUT THROUGH THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS INSULATION TO THE BARE WIRES ENERGIZING THE TANK AND CREATING A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD THAT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC.
NHTSA complaint #10948113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 16,500 milesApopka, FL
STEERING
I AM WRITING TO FORMALLY FILE A COMPLAINT. NO INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED TO ME YET. BUT THERE IS A WHOLE LOT OF VICTORY VISION RIDERS WHO HAVE HAD A FAILURE OF THE FRONT FENDER CRACKING AND WEDGING BEHIND THEIR FRONT WHEEL CAUSING STEERING FAILURE. ALL OF THE VISION RIDERS ARE ULTIMATELY CONCERNED AND WE HAVE PETITIONED VICTORY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE DENIED. DOES A DEATH HAVE TO OCCUR FOR ANYONE TO NOTICE? HERE ARE A FEW LINKS OF LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS. HTTP://WWW.THEVOG.NET/FORUM/THREAD/20731/REAR-PLASTIC-FRONT-FENDER-DESIGN-FLAW-FACTORY-RECALL-DENIED/ HTTP://FORUMS.THEVMC.COM/BB/FORUMS/THREAD-VIEW.ASP?TID=133992&POSTS=67 HTTP://WWW.VISION-RIDERS.COM/BB/FORUMS/THREAD-VIEW.ASP?TID=14303&POSTS=50&MID=143364&HIGHLIGHT=FRONT+FENDER&HIGHLIGHTMODE=1&ACTION=SEARCH#M143364 HERE IS PART OF A LETTER I SENT TO VICTORY'S FACEBOOK PAGE: DEAR VICTORY, I AM WRITING TODAY ABOUT THE VICTORY VISION FRONT FENDER. YOU ARE WELL AWARE THAT MANY OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED CRACKING OF THE FRONT FENDER REAR PORTION. MANY HAVE FACED VERY SCARY SITUATIONS WHEN THE REAR PORTION ACTUALLY BREAKS OFF AND WEDGES BETWEEN THE FRONT WHEEL AND THE BATTERY CASING AND/OR FRAME, CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THESE ARE JUST A SAMPLING OF THE UNDESIRABLE POSTS REGARDING YOUR VISION FRONT FENDER DESIGN IN THE PROMINENT VICTORY FORUMS. IS A CRACKED AND THEN BROKEN FENDER A COSMETIC ITEM AND THUS DEEMED 'WEAR AND TEAR' DISPOSABLE? OR IS IT A SAFETY HAZARD? IS A WRONGFUL DEATH SUIT DUE TO GROSS NEGLIGENCE EVENTUALLY GOING TO BE VICTORY'S WAKEUP CALL? THIS WOULD BE A VERY UNFORTUNATE EVENT. I WONDER IF YOU DECIDED TO PLACE A STEEL FENDER ON THE CROSS COUNTRY/CROSS ROAD BIKES DUE TO THE HISTORY OF FENDER FAILURE ON THE VISION IS VICTORY SO HUNGRY FOR THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR THAT THEY REFUSE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT BY THEIR CUSTOMERS? THINGS THAT MAKE YOU SAY, 'HMMMM'
NHTSA complaint #10537719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 16,500 milesApopka, FL
EQUIPMENT
I AM WRITING TO FORMALLY FILE A COMPLAINT. NO INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED TO ME YET. BUT THERE IS A WHOLE LOT OF VICTORY VISION RIDERS WHO HAVE HAD A FAILURE OF THE FRONT FENDER CRACKING AND WEDGING BEHIND THEIR FRONT WHEEL CAUSING STEERING FAILURE. ALL OF THE VISION RIDERS ARE ULTIMATELY CONCERNED AND WE HAVE PETITIONED VICTORY TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE DENIED. DOES A DEATH HAVE TO OCCUR FOR ANYONE TO NOTICE? HERE ARE A FEW LINKS OF LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS. HTTP://WWW.THEVOG.NET/FORUM/THREAD/20731/REAR-PLASTIC-FRONT-FENDER-DESIGN-FLAW-FACTORY-RECALL-DENIED/ HTTP://FORUMS.THEVMC.COM/BB/FORUMS/THREAD-VIEW.ASP?TID=133992&POSTS=67 HTTP://WWW.VISION-RIDERS.COM/BB/FORUMS/THREAD-VIEW.ASP?TID=14303&POSTS=50&MID=143364&HIGHLIGHT=FRONT+FENDER&HIGHLIGHTMODE=1&ACTION=SEARCH#M143364 HERE IS PART OF A LETTER I SENT TO VICTORY'S FACEBOOK PAGE: DEAR VICTORY, I AM WRITING TODAY ABOUT THE VICTORY VISION FRONT FENDER. YOU ARE WELL AWARE THAT MANY OF US HAVE EXPERIENCED CRACKING OF THE FRONT FENDER REAR PORTION. MANY HAVE FACED VERY SCARY SITUATIONS WHEN THE REAR PORTION ACTUALLY BREAKS OFF AND WEDGES BETWEEN THE FRONT WHEEL AND THE BATTERY CASING AND/OR FRAME, CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THESE ARE JUST A SAMPLING OF THE UNDESIRABLE POSTS REGARDING YOUR VISION FRONT FENDER DESIGN IN THE PROMINENT VICTORY FORUMS. IS A CRACKED AND THEN BROKEN FENDER A COSMETIC ITEM AND THUS DEEMED 'WEAR AND TEAR' DISPOSABLE? OR IS IT A SAFETY HAZARD? IS A WRONGFUL DEATH SUIT DUE TO GROSS NEGLIGENCE EVENTUALLY GOING TO BE VICTORY'S WAKEUP CALL? THIS WOULD BE A VERY UNFORTUNATE EVENT. I WONDER IF YOU DECIDED TO PLACE A STEEL FENDER ON THE CROSS COUNTRY/CROSS ROAD BIKES DUE TO THE HISTORY OF FENDER FAILURE ON THE VISION IS VICTORY SO HUNGRY FOR THE ALMIGHTY DOLLAR THAT THEY REFUSE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT BY THEIR CUSTOMERS? THINGS THAT MAKE YOU SAY, 'HMMMM'
NHTSA complaint #10537719 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,000 milesKimball, MN
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VICTORY VISION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE FAILED TO RESPOND TO DECELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS AND THE BRAKE LINES WERE BLED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES AND THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,000. UPDATED 07/02/13
NHTSA complaint #10512073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 3,500 milesParis, IL
SERVICE BRAKES
BROUGHT BIKE OUT OF WINTER STORAGE, REAR BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR AND DOESN'T STOP BIKE. SPOKE TO DEALER, SAID NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY AND BRAKES NEEDED BLEEDING. BLED BRAKES AND THEY WORKED FINE FOR 1 MONTH, THEN PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR AGAIN. BLED BRAKES AND THEY WORKED AGAIN FOR ABOUT A MONTH. NOW BRAKES HAVE TO BE BLED ABOUT EVERY THIRD TIME IT'S RIDDEN. DID ONLINE RESEARCH AND DISCOVERED SEVERAL PEOPLE WERE HAVING SAME ISSUE AND APPEARS TO BE A DEFECTIVE BRAKE LINE LETTING AIR IN TO THE SYSTEM AS THAT FIXED THEIR PROBLEM. REVIEWED EXTENDED WARRANTY AND CAN'T FIND ANYWHERE IN IT WHERE IT EXCLUDES BRAKE LINES.
NHTSA complaint #10499475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100 milesNewton, MA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
DEFECTIVE GAS CAP MY ISSUE IS THAT I SMELLED GAS WHEN THE TANK WAS HALF A TANK OR FULLER. I BOUGHT THE 2009 VICTORY VISION TOUR NEW IN 2010. I COULD SOMETIMES SEE GAS AROUND THE CAP ON THE OUTSIDE DUE TO THE PRESSURE IN THE TANK. I'VE FOUND OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE DUE AND RESOLVED BY: *REENGINEERING THE GAS TANK VENT LINES *BENT GAS TANK FILLER NECK DUE TO THE GAS NOZZLE BENDING IT. RESOLVED BY STRAIGHTENING OUT AND REPLACING GAS CAP. * REPLACING GAS CAP BECAUSE OF GAS TANK NECK BEING STAMPED TOO THIN AND THE GAS CAP NOT SEALING CORRECTLY. I WENT TO MOMS SOUTH YESTERDAY EXPLAINING THIS ISSUE. IN FACT SEVERAL MONTHS AGO ONE OF THEIR TECH'S REMOVED A GAS CAP FROM ANOTHER BIKE AND GAVE IT TO ME. I WENT BACK TO ACQUIRED ABOUT A GAS CAP UPGRADE THAT VICTORY MAKES. I WAS TOLD THEY DO HAVE AN UPGRADED CAP BUT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THE STOCK ONE. I FOUND THIS ODD SINCE THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY COMPLAINTS WITH THIS ISSUE. I FOLDED AND OPTED TO BUY ONE FOR 41.95 WHICH IS BASICALLY A STOCK CAP WITH A SCREW ADDED INSIDE IN THE MIDDLE. THE NEW GAS CAP HAS SOLVED MY PROBLEM. I WOULD THINK THAT THE OLD CAPS SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE THIS COULD LEAD TO A FIRE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT NEVER MIND THE ONGOING SMELL OF FUEL.
NHTSA complaint #10421438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELK Mound, WI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2009 VICTORY VISION TOUR. CONSUMER STATES MOTORCYCLE WILL NOT SLOW DOWN BELOW 1500 RPM *TGW THE ECU WAS REPROGRAMMED AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE HIGH IDLING . THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY ABNORMAL READINGS.
NHTSA complaint #10373052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELK Mound, WI
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
2009 VICTORY VISION TOUR. CONSUMER STATES MOTORCYCLE WILL NOT SLOW DOWN BELOW 1500 RPM *TGW THE ECU WAS REPROGRAMMED AND THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE THE HIGH IDLING . THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY ABNORMAL READINGS.
NHTSA complaint #10373052 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 15 milesElkmound, WI
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 VICTORY VISION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATION WOULD COME AND GO AND THE RPMS WOULD NOT DECREASE LESS THAN 1500. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETECT THE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3091. UPDATED 12/01/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MOTORCYCLE DID NOT SLOW DOWN BELOW 1500 RPM. UPDATED 12/09/10
NHTSA complaint #10352704 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 100 milesLitchfield Park, AZ
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
2009 VICTORY VISION MOTORCYCLE. DFU JULY 09 SINCE DAY ONE, HEAVY FUEL SMELL, VAPORS. FOUND LOTS OF OTHERS ON THE INTERNET MAKING THE SAME COMPLAINT. FINALLY, THE SERVICING DEALER AGREED TO ORDER A NEW DESIGNED FUEL CAP FOR ME. I FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON REMEDY ON THE INTERNET AND TOLD THEM. NOW 90 DAYS LATER, NO FUEL CAP. HE SAID HE CAN'T GET IT. I CALLED POLARIS CUSTOMER SERVICE, AND THEY ACTED TOTALLY UNINFORMED, AND GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND, SENDING ME BACK TO THE DEALER FOR RESOLUTION. THEY KEPT WANTING TO GET OFF THE PHONE AND HAVE ME RESEARCH THE NEW FUEL CAP PART NUMBER. I THOUGHT THEY SHOULD KNOW THIS. THEY SAID THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING TO HELP BUT STEER ME BACK TO THE HELPLESS DEALER. I INSISTED THEY DO THE RESEARCH, GET THEIR OWN PART NUMBER AND CALL ME BACK WITH A RESOLUTION. I TOLD THEM I WOULD NOTIFY NHTSA EITHER WAY. THERE ARE HUNDREDS/THOUSANDS OF OWNERS OUT THERE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND VICTORY CHOSE TO EVADE RESPONSIBILITY AND REMEDY.
NHTSA complaint #10326742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 350 milesFernandina Beach, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE STALLS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THIS HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 20 TIMES DEALER STATES THERE IS NO RECALL FOR STALLING, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SAME MODEL FOR THE 2008 YEAR FOR STALLING.
NHTSA complaint #10245153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.