Owners have filed 13 complaints
about the 2011 Victory Vision with NHTSA between 2011 and 2020.
The largest single group is the body & structure.
Across this model's run it ranks 2 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 — 35
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
83% 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 2011 Victory Vision
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Body & Structure
646.2%
Median failure at 26,400 miles
Brakes
538.5%
Median failure at 13,730 miles
Fuel & Propulsion
17.7%
Median failure at 10 miles
Steering
17.7%
Median failure at 49,226 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
Under 1,000 miles
18.3%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
758.3%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
433.3%
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 2011peak 4Sep 2020
NHTSA investigations into the 2011 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 13,460 milesSonora, CA
SERVICE BRAKES
ALMOST ALL OWNERS I KNOW ARE HAVING REAR BRAKE FAILURES ON THEIR VICTORY VISIONS WITH ABS. THE BRAKES SEEM TO TAKING AIR IN AND YOU ARE LEFT WITH NO BRAKES. 2011 TO 2017 I HAVE GONE TO USE MY BRAKES AND FOUND I HAD NONE IN THE BACK. CAUSING ME TO USE ALL FRONT BRAKES AND OF COURSE A MUCH LONGER STOPPING DISTANCE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS.
NHTSA complaint #11355654 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 18,500 milesPeoria, AZ
SERVICE BRAKES
REAR BRAKES, WHICH IS THE LINK SYSTEM FOR THE ABS, CONTINUE TO FAIL. WILL WORK AND UNEXPECTEDLY COMPLETELY FAIL, REAR PEDAL WILL GO TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT ANY STOPPING. HAVE 21,500 MILES, THE REAR MASTER CYLINDER WAS REPLACED AT 18,500 MILES. ON GOING ISSUE THAT PUTS RIDER SAFETY IN DANGER. I HAVE HAD THE BRAKE LINES BLED REPEATEDLY AND IS ONLY A SHORT TERM FIX. THIS CAN HAPPEN AT ANYTIME, AFTER BEING STATIONARY OR WHILE RIDING. ON-GOING ISSUE, TO MANY DATES.
NHTSA complaint #10822100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 14,000 milesHastings, NE
SERVICE BRAKES
WHEN BRAKING FOR STOP SIGN, NOTICED BACK BRAKES FAILED. TOOK MOTORCYCLE TO DEALER AND THEY INFORMED ME THE BACK BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER WAS DEFECTIVE.
NHTSA complaint #10700828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,500 milesFarmingdale, ME
STRUCTURE:BODY
BACK HALF OF 2 PIECE FRONT FENDER BROKE AND SEPARATED FROM FORKS BECOMING JAMMED BETWEEN TIRE AND LOWER FAIRING ASSEMBLY. STEERING BIKE BECAME DIFFICULT. I'VE READ ON VICTORY OWNER WEBSITES OF MANY OWNERS HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES. TOOK MOTORCYCLE TO DEALER WHERE I WAS TOLD THAT IT IS NOT COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY NOR IS THERE ANY RECALLS. I NEED TO PAY FOR A REPLACEMENT PIECE AND INSTALLATION.
NHTSA complaint #10606364 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Wilmington, CA
SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VICTORY VISION MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR BRAKES FAILED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10598585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 28,000 milesGotha, FL
STRUCTURE:BODY
AFTER MAKING A RIGHT TURN FROM A STOP SIGN THE REAR HALF OF THE FENDER SEPERATED AND WEDGED BETWEEN THE TIRE AND FAIRING. AFTER INSPECTION THE REAR HALF OF THE FENDER HAD BROKEN AT THE BOLT HOLE AND PULLED AWAY. I REMOVED AND REPLACED THE BROKEN HALF WITH A NEW FENDER I BOUGHT FROM THE VICTORY DEALER IN K KISSIMMEE, FL.
NHTSA complaint #10592181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 49,226 milesTallmadge, OH
STEERING
WHILE TRAVELING OUT OF STATE ON A TRIP, THE LOWER BLACK PLASTIC FRONT FENDER CAME LOOSE FROM THE FORK ATTACHMENTS AND JAMMED ITSELF INTO THE "MAW/LOWER JAW" OF MY FAIRING MAKING TURNING THE MOTORCYCLE IMPOSSIBLE AT LOW SPEEDS AND NOTICEABLY "DIFFERENT" AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE HOLE PROVIDED IN THE PLASTIC PART WORE THROUGH ALLOWING THE WIND TO CATCH THE LOWER FENDER AND LODGE IT INTO THE FAIRING. TALKING TO OTHER VICTORY VISION OWNERS HAS LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE BREAKAGE OF THE FRONT FENDER IS NOT A RARE OCCURRENCE AMONG THOSE OF US WHO PUT SUBSTANTIAL MILEAGE ON OUR MOTORCYCLES. SOME OF THE FENDERS MOUNTING HOLES WEAR THROUGH, LIKE MINE DID, AND SOME OF THE FENDERS ACTUALLY BREAK OFF AT THE MOUNTING POINTS. FOR PHOTOS OF THIS PART AND OTHER STORIES OF FAILURE, PLEASE VISIT A FORUM POSTING AT; HTTP://WWW.THEVOG.NET/FORUM/THREAD/20731/REAR-PLASTIC-FRONT-FENDER-DESIGN-FLAW/PAGE_1/ AND' HTTP://WWW.THEVOG.NET/FORUM/THREAD/20731/REAR-PLASTIC-FRONT-FENDER-DESIGN-FLAW/PAGE_2/.
NHTSA complaint #10535066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 49,226 milesTallmadge, OH
STRUCTURE:BODY
WHILE TRAVELING OUT OF STATE ON A TRIP, THE LOWER BLACK PLASTIC FRONT FENDER CAME LOOSE FROM THE FORK ATTACHMENTS AND JAMMED ITSELF INTO THE "MAW/LOWER JAW" OF MY FAIRING MAKING TURNING THE MOTORCYCLE IMPOSSIBLE AT LOW SPEEDS AND NOTICEABLY "DIFFERENT" AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE HOLE PROVIDED IN THE PLASTIC PART WORE THROUGH ALLOWING THE WIND TO CATCH THE LOWER FENDER AND LODGE IT INTO THE FAIRING. TALKING TO OTHER VICTORY VISION OWNERS HAS LED ME TO BELIEVE THAT THE BREAKAGE OF THE FRONT FENDER IS NOT A RARE OCCURRENCE AMONG THOSE OF US WHO PUT SUBSTANTIAL MILEAGE ON OUR MOTORCYCLES. SOME OF THE FENDERS MOUNTING HOLES WEAR THROUGH, LIKE MINE DID, AND SOME OF THE FENDERS ACTUALLY BREAK OFF AT THE MOUNTING POINTS. FOR PHOTOS OF THIS PART AND OTHER STORIES OF FAILURE, PLEASE VISIT A FORUM POSTING AT; HTTP://WWW.THEVOG.NET/FORUM/THREAD/20731/REAR-PLASTIC-FRONT-FENDER-DESIGN-FLAW/PAGE_1/ AND' HTTP://WWW.THEVOG.NET/FORUM/THREAD/20731/REAR-PLASTIC-FRONT-FENDER-DESIGN-FLAW/PAGE_2/.
NHTSA complaint #10535066 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 24,800 milesHudson, OH
STRUCTURE:BODY
I WAS SLOWING DOWN AT THE STOP SIGN AND AS I STARTED TO STEER THE BIKE TO THE RIGHT THE BIKE WOULD NOT RESPOND. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE BIKE SAFELY DUE TO MY SLOW SPEED AND UPON INVESTIGATION, I NOTICED THAT THE REAR PART OF THE FRONT FENDER (WHICH IS MADE OUT OF PLASTIC) BROKE AT THE MOUNTS AND LODGE ITSELF INTO THE LOWER PART OF THE FRONT FAIRING THUS LOCKING UP MY STEERING. I WILL BE TALKING WITH MY DEALER ABOUT THIS ON MONDAY. HOWEVER, I HAVE HEARD THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH MANY OTHER VISION OWNERS ON THE DIFFERENT MOTORCYCLE FORUMS THAT I BELONG TO. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT I FILE A COMPLAINT ON THIS SITE AS IT DOES NOT APPEAR THAT VICTORY IS DOING ANYTHING TO ADDRESS THIS OBVIOUS DESIGN FLAW.
NHTSA complaint #10534743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 23,000 milesRock Springs, WY
STRUCTURE
UPON COMPLETION OF CROSS COUNTRY TRIP DISCOVERED BROKEN REAR HALF OF FRONT FENDER.THE BREAK WAS ON RIGHT SIDE AROUND MOUNTING HOLE TO FRONT LOWER FORK.NO APPARENT CRACKS OR BREAKS YET ON LEFT SIDE.POLARIS REGARDS THIS AS A COSMETIC FLAW NOT STRUCTURAL OR DESIGN. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF BOTH FENDER MOUNTS BREAKING CAUSING FRONT FENDER REAR HALF TO SEPARATE AND GET WRAPPED UP IN FRONT WHEEL AND STEERING FORKS CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS.
NHTSA complaint #10534753 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10,385 milesFarmingdale, NY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VICTORY VISION TOURING MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE REAR BRAKES FAILED. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES WERE STILL FAILING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND WAS LATER TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE BRAKES HAD TO BE BLED DUE TO AIR ENTERING THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 10,385 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,400. UPDATED 11/30/12 *CN UPDATED 12/03/12
NHTSA complaint #10483508 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10 milesNancy, KY
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
BOUGHT A 2011 VICTORY VISION MOTORCYCLE FROM DAY ONE IT HAS A STRONG RAW GAS SMELL.THE DEALER SAYS THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG THAT IS JUST THE IT IS. I THINK THAT IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10461072 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 23,000 milesEdmond, OK
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 VICTORY VISION MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT HANDLING PROPERLY AFTER DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO TURN BUT THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND, ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE 2-PIECE FRONT FENDER WAS FRACTURED. THE MANUFACTURER ASSISTED THE CONTACT WITH THE DEFECT AND THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 23,000.
NHTSA complaint #10430546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.