RoadVitals

2014 Honda CB500

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
2
Latest Jul 3, 2016
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Jul 29, 2015
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2014 Honda CB500, most frequently naming the body & structure and powertrain (other) categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Body & structure150.0%
  • Powertrain (other)150.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
15V475000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

Jul 29, 2015
14,575 units potentially affected
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Honda CBR500 motorcycles manufactured January 24, 2013, to May 14, 2015, and 2013-2015 CB500 motorcycles manufactured January 31, 2013, to May 16, 2015. The affected motorcycles may experience the fuel level sensor float arm becoming deformed due to exposure to environmental and roadway conditions. This deformation can cause the float arm to separate from the fuel level sensor body.
The risk: If the float arm separates from the sensor body, it can give the fuel meter inaccurate information, or in some cases the float may contact the positive and negative terminals causing an electrical short. Either condition may cause the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel level sensor assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-310-783-2000. Honda's number for this recall is JT1.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)Manufacturer number JT1View on NHTSA.gov
15V439000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY

Jul 8, 2015
47,168 units potentially affected
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 ST1300PA, 2014-2015 CB500, CBR500, CRF250L, CBR650, CTX700, NSS300, VT750, VT1300, 2015 CB300F, CBR300, CBR600, and 2014-2016 NC700 motorcycles. In the affected motorcycles, sealant may have been incorrectly applied to the starter relay switch, and as a result, the electrical system may have a loss of power.
The risk: A loss of electrical power may cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace any affected starter relay switch, free of charge. The recall began on August 31, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's number for this recall is JS9 and JT0.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)Manufacturer number JS9, JT0View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Powertrain (other)
Filed Jul 3, 2016
Crash reported

THROTTLE RESPONSE IS VERY JERKY AND DANGEROUS AT SLOW SPEEDS, THROWING DRIVER BACK ON ACCELERATION AND FORWARD WHEN THROTTLE IS ROLLED OFF. I GET THROWN INTO OPPOSING TRAFFIC WHEN STARTING INTO RIGHT HAND TURN FROM STOP ON TWO-LANE ROAD AND CANNOT DRIVE SLOWLY W/O JERKING FAST, THEN SLOW. THERE IS NO SLIPPING THE CLUTCH FOR CONTROL AND SLOW SPEED CANNOT BE MAINTAINED. EITHER IT IS ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING, BUT THERE'S NO EVEN, SLOW SPEED POSSIBLE.

NHTSA ID
10882368
Incident
Jun 18, 2015
Mileage
1 mi
Body & structure
Filed Oct 14, 2015

AFTER A 2 HOUR RIDE (90 MILES) ON HIGHWAYS AND LOCAL ROADS, I NOTICED THE PIN THAT HOLDS THE RIGHT SIDE HINGE (LOOKING AT THE MOTORCYCLE FROM THE REAR) OF THE HONDA ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ACCESSORY "TOP BOX" CASE WAS PROTRUDING BY ABOUT 1 1/2" FROM ITS SOCKET. HAD IT MOVED ANY FURTHER, IT WOULD HAVE FALLEN OUT. HAD IT FALLEN OUT WHILE RIDING, THE TOP BOX CASE MIGHT HAVE BEEN BLOWN OPEN BY WIND FROM THE FRONT AND CAUSED A CRASH. I NOW CHECK ALL 6 HINGE PINS (2 ON THE TOP CASE AND 2 EACH ON THE SIDE PANNIERS) EVERY TIME I MOUNT THE BIKE. I FIND THE RIGHT TOP CASE PIN FREQUENTLY HAS SLIPPED OUT BY 1/4" ON A SHORT RIDE, AND I PUSH IT BACK IN WITH MY KEY. ALL 6 PINS ON THE TOP CASE AND 2 PANNIERS ARE IDENTICAL IN DESIGN. I WORRY THAT THE DESIGN OF ALL 6 PINS IS DEFECTIVE, MAY FAIL AND LEAD TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO MY HONDA DEALER WHO SUGGESTED I "FIX" IT MYSELF WITH SOME KIND OF ADHESIVE CAULK. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO HONDA ITSELF WHO SAID THE 1 PIN MAY POSSIBLY BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY "MAY" REPLACE THE TOP BOX. IF THEY REPLACE THE TOP BOX, THAT WOULD BE NICE, BUT, STILL, I WORRY THE PIN DESIGN ITSELF IS DEFECTIVE AND THAT THE OTHER PINS ON THE PANNIERS MAY FAIL TOO. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DO A SAFETY CHECK EVERY 25-50 MILES, YET, THAT CURRENTLY SEEMS TO BE NECESSARY. THE COMPANY SHOULD COME UP WITH A SOLUTION AND HAVE THEIR DEALERS IMPLEMENT IT FOR ALL PINS ON ALL ACCESSORY CASES FOR THEIR CB500XAE MOTORCYCLES. THIS SEEMS TO BE A SIMPLE PROBLEM WITH A SIMPLE POSSIBLE FIX (SOME SORT OF SEALANT/CLOSURE), BUT THE RISK OF A POTENTIALLY TRAGIC OUTCOME SEEMS SIGNIFICANT.

NHTSA ID
10782174
Incident
Aug 15, 2015
Mileage
90 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

DLR MSG - MC - R

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM

DEALER MESSAGE - PARTS ARE AVAILABLE ON OPEN ORDER FROM AUGUST 28, 2015. AHM INTENDS TO MAIL CUSTOMER LETTERS AROUND MID-SEPTEMBER, 2015 PENDING REGULATORY AGENCY APPROVALS. SAFETY RECALL: CB/CBR500 #2 INCLUDES THE AFFECTED MODELS AND VIN RANGES, REPAIR PROCEDURE, PARTS INFORMATION, AS WELL AS WARRANTY CLAIM INFORMATION.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Honda CB500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2016000—
2015120—
2014Viewing220—
2013010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.