2014 Honda CB500 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2014 Honda CB500, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .