RoadVitals

2014 Honda CB500F

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 Apr 1, 2017
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 27, 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 CB500F, most frequently naming the electrical category. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 9 manufacturer communications are 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

  • Electrical1100.0%

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 27, 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 1, 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

Filed Apr 1, 2017
Fire reported

4/1/2014 NOON- I DROVE THE CAR 2 MILES, MOSTLY 50 MPH OR LESS, PULLED UP TO MY MAILBOX ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, NOTICED COPIOUS SMOKE FROM UNDERNEATH. JUMPED FROM THE CAR AS MY HUSBAND CALLED 911. THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES AND DESTROYED. THERE HAD BEEN NO EVIDENCE OF OIL LEAK OR OTHER MALFUNCTION. OIL LIFE WAS AT 30% AS I HAD CHECKED IT THE DAY BEFORE. THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS OF MALFUNCTION BEFORE THE SMOKE, NO ACCIDENTS, NO WARNING LIGHTS, NOTHING TO INDICATE A PROBLEM. FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE REPORTS AVAILABLE. REPORTED TO STATE FARM INSURANCE. CAUSE UNKNOWN SINCE IT JUST HAPPENED.

NHTSA ID
10969909
Incident
Apr 1, 2017
Mileage
3,500 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 26, 2017

MOTORCYCLE PARKED IN NOONDAY SUN ON CLEAR 60-DEGREE WINTER DAY. CAME BACK AFTER 2 HOURS TO FIND ELECTRONIC INSTRUMENT PANEL MELTING AND HOT TO THE TOUCH. PANEL ALSO TURNED BLACK SO NO SPEED, FUEL LEVEL, TACHOMETER, AND ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS. IDENTICAL SITUATION OCCURRED DECEMBER OF 2015 WITH INSTRUMENT PANEL REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ALTHOUGH LOCAL DEALER TOLD ME HONDA DID IT RELUCTANTLY. MOTORCYCLE IS NOW OFF WARRANTY SO COST WILL BE OVER 500$. MOTORCYCLES ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO BE LEFT IN SUNLIGHT AND NOT HAVING AN INSTRUMENT PANEL/POD IS A SAFETY HAZARD. SIMILAR INSTRUMENT PANELS ARE USED ON SEVERAL OTHER HONDA MOTORCYCLES AND FORUMS ARE FULL OF SIMILAR FAILURES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10947806
Incident
Jan 25, 2017
Mileage
7,600 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

Service Bulletin

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY

Service bulletin - Honda Motor Co., Ltd is conducting a Safety Recall of motorcycles and scooters listed in the AFFECTED UNITS section of this bulletin. Honda has determined that a defect within certain starter relay switch assemblies can cause an increase in resistance at the main fuse, potentially interrupting battery voltage to the electrical system which can cause the engine to A) not start or B) stall while riding. In an extreme case, the increased resistance at the main fuse may cause the starter relay switch to catch on fire.

DLR MSG - MC - E

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY

DEALER MESSAGE - HONDA IS EXPANDING SOME VIN RANGES WITHIN THE EXISTING SAFETY RECALL OF MULTIPLE MODELS (S/B MULTI-MODEL: STARTER RELAY SWITCH #1 REVISED: AUGUST 2015) ORIGINALLY LAUNCHED JULY 2015. HONDA HAS DETERMINED THERE MAY BE A DEFECT WITHIN THE STARTER RELAY SWITCH (STARTER MAGNETIC SWITCH) ASSEMBLY THAT CAN CAUSE AN INCREASE IN RESISTANCE ACROSS THE MAIN FUSE, POTENTIALLY INTERRUPTING BATTERY VOLTAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. AN INTERRUPTION OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BATTERY VOLTAGE CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO A) NOT START OR B) STALL WHILE RIDING. IN AN EXTREME CASE, THE INCREASED RESISTANCE AT THE MAIN FUSE CAN CAUSE THE STARTER RELAY SWITCH TO CATCH ON FIRE. AN ENGINE THAT STALLS WHILE RIDING INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.

SERVICE BULLETIN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY

"SERVICE BULLETIN - HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL OF MOTORCYCLES AND SCOOTERS LISTED IN THE AFFECTED UNITS SECTION OF THIS BULLETIN. HONDA HAS DETERMINED THAT A DEFECT WITHIN CERTAIN STARTER RELAY SWITCH ASSEMBLIES CAN CAUSE AN INCREASE IN RESISTANCE AT THE MAIN FUSE, POTENTIALLY INTERRUPTING BATTERY VOLTAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO A) NOT START OR B) STALL WHILE RIDING. IN AN EXTREME CASE, THE INCREASED RESISTANCE AT THE MAIN FUSE MAY CAUSE THE STARTER RELAY SWITCH TO CATCH ON FIRE."

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.

SERVICE BULLETIN

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

"SERVICE BULLETIN - HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD IS CONDUCTING A SAFETY RECALL OF MOTORCYCLES AND SCOOTERS LISTED IN THE AFFECTED UNITS SECTION OF THIS BULLETIN. HONDA HAS DETERMINED THAT A DEFECT WITHIN CERTAIN STARTER RELAY SWITCH ASSEMBLIES CAN CAUSE AN INCREASE IN RESISTANCE AT THE MAIN FUSE, POTENTIALLY INTERRUPTING BATTERY VOLTAGE TO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO A) NOT START OR B) STALL WHILE RIDING. IN AN EXTREME CASE, THE INCREASED RESISTANCE AT THE MAIN FUSE MAY CAUSE THE STARTER RELAY SWITCH TO CATCH ON FIRE."

Service Bulletin

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE; FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP; FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM

Service bulletin - Honda is launching a Safety and Emissions Recall on all model year 2013 through 2015 CB500F/FA and CBR500R/RA motorcycles. Honda has determined that the fuel level sensor float arm can become disconnected, which results in an inaccurate fuel gauge display and a rattling noise within the fuel tank. An inaccurately displayed fuel level could cause the motorcycle to unexpectedly run out of fuel. In some instances the engine may stall or fail to start due to a blown FI fuse (15 A) caused by the float arm contacting the fuel pump terminals.

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 CB500F by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2021010—
2015020—
2014Viewing220—
2013110—

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.