2002 Honda Shadow 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 2002 Honda Shadow, 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
- Driver assistance222.2%
- Exterior lighting222.2%
- Other / unspecified222.2%
- Electrical111.1%
- Engine111.1%
- Fuel system111.1%
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
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY 2002 HONDA SABRE MOTORCYCLE CAME WITH A SEEDOMETER THAT READS APPROXIMATELY 10% HIGHER VELOCITY THAT ACTUAL VELOCITY. I HAVE CHECKED THIS BY TIMING AGAINST MILE MARKERS WHILE TRAVELING AT A SET SPEED (60 MPH) ON THE SPEEDOMETER, AND I HAVE ALSO CHECKED IT AGAINST SEVERAL OTHER CARS AND MOTORCYCLES. ALL TESTS TO DATE CONFIRM THE 10 % HIGH READING. I HAVE ALSO RESEARCHED OTHER HONDA SABRE OWNERS ON INTERNET AND ALMOST ALL OF THEM COMPLAIN OF THE SAME PROBLEM. HONDA'S RESPONSE TO DATE HAS BEEN TO CLAIM THAT IT IS LEAGAL TO BE OFF 10 %. I THINK THIS IS A SAFTEY HAZARD IN AT LEAST TWO WAYS. SINCE I AM ACTUALLY TRAVELING SLOWER THAN THE SPEEDOMETER SAYS THAT I AM, AT NIGHT TRAVELING HIGHWAYS, CARS CAN APPROACH ME FROM THE REAR VERY QUICKLY AND POSSIBLY OVER-RUN ME. THE OTHER PROBLEM CAUSED BY THIS IS THAT I NOW KNOW THAT IT IS READING TO FAST SO I NOW END UP HAVING TO GUESS/CALCULATE WHILE DRIVING IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN LEAGAL SPEEDS AND NOT IMPEDE THE SAFE FLOW OF TRAFFIC.*AK
CONSUMER STATED THROTTLE BROKE. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE REGISTRATION CARD AND FURTHER INFORMATION SINCE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 1 MILE. SHADOW 2003. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT LENSES FELL OFF. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE LENSES FIVE TIMES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK THE STORE WHERE CONSUMER PURCHASED THIS HONDA HAVE 2005 HONDAS IN THEIR SHOWROOM MISSING TURN SIGNAL LENSES. THIS IS A CONCERN FOR MOTORCYCLE RIDERS FOLLOWING THESE MOTORCYCLES HAVING TO SWERVE TO MISS FALLING PARTS OF THESE BIKES. AT NIGHT WHEN THIS HAPPENS YOU DO NOT HAVE AMBER TURN SIGNALS, YOU HAVE BRIGHT WHITE LIGHT. *BF
TURN SIGNAL LENS WILL NOT STAY ON THE LIGHT IT IS ATTACHED TO. CONSUMER REPAIRED THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THREE TIMES ALREADY, AND IT NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED AGAIN.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE REAR TIRE RIM RUSTED. THE DEALER STATED IT WAS DUE TO DRIVER'S NEGLECT. *JB
BOTH FRONT TIRES WERE LOSING AIR. VEHICLE TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP AND INFORMED THAT BOTH FRONT WHEELS WERE OUT OF ROUND. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 45 TO 55 MILES PER HOUR, THERE IS AN EVIDENT SHAKE IN THE HANDLE BARS, THE FRONT WHEEL HOPS/BOUNCES. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED WHEN VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR IT'S 600 MILE CHECK. DEALER CHANGED THE WHEEL AND TIRE. THIS PROVIDED IMPROVEMENT SOME WHAT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO DEALER AND IT WAS FOUND THAT THE WHEELS HAVE FLAT SPOTS. THE FACTORY WAS INFORMED. THERE ARE CONFLICTING STORIES REGARDING THIS VEHICLE. HONDA IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS. *JG
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT VEHICLE SHUTTING OFF.MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND HAD REPLACED DIFFERENT THINGS ON THE VEHICLE.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY MOTORCYCLE SHUTDOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
2002 HONDA SHADOW 600 BACKFIRING AND HAS A GAS LEAK. UPON INSPECTION MECHANIC DETERMINED THEY NEEDED A NEW GAS TANK. *KB *JB
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 .