RoadVitals

2010 Honda VFR1200F

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.
12
Latest Aug 14, 2024
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 Nov 15, 2024
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2010 Honda VFR1200F, most frequently naming the electrical, brakes and engine categories. 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

  • Electrical840.0%
  • Brakes630.0%
  • Engine315.0%
  • Powertrain (other)210.0%
  • Fuel system15.0%

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
24V864000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Nov 15, 2024
40,481 units potentially affected
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2007, 2009-2017 CBR600RR, 2008-2017, 2021 CBR1000RR, and 2010, 2012-2013 VFR1200 motorcycles. The fuel pump impellers may have been improperly molded, which can cause them to deform and result in fuel pump failure.
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the fuel pump module as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 3, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-866-784-1870. Honda's numbers for this recall are KR2, KR3, KR4 and KR5. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 24V-113.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)Manufacturer number KR2, KR3, KR4, KR5View on NHTSA.gov
15V821000

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT

Dec 7, 2015
1,825 units potentially affected
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2010, 2012 and 2013 VFR1200F and VFR1200FD motorcycles. Manufacturing or assembly errors may result in the affected motorcycles having driveshaft universal joint bearings that may prematurely wear which can cause the universal joint to separate or break.
The risk: If the universal joint separates, the motorcycle would stall. If the universal joint breaks, it may interfere with the swing arm and lock the rear wheel. Either condition could increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Honda will be notify owners, and dealers will replace the driveshaft, free of charge. The recall began on December 29, 2015, however parts may not be available until mid-2016. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's number for this recall is JW2.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)Manufacturer number JW2View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 12
Electrical
Filed Aug 14, 2024

According to the cert Honda Technician, Brannon Kilbarger recommended that the fuel pump be replaced due to off and on start up issues. I filed a complaint on May 16th, 2024 for this issue with Honda case #[XXX] and with The NHTSA for this issue. I felt that this issue was a defect from the factory since the occurrence happen before I took possession of the bike in 2019 with 8,300 miles and that Honda should service the bike without any cost to me. Honda denied my claim and refused to service my bike. New evidence now shows that the VFR1200F needed a new ECM. There are no breaks in the wiring or any other issues that would cause a massive power failure to cause the bike not to operate as it was originally designed to do. Without this $3,000+ fix and the $1,900.00 for the fuel pump, the bike has major Safety issues written all over it. The bikes is 14yrs old but hasn’t been ridden much due to replacing batteries (3) at $200.00 each and most of the time not being able to start it up. ECM units and fuel pumps don’t usually wear out prematurely well before 8,000 miles. At this time Honda doesn’t have a predetermination test for their ECM units. I found one other bike on utube that has the same issue as mind but they couldn’t determine the cause of the bike failure. My bike has been in the shop since May and I need your help in resolving this David and Goliath battle with Honda. This is truly a rare defective item that got past Honda’s quality control people at the manufacturing plant. The age of the bike shouldn’t be considered in this case especially since there was no damage to the wiring harness just the ECM chip, plus the bike has hardly been ridden the past 5 yrs due to the malfunction of the chip. Even the Certified Honda Technician believes it’s a defective unit that occurred at the factory! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11608426
Incident
May 16, 2024
Electrical
Filed May 20, 2024

The bike is draining the battery, this is my 3rd battery and this drainage isn’t covered under warranty due to the drainage being the bikes fault. The bike will not start a great deal of the time. The wiring was checked by a certified motorcycle mechanic and the issue has not been resolved. Honda of America has been notified and calls to reach back out to me haven’t been made. This has been a recurring incident since May of 2019 when I purchase the bike. Whenever the black double arrow bar(fuel pump indicator) is left if the air temp screen the bike will not start, when there is no bar the bike cycles on with the fuel pump noises associated with turning on the bike. The pages from the Honda Shop manual appears to suggest issues with the fuel pump. This bike had 8,600 miles when purchase in May 2019 and now has 9,946 miles as of May 2024. The bike runs Great when it is charged, the only issue is the battery drainage and start up when bike is unable to cycle on during start ups.

NHTSA ID
11589672
Incident
May 16, 2024
Engine
Filed Jun 14, 2020

ENGINE HAD METAL SWARF LEFT INSIDE OF IT WHEN MANUFACTURED. HONDA KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND HAS A RECALL ONLY IN THE UK, OWNERS IN OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE SUFFERED THE SAME DEFECTS BUT ARE OFFERED NO COMPENSATION. ENGINE DEVELOPED ROD KNOCK AT 4800 MILES.

NHTSA ID
11328794
Incident
Jun 4, 2020
Mileage
4,800 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed May 12, 2013

REAR BRAKE LIGHT IS IN-OPERABLE DUE TO FRONT BRAKE SWITCH FAILURE. RIDER MUST USE FOOT BRAKE FOR VEHICLES BEHIND HIM TO SEE HE IS BRAKING AT 65 MPH. RIDER CAN ONLY DETERMINE BRAKE SWITCH IS OPERABLE WHEN MOTORCYCLE IS INITIALLY CHECKED AT START-UP. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT WHEN SWITCH BEGINS TO FAIL, SO CHECK AT START-UP IS NOT CONCLUSIVE. HONDA HAS HAD THE VEHICLE SINCE 2/22/2013 AND IS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OR WILL NOT ASSIGN RESOURCES TO RESOLVE A TOTAL OF (6) BRAKE SWITCH FAILURES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10511578
Incident
Feb 22, 2013
Mileage
44,878 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed May 12, 2013

REAR BRAKE LIGHT IS IN-OPERABLE DUE TO FRONT BRAKE SWITCH FAILURE. RIDER MUST USE FOOT BRAKE FOR VEHICLES BEHIND HIM TO SEE HE IS BRAKING AT 65 MPH. RIDER CAN ONLY DETERMINE BRAKE SWITCH IS OPERABLE WHEN MOTORCYCLE IS INITIALLY CHECKED AT START-UP. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT WHEN SWITCH BEGINS TO FAIL, SO CHECK AT START-UP IS NOT CONCLUSIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10511577
Incident
Oct 24, 2012
Mileage
39,841 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed May 12, 2013

REAR BRAKE LIGHT IS IN-OPERABLE DUE TO FRONT BRAKE SWITCH FAILURE. RIDER MUST USE FOOT BRAKE FOR VEHICLES BEHIND HIM TO SEE HE IS BRAKING AT 65 MPH. RIDER CAN ONLY DETERMINE BRAKE SWITCH IS OPERABLE WHEN MOTORCYCLE IS INITIALLY CHECKED AT START-UP. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT WHEN SWITCH BEGINS TO FAIL, SO CHECK AT START-UP IS NOT CONCLUSIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10511575
Incident
Sep 20, 2012
Mileage
36,296 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed May 12, 2013

REAR BRAKE LIGHT IS IN-OPERABLE DUE TO FRONT BRAKE SWITCH FAILURE. RIDER MUST USE FOOT BRAKE FOR VEHICLES BEHIND HIM TO SEE HE IS BRAKING AT 65 MPH. RIDER CAN ONLY DETERMINE BRAKE SWITCH IS OPERABLE WHEN MOTORCYCLE IS INITIALLY CHECKED AT START-UP. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT WHEN SWITCH BEGINS TO FAIL, SO CHECK AT START-UP IS NOT CONCLUSIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10511574
Incident
May 18, 2012
Mileage
27,044 mi
BrakesElectrical
Filed May 12, 2013

REAR BRAKE LIGHT IS IN-OPERABLE DUE TO FRONT BRAKE SWITCH FAILURE. RIDER MUST USE FOOT BRAKE FOR VEHICLES BEHIND HIM TO SEE HE IS BRAKING AT 65 MPH. RIDER CAN ONLY DETERMINE BRAKE SWITCH IS OPERABLE WHEN MOTORCYCLE IS INITIALLY CHECKED AT START-UP. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT WHEN SWITCH BEGINS TO FAIL, SO CHECK AT START-UP IS NOT CONCLUSIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10511573
Incident
Apr 18, 2012
Mileage
20,082 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

MC-MNF-03222016-

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

"DEALER MESSAGE - HONDA IS LAUNCHING A SAFETY RECALL ON THE ACCESSORY REAR TRUNK BASE FOR PCX125/150 SCOOTERS FOR A POTENTIAL DEFECT THAT MAY ALLOW THE TRUNK TO FALL OFF THE SCOOTER WHILE RIDING. A FALLEN TRUNK IN THE ROADWAY POSES A SAFETY HAZARD TO OTHER ROADWAY USERS. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, YOU MUST NOT SELL THE ACCESSORY REAR TRUNK BASE."

MC-PO-03212016-3

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

"DEALER MESSAGE - ON DECEMBER 4TH, 2015 AMERICAN HONDA POSTED SERVICE BULLETIN VFR1200F/FD #1 FOR 2010-2013 VFR1200F/FD DRIVE SHAFT REPLACEMENT SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN. LATER THE BULLETIN WAS REVISED TO INCLUDE REPAIR INFORMATION. SINCE THE LAUNCH OF THIS CAMPAIGN, THE SHAFT PROPELLER KITS WERE ONLY AVAILABLE BY CONTACTING TECHLINE. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, THE SHAFT PROPELLER KITS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR OPEN ORDERING. PLEASE ORDER PARTS AS NEEDED THROUGH NORMAL ORDERING METHOD."

MC - 2010-2013 V

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

SERVICE BULLETIN - HONDA IS LAUNCHING A SAFETY RECALL OF 2010–2013 VFR1200F/FD MOTORCYCLES FOR A POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE DRIVE SHAFT. THE DRIVE SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT MAY BREAK OR SEIZE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF DRIVE FORCE OR A LOCKED REAR WHEEL. AN UPDATED DRIVE SHAFT IS AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION.

VFR1200F

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

"DEALER MESSAGE - THE SERVICE BULLETIN IN SUPPORT OF THE SAFETY RECALL OF 2010-2013 VFR1200F/FD MOTORCYCLES FOR A POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE DRIVE SHAFT IS POSTED ON IN."

SERVICE BULLETIN

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

"SERVICE BULLETIN - HONDA IS LAUNCHING A SAFETY RECALL OF 2010–2012 VFR1200F/FD MOTORCYCLES FOR A POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE DRIVE SHAFT. THE DRIVE SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT MAY BREAK OR SEIZE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF DRIVE FORCE OR A LOCKED REAR WHEEL. AN UPDATED DRIVE SHAFT IS AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION."

DLR MSG - MC - S

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

"DEALER MESSAGE - HONDA IS LAUNCHING A SAFETY RECALL OF MODEL YEAR 2010 THROUGH 2013 VFR1200F/FD MOTORCYCLES TO REPLACE A POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE DRIVE SHAFT. THE DRIVE SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT MAY BREAK OR SEIZE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF DRIVE FORCE OR A LOCKED REAR WHEEL. EITHER OUTCOME INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH."

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 VFR1200F by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2013020—
2012220—
2011000—
2010Viewing122038.0

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.