2003 Honda VTX1300 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 2003 Honda VTX1300, 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
- Steering1230.8%
- Suspension1128.2%
- Driver assistance615.4%
- Tires & wheels410.3%
- Other / unspecified37.7%
- Powertrain (other)12.6%
- Interior & seats12.6%
- Engine12.6%
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
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
BAD WOBBLE IN STEERING/BEARING BETWEEN 30 AND 50 MPH. WHEN THIS IS GOING ON IN A CURVE YOU NEARLY LOOSE CONTROL IT CONVULSIVE WOBBLE GROWS. NOT HARD TO FIND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS CONDITION EVEN ON THESE BIKES RIGHT FROM THE DEALER. *TR
I AM THE OWNER OF A 2003 HONDA VT1300S. THIS MOTORCYCLE HAS A DECELERATION "WOBBLE" AT 35-45 MPH. IT IS FELT AT THE HANDLEBARS EVEN WHILE HAVING BOTH HANDS ON THEM. MANY VTX OWNERS I KNOW HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT REALLY FEELS AS IF THE STEERING HEAD WOULD COME LOOSE AT ANY POINT AND ALSO IT'S DANGEROUS WHEN RIDING ON CERTAIN ROADS. IT ALSO SHOWS UNEVEN TIRE WEAR ON THE FRONT TIRE. *JB
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
BAD WOBBLE IN STEERING/BEARING BETWEEN 30 AND 50 MPH. WHEN THIS IS GOING ON IN A CURVE YOU NEARLY LOOSE CONTROL IT CONVULSIVE WOBBLE GROWS. NOT HARD TO FIND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS CONDITION EVEN ON THESE BIKES RIGHT FROM THE DEALER. *TR
REAR FLANGE BEARING IN VTX 1300 CAME APART, LOOKED AT BEARING WHILE CHANGING REAR TIRE. REPLACE 2004 AND 2003 VTX S BEARING WHILE CHANGING REAR TIRE. REPLACE BEARING # 91052-KZ4-J21. *TR
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN I BOUGHT MY VTX 1300 I ASSUMED THE BIKE WAS IN PROPER WORKING CONDITION, I HAVE SINCE RELIZED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER IS READING 10% HIGHT THAN ACTUAL. THE DEALER SAID THAT HONDA MADE IT THAT WAY AND THERES NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *AK
FRONT END WOBBLED OFF MOTORCYCLE AT 40-45 MPH SINCE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NEW. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE DUNLOP TIRES ON MY MOTORCYCLE HAVE "C" SHAPED CUTS IN THEM. I AM ON MY 2ND SET OF TIRES WITH THIS DEFECT IN MY TIRE. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE TIRED DID NOT "LAMINATE" PROPERLY. I TRIED TO RESOLVE THIS WITH DUNLOP BUT HAD NO SUCCESS AND CAN NOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE TIRES AGAIN AS THEY ARE MAKING ME PAY FOR THE DEFECTIVE TIRES. *JB
MOTORCYCLE'S TIRES WEAR DOWN UNEVENLY ON THE LEFT SIDE.*MR THE MOTORCYCLE DEVELOPED A TERRIBLE FRONT WHEEL AND FORK WOBBLE DUE TO TIRES (DUNLOP 404) THAT WORE UNEVENLY ON THE LEFT SIDE, AFTER ONLY 6000 MILES ON THE ORIGINAL TIRES, THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TREAD WAS DOWN TO 2MM WHILE THE RIGHT WAS ABOUT 5MM. AT 7000 MILES THE LEFT SIDE WAS DOWN TO 1MM AND THE RIGHT WAS 4-5MM. *NM
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
FRONT WHEEL WOBBLE. *JB
FRONT END WOBBLE BETWEEN 35 - 40 MPH UPON DECELERATION. *NM
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
I OWN A 2003 HONDA VTX1300S MOTORCYCLE. THIS BIKE IS SHAFT DRIVE. WHILE RIDING THROUGH TOWN THE SWING ARM SEPARATED FROM THE REAR WHEEL DO TO THE SPOT WELDS BRAKING ON THE DRIVE SHAFT SIDE OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THIS CAUSED THE BIKE TO TWIST WILDLY DO TO THE REAR WHEEL ONLY BEING SUPPORTED ON ONE SIDE OF THE SWING ARM. THIS BIKE ONLY HAS 7,200 MILES ON IT AND IS GARAGED & WELL KEPT. I WAS TRAVELING 25 MPG ON A CITY STREET AND GOT STOPPED WITHOUT ACCIDENT. IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT SPEED ON A HIGHWAY OR COUNTY ROAD THERE NO DOUBT THAT I WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. AT THIS TIME HONDA CLAIMS NO RE-CALLS AND NO RESPONSIBILITY TO REPAIR. I HAVE NOT ABUSED THIS MOTORCYCLE AND FEEL SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT IF NOT ALREADY. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
NEW VEHICLE PURCHASED IN SEPT 2002. A HONDA MOTORCYCLE, MODEL YEAR 2003 VTX1300 RETRO WAS PURCHASED AND LATER WAS FOUND TO HAVE RED SPEEDOMETER LIGHTS FOR NIGHT RIDING. THE LIGHTS ARE DIM AND DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT, WHICH MAKES THE SPEEDOMETER USELESS AT NIGHT. I HAVE ASKED THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT CHANGING THE LIGHTS AND THERE ARE NO SEPARATE PARTS AVAILABLE. I CALLED THE AMERICAN HONDA IN CALIFORNIA, THE IMPORTER, AND THEY REFERRED ME BACK TO THE DEALER, TO SEE IF THEY ARE WORKING CORRECTLY. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THEY ARE RED DIODES AND BY NATURE ARE HARD TO SEE. THERE IS NO WAY TO CHANGE THE COLOR OR INTENSITY. I HAVE A CLASS B LICENSE AND A MOTORCYCLE RATING. I HAVE NO VISION RESTRICTIONS ON MY LICENSE. I HAVE PASSED THE VISION TESTS WITHOUT GLASSES. I HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME READING THE SPEEDOMETER AT NIGHT.
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
CONSUMER CALLED ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A MOTORCYCLE. WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT 24 MPH, THE REAR TIRE FISH-TAILED. THE DRIVER ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. HE REALIZED ALL THE OIL OF THE BIKE WAS SPLASHED ALL OVER THE PAVEMENT. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND HAD THE BIKE FIXED BUT CONSUMER DOES NOT FEEL THAT THE MOTORCYCLE IS SAFE. *PH
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 .