2006 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 2006 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
- Steering2255.0%
- Suspension512.5%
- Electrical512.5%
- Fuel system410.0%
- Tires & wheels12.5%
- Exterior lighting12.5%
- Other / unspecified12.5%
- Body & structure12.5%
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
THE FRONT END STARTS TO GET THE DEATH WOBBLE WHEN LET OFF THE GAS GOING AROUND 45 MPH. AND IT IS STARTING TO DO IT AT MORE SPEEDS NOW. BUT THAT IS WHEN IT IS THE WORST. CAN'T TAKE BOTH HANDS OF THE HANDLE BARS OR GRIP IT LIGHTLY OR ELSE IT WILL SHAKE TO MUCH AND CAUSE ME TO WRECK.
THE BIKE WOBBLES AND SHAKES VERY BAD WHEN DECELERATING FROM 45 MPH. THIS OCCURS ON STRAIGHT OR WHILE TURNING.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE FRONT END STARTS TO GET THE DEATH WOBBLE WHEN LET OFF THE GAS GOING AROUND 45 MPH. AND IT IS STARTING TO DO IT AT MORE SPEEDS NOW. BUT THAT IS WHEN IT IS THE WORST. CAN'T TAKE BOTH HANDS OF THE HANDLE BARS OR GRIP IT LIGHTLY OR ELSE IT WILL SHAKE TO MUCH AND CAUSE ME TO WRECK.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA VTX1300 MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOBBLED WHILE ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. THE PIONEER EQUIPMENT HONDA DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE DUE TO THE WHEEL BEARING OR TIRES; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
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
MY STARTER MAGNET SHORTED OUT & BURNED CONNECTING PLUG & ELECTRICAL HARNESS. MY BIKE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE LIKE ALWAYS. I WENT OUT IN MORNING TO START BIKE & NOTHING HAPPENED, A FEW SECONDS LATER I NOTICE A BURNED SMELL & IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF KEY. I THEN DISCONNECTED MY BATTERY & STARTED TO LOOK FOR THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE BATTERY CHECKED OUT TO BE GOOD , I STARTED CHECKING FUSES , WHEN I NOTICE THE STRING BURNED SMELL FROM THE STARTER MAGNET AREA , THE MAIN FUSE WAS STILL GOOD BUT NOTICED THE CONNECTOR PLUG SLIGHTLY MELTED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION OF PLUG, I NOTICED THE CONNECTORS & SOME WIRING WERE BURNT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA VTX1300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH HE HEARD A POPPING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 13,000. UPDATED 09/15/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE FUSE TO THE IGNITION KEPT BLOWING WHEN HE STARTED THE MOTORCYCLE. THE FUSE WAS REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES. UPDATED 12/13/11
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
PETCOCK IS LEAKING THEY WERE RECALLED ON THE 07-09 BUT NOT THE 06 WHEN ITS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING WHILE I WAS RIDING
2006 HONDA VTX 1300 PETCOCK LEAKING FUEL ONTO THE ENGINE CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA VT1300S MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AT 75 MPH, HE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR AND THE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER WERE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED TO A TOWING YARD. THE FAILURE WAS NOT INVESTIGATED. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE BEARING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 16,118. SM. UPDATED 6/20/12 *CN
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
1. BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS KEEPING HEADLIGHT ON AFTER STARTER SWITCH PUSHED. HAD TO START JIGGLING STARTER SWITCH TO TURN ON HEADLIGHT. 2. STARTED HAVING HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF DURING DRIVING (ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS DURING NIGHT RIDES!). NEEDED TO JIGGLE STARTER SWITCH TO GET HEADLIGHT BACK ON. STARTING MOTORCYCLE NOW DIFFICULT ALSO. 3. TRIED WD40 ON STARTER SWITCH, DIDN'T HELP. JUST HAVE TO KEEP JIGGLING STARTER SWITCH TO GET HEADLIGHT TO STAY ON (TAKES MORE JIGGLING EVERYTIME). *TR
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
NEW HONDA VTX1300C MOTORCYCLE HAS WOBBLE IN FRONT END. MOTORCYCLE ONLY HAS 1500 MILES ON IT AND IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER RE-BALANCED THE WHEELS, BUT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. DEALER CONTACTED HONDA AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD DO NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA VTX1300C MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LICENSE PLATE BRACKET WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE LICENSE PLATE FRACTURED FROM THE MOTORCYCLE THREE TIMES WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE CONTACT INSTALLED A STEEL PLATE TO REINFORCE THE LICENSE PLATE BUT THE BRACKET ALSO FRACTURED AND THERE WAS NO WAY FOR THE LICENSE TO STAY ON THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF THE FAILURE AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 17, 2000.
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 .