2002 Honda VTX1800 Owner Complaints

BEARING FAILURE IN THE FINAL DRIVEN FLANGE ASSEMBLY,

NHTSA ID

11076774

Incident

Feb 28, 2018

Mileage

67,873 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA VTX1800. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-40 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE WHEN ONE OF THE HANDLES WAS RELEASED. THE VEHICLE HAD NEW TIRES AND BRAKES DUE TO OTHER NECESSARY REPAIRS; HOWEVER, THE WOBBLING CONTINUED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO INTERSTATE CYCLES (580 SW FLORIDA GATEWAY DR, LAKE CITY, FL 32024; 386-758-2423) WHO STATED THAT THE WOBBLING ONLY OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 35-40 MPH. THE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR AT HIGHER SPEEDS. THE DEALER STATED THEY DID NOT BELIEVE THERE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THE CONTACT COULD CONTINUE OPERATING THE MOTORCYCLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,000.

NHTSA ID

11045594

Incident

Jan 1, 2007

Mileage

27,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 HONDA VTX1800. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE BRAKES SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A WALL AND WAS THROWN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED ARM, A HEAD INJURY, AND A KNEE INJURY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A ROAD RASH OVER THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BODY. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10733573

Incident

May 17, 2015

Mileage

39,000 mi

I HAVE REPLACED THE FINAL DRIVE FLANGE BEARINGS 3 TIMES NOW. I HEARD THAT THERE WERE SOME ISSUES WITH THIS FLANGE. FIRST TIME I REPLACED IT, I REPLACED THE WHOLE FLANGE. THE SECOND AND THIRD TIME I REPLACED THE BEARINGS ONLY. ON THE THIRD TIME I REPLACED THE WHEEL DAMPENER INSIDE THE REAR WHEEL. I NOW HAVE 96,000 MILES ON MY BIKE AND CHECK THESE BEARINGS EVERY TIME I CHANGE THE REAR TIRE. ALL THREE TIMES THE PLASTIC SEAL WAS GONE AND A FEW BALLS OUT OF THE BEARING. THE CAGE THAT HOLDS THE BALLS IN THE BEARING WAS DESTROYED ALL THREE TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10701001

Incident

Jul 6, 2012

Mileage

698,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA VTX 1800. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10509532

Incident

Apr 8, 2013

Mileage

9,000 mi

REAR WHEEL FINAL DRIVE BEARING FAILURE. WAS FOUND WHEN REPLACING THE REAR TIRE. LOOKING AT OPTIONS FOR THE REPAIR NOW.

NHTSA ID

10423401

Incident

Aug 29, 2011

Mileage

18,300 mi

FOUND WHILE REPLACING REAR TIRE,INSIDE BEARING COMING APART. *TR

NHTSA ID

10394017

Incident

Mar 26, 2011

Mileage

22,956 mi

REMOVED REAR WHEEL TO PERFORM MAINTENANCE AND CHECK REAR WHEEL FLANGE BEARINGS AS ADVISED BY MANY OTHER OWNERS DISCUSSIONS ON VTXOA.COM, WHO'VE EXPERIENCED THIS IDENTICAL PROBLEM. THE BEARINGS WERE IN VERY ROUGH SHAPE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS APPEARS TO BE ATTRIBUTED TO INCORRECTLY DIMENSIONED HONDA PARTS, FOR WHICH THEY'VE NEVER PROVIDED AN ACCEPTABLE, ENGINEERED SOLUTION, OR ACKNOWLEDGED IT FOR THAT MATTER. FAILED COMPONENT: QTY OF 2 BEARINGS IN ITEM DESCRIBED AS FLANGE SET, PN 42630-MCH-000.

NHTSA ID

10384912

Incident

Jan 15, 2011

Mileage

27,371 mi

TWO FAULTY FLANGE BEARINGS IN LESS THAN 18,000 MILES. FAILURE NOTED DURING TIRE CHANGES IN BOTH INSTANCES. BOTH REPLACED AT OWNER'S COST @ OVER 190 DOLLARS EACH INSTANCE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10346665

Incident

Jul 28, 2010

Mileage

18,000 mi

HONDA 2002 VTX 1800RS DURING REAR TIRE REPLACEMENT AT 36K MILES DISCOVERED WHEEL BEARING ON THE RIGHT SIDE (BRAKE SIDE) WAS VERY BAD...HAD NO WARNING, NO WHEEL WOBBLE, WHEEL TURNED FREE, BUT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN VERY LONG. AXLE SHAFT DISCOLORED, NO REASON FOR THIS FAILURE! ALL REAR BEARINGS REPLACED! FRONT BEARINGS REPLACED FOR SAFETY! *TR

NHTSA ID

10331363

Incident

May 15, 2010

Mileage

36,000 mi

2002 HONDA VTX 1800S REAR WHEEL FLANGE BEARING. WORN OUT AGAIN FOR THE SECOND TIME APPROX 8 TO 10,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10272419

Incident

May 30, 2008

Mileage

10,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA VTX1800C. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH, HE NOTICED THAT THE REAR TIRE FELT DIFFERENT AS IF IT WERE NOT PROPERLY ALIGNED. THE VEHICLE ALSO PULLED TO THE LEFT. HE HEARD CLUNKING NOISES AND THE WELD ON THE SWING ARM DRIVESHAFT HOUSING FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK PICTURES AND NOTIFIED THE DEALER. THE DEALER THEN ADVISED HIM TO CALL NHTSA AND THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 17,000.

NHTSA ID

10248795

Incident

Nov 13, 2008

Mileage

17,000 mi

EXCESSIVE BEARING NOISE AND ALL SPEEDS. CAUSE WAS FINAL DRIVE FLANGE BEARING FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10244344

Incident

Jul 10, 2008

Mileage

24,000 mi

FLANGE BEARINGS WERE NOTICED TO BE DISINTEGRATING WHILE CHANGING OUT THE TIRE ON THE REAR RIM OF AN 02, 1800 HONDA VTX WITH ONLY 15000 MILES. I HAVE ORDERED NEW SET OF BEARINGS TO REPLACE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10238013

Incident

Aug 1, 2008

Mileage

15,000 mi

FLANGE BEARING FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10229630

Incident

Feb 20, 2008

Mileage

68,000 mi

1. GRINDING NOISE IN REAR 2. FLANGE BEARING COMPLETELY DESTROYED 3. BEARING REPLACED AT DEALER(HAVE OLD BEARING IN HAND). *TR

NHTSA ID

10223466

Incident

Apr 5, 2008

Mileage

13,500 mi

REPLACING THE REAR TIRE AND THE FINAL FLANGE BEARING WERE HALF GONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219640

Incident

Feb 27, 2008

Mileage

13,653 mi

APPROXIMATE DATE OF FAILURE: JULY 6 2007 YEAR OF MANUFACTURE: 2002 MODEL:VTX 1800 S BEARING CONDITION: BEARING TOTALLY TRASHED (IN PIECES) DISCOVERED WHILE REMOVING WHEEL TO HAVE TIRE REPAIRED/REPLACED ACCIDENT : NONE HOW FIXED: LOCATING PARTS NOW ADDITIONAL REMARKS: (ANY OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION) *TR

NHTSA ID

10197242

Incident

Jul 6, 2007

Mileage

67,856 mi

I OWN A 2002 HONDA VT1800C MOTORCYCLE AND THERE IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT ON THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS. I ONLY HAVE 12,000 MILES ON THIS MOTORCYCLE AND THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ARE SHOT TO HELL. I HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THIS SUBJECT WITH OWNER FORUMS AND SEE THAT MANY OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM BUT YET HONDA REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE THAT THEY HAVE A DEFECT OR NEED A RECALL. IT IS MY OPINION THAT HONDA IS NOT RECALLING THIS PARTICULAR FACTORY DEFECT DUE TO LACK OF A QUALITY FIX. MANY OWNERS REPORT BUYING BRAND NEW FACTORY BEARING SETS ONLY TO FIND THAT THEY ARE DEFECTIVE EVEN BEFORE INSTALLING THE NEW REPLACEMENT BEARINGS. SOME ONE NEEDS TO MAKE HONDA FIX THIS SITUATION AT THEIR EXPENSE BEFORE SOME ONE GETS KILLED RIDING THEIR MOTORCYCLE DUE TO REAR WHEEL LOCK UP. *JB

NHTSA ID

10188409

Incident

Apr 19, 2007

Mileage

12,000 mi

FLANGE BEARING (BEARING ON REAR WHEEL, FINAL DRIVE SIDE) FAILURE AT 39,000 MILES, NOTICED WHEN CHANGING REAR TIRE. TOTAL FAILURE AT HIGH SPEED COULD CAUSE THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK AND A CRASH TO OCCUR. NEW BEARING INSTALLED AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10161622

Incident

Jul 5, 2006

Mileage

39,000 mi

THE ROCKER SHIFTER IS NOT RETURNING TO CENTER POSITION. AFTER YOU SHIFT EITHER UP OR DOWN YOU HAVE TO MANUALLY PUT IT BACK TO CENTER BEFORE YOU CAN SHIFT TO THE NEXT GEAR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10157122

Incident

May 9, 2006

Mileage

5,240 mi

REAR FLANGE BEARING ON 2002 HONDA VTX1800 MOTORCYCLE FAILED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10156425

Incident

Apr 28, 2006

Mileage

17,300 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE REAR TIRE WAS BEING REPLACED, THE CONTACT REQUESTED THE REAR FLANGE BEARING BE INSPECTED, BECAUSE OF FAILURE INFORMATION FOUND ON THE INTERNET. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE REAR FLANGE BEARINGS, BECAUSE THEY HAD DISINTEGRATED.

NHTSA ID

10155679

Incident

Apr 18, 2006

Mileage

34,500 mi

I HAVE A 2002 HONDA VTX1800R MOTORCYCLE. WHILE REMOVING REAR WHEEL AND TIRE FOR A TIRE REPLACEMENT I FOUND ONE OF THE FLANGE BEARINGS DAMAGED. THE INNER CAGE OF THE BEARING WAS COMPLETELY TORN APART AND THE BALLS WHILE STILL IN THE RACE OF THE BEARING HOUSING WERE WORN. I HAD BEEN BATTLING A VIBRATION ON THIS MOTORCYCLE FOR NEARLY 8000 MILES. I WAS NOT ABLE TO DETECT THIS WHILE TURNING THE WHEEL WITH THE MOTORCYCLE ON JACK. I HAD THOUGHT IT WAS TIRE RELATED BUT I KNOW NOW THAT THIS WAS NOT THE PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH I HAD REPORTED MY VIBRATION PROBLEM TO MY LOCAL HONDA DEALER SEVERAL TIMES THEY NEVER DEVELOPED THIS INFORMATION TO ME EVEN THOUGH I KNOW THERE HAVE BEEN MANY VTX'S WITH THIS PROBLEM. I AM ANGRY THAT A DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WOULD PUT PEOPLE IN DANGER TO SAVE A BUCK. I HAVE AT MY OWN COST REPLACED BOTH BEARINGS AND HAD THE FLANGE MACHINED TO PREVENT THE BINDING OF THE INNER BEARING WHICH I BELIEVE IS THE REASON FOR THE BEARING FAILURE. I HAD A MACHINIST MEASURE THE FLANGE BEARING SLEEVE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE INNER SURFACE OF THE SLEEVE IS SMALLER IN DIAMETER BY .0015 OF AN INCH MAKING THE BEARING TOO TIGHT WHEN INSTALLED. THIS CAUSES WHAT MANY HAVE REPORTED AS A BEARING THAT FEELS LIKE IT GRABS OR IS ROUGH WHILE TURNING YET WHEN IT IS REMOVED FROM THE FLANGE IT SPINS FREELY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10155645

Incident

Apr 15, 2006

Mileage

9,800 mi

I WAS HAVING THE REAR TIRE CHANGED AND I CHECKED THE BEARINGS. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED ON THE HONDA WEB SITE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL PROBLEMS. THE BEARINGS WERE REPLACED AND IT WAS FOUND THAT ONE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED. I HAVE THE BEARING AND PHOTOS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10154043

Incident

Mar 29, 2006

Mileage

29,223 mi