2002 Honda VTX1800 Engine Problems

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

2002 HONDA VTX 1800 RIGHT SIDE OF THE RADIATOR PLASTIC TRIM MELTED THROUGH.*MR.....THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RADIATOR PLASTIC TRIM SHROUD MELTED THROUGH WHERE IT COMES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY WITH THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE TOP OF THE SHROUD IS APPROXIMATELY 8 FEET FROM THE FUEL TANK. CONSUMER IS AFRAID THAT PLASTIC SHROUD WILL CATCH ON FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10121466

Incident

Apr 4, 2005

WHILE DECELERATING THERE IS A POPPING NOISE IN THE REAR CYLINDER. MECHANIC SAYS OIL IS GETTING INTO THE ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10052259

DECOMPRESSION LOBE ON THE FRONT CYCLINDER HAS FAILED ON MY 2002 VTX1800R. DECOMPRESSION LOBE IS STUCK IN OPEN POSTIION AND CAUSED SPARK PLUGS TO FOUL QUITE REGULARLY (EVERY 5K MILES). HAVE HAD PEOPLE TELL ME THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR MOTORCYCLES AND HONDA WOULD NOT REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. MY WARRANTY WAS ONLY OUT 2 WEEKS BEFORE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED. ONLY FIX FIX PROBLEM IS CAM REPLACEMENTM WHICH RUNS ABOUT $350. I CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA DIRECTLY AND THEY DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF HAVING THIS PROBLEM IN ANY OTHER MOTORCYCLES, DESPITE PERSONALLY KNOWING OF ANOTHER PERSON WHO FILED A COMPLAINT THRU THEM ALSO. AMERICAN HONDA REFUSED TO TAKE MY COMPLAINT OVER THE PHONE AND KEPT TELLING ME IT WAS A DEALER ISSUE. AMERICAN HONDA CLAIMS THERE IS NO DATABASE FOR DEFECT COMPLAINTS FROM CUSTOMERS. A FULL RECALL AND INSPECTION OF ALL 2002 VTX 1800'S SHOULD BE PEFORMED TO CHECK AND DIAGNOSE ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE DECOMPRESSION LOBES/CAMS. BIKE RUNS VERY RICH AND CAUSES HIGH EMISSIONS CONTENT AT LOW RPM'S.*AK

NHTSA ID

10025701

Incident

Mar 15, 2003

Mileage

16,000 mi

WITHIN THE FIRST 500 MILES AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW, THE SPARK PLUGS WERE DETERMINED TO BE FOULED FROM CARBON. A DETERIORATION IN PERFORMANCE WAS NOTED, ALONG WITH A SMELL OF GASOLINE FROM BEHIND THE VEHICLE AS IF IT WERE RUNNING RICH. THE VEHICLE ALSO BACKFIRES ON DECELLERATION. WHILE MY VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE USABLE, OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED A NEED FOR COMPLETE ENGINE REBUILDING TO FIX CAM TIMING INACCURACIES, SCUFFED CYLINDER BORES FROM INCORRECTLY SEATING RINGS (CAUSING OIL BURNING AND CARBON FOULING OF THE COMBUSTION CHAMGER). SOME OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THE LOSS OF USE OF THE VEHICLE DUE TO SPARK PLUG FAILURE. I HAVE WRITTEN LETTERS TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO RESPONDED BY PHONE AND DETERMINED THAT MY VEHICLE IS "NORMAL". THIS, WITHOUT VIEWING THE VEHICLE OR HAVING IT LOOKED AT BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. I FEEL IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE VEHICLE FAILS TO OPERATE WHICH I BELIEVE POSES A DANGER TO MY SAFETY IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN IN HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ID

10005702

Incident

Feb 8, 2003

THE VEHICLE ENGINE IS FOULING ITS SPARK PLUGS AFTER SOME SMALL PERIOD OF RIDING TIME CAUSING AN EXTENSIVE INCREASE IN BAD EXHAUST EMISSIONS. THERE IS A GASOLINE SMELL BEHIND THE MOTORCYCLE. AS WELL AS DEGRADED FUEL MILEAGE AND OVERALL PRODUCT PERFORMANCE. THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE THAT THE HONDA ASSEMBLY LINE INSTALLED THE ENGINE CAMSHAFTS OFF BY ONE TOOTH, WHICH WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE PRIMARY REASON FOR THE ENGINE TO FOUL. *JG

NHTSA ID

567493

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING THE MOTORCYCLE LOSS POWER. CAUSE UNKNOWN DEALER NOTIFIED.*JB

NHTSA ID

8014711

Incident

Jun 24, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED MOTORCYCLE WILL START TO LOSE POWER ,AND THEN STALL OUT. CONTACTED DEALER,AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ID

8013379

Incident

Jul 2, 2002

VEHICLE IS LESS THAN A YEAR OLD. VEHICLE STALLED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN SPARK PLUGS FAILED. THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. SPARK PLUGS WERE WET WITH FUEL, SOMEWHAT CARBONIZED. THE ENGINE AT TIMES RUNS ON ONE CYLINDER. *JG

NHTSA ID

566070

RADIATOR ON MOTORCYCLE KEEPS BURNING OUT. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED RADIATOR, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. SOLUTION WAS NOT YET FOUND.*AK

NHTSA ID

8003391

Incident

Jan 1, 2002