1998 Suzuki Intruder 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 1998 Suzuki Intruder, 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
- Brakes743.8%
- Transmission318.8%
- Fuel system16.3%
- Other / unspecified16.3%
- Powertrain (other)16.3%
- Suspension16.3%
- Tires & wheels16.3%
- Engine16.3%
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE REAR BRAKES NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 4000. THE FIRST TIME IT RUINED THE ROTOR , NO WARNING , SOUND OR OTHERWISE REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP. AFTER SEVERAL LONG DISTANCE CALLS TO AMERICAN SUZUKI, MY EXTENDED WARRANTY OFFICE AND DEALER THEY WERE REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE TO ME. BUT I STILL NEED TO REPLACE THE EVERY 4000 MILES OR RISK LOCKING UP THE REAR WHEEL AGAIN. THEY WEAR OUT EVEN THOUGHT I GENERALLY USE THE FRONT BRAKE FOR PRIMARY STOPPING. THE CLUTCH WAS SLIPPING REAL BADLY AT 9000 MILE, SO I HAD DEALER REPLACE , AT MY EXPENSE , SINCE I WAS TOLD NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.THE NEW CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING AGAIN AT 13000 MILES. VERY SCARY SITUATION WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC. CONTACTED MY DEALER AS WELL AS AMERICAN SUZUKI. AMERICAN SUZUKIS RESPONCE TO MY DEALER WAS SOUNDS LIKE YOUR CUSTOMER WANTS SOMETHING FRO NOTHING. NOT TRUE , BUT I HAVE PURCHASE A 10,000 DOLLAR BIKE THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT PARTICULALY WHEN IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE ,IT APPEARS THEY ARE WAITING TILL SOMEONE DOES GET KILLED BY THIS MACHINE. WILL SEND A COPY OF THE LETTER I AM SENDING TO AMERICAN SUZUKI .*AK
REAR BRAKES FEEL AS THOUGH THEY'RE ALWAYS ON. WHEN REAR BRAKES ARE APPLIED CONSUMER HEARS A CRUNCH WHICH MAKES HIM AWARE THAT THERE ARE NO BRAKES. THEY BEEN REPLACED 4-5 TIMES, ONCE FOR FREE. DEALER HAS TRIED TO REMEDY THE BRAKE PROBLEM NUMEROUS TIMES, AND NOTHING SEEMS TO BE WORKING. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF 4TH GEAR UNDER STRONG ACCELERATION.T SEEMS THAT THERE IS A FALSE NEUTRAL BETWEEN 4TH AND 5TH GEAR.THIS IS EXTREMLY DANGEROUS WHILE ACCELERATING AND TRYING TO PASS A VEHICLE.*AK
THE REAR BRAKES NEED TO BE REPLACED EVERY 4000. THE FIRST TIME IT RUINED THE ROTOR , NO WARNING , SOUND OR OTHERWISE REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP. AFTER SEVERAL LONG DISTANCE CALLS TO AMERICAN SUZUKI, MY EXTENDED WARRANTY OFFICE AND DEALER THEY WERE REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE TO ME. BUT I STILL NEED TO REPLACE THE EVERY 4000 MILES OR RISK LOCKING UP THE REAR WHEEL AGAIN. THEY WEAR OUT EVEN THOUGHT I GENERALLY USE THE FRONT BRAKE FOR PRIMARY STOPPING. THE CLUTCH WAS SLIPPING REAL BADLY AT 9000 MILE, SO I HAD DEALER REPLACE , AT MY EXPENSE , SINCE I WAS TOLD NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.THE NEW CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING AGAIN AT 13000 MILES. VERY SCARY SITUATION WHEN TRYING TO PULL OUT IN TRAFFIC. CONTACTED MY DEALER AS WELL AS AMERICAN SUZUKI. AMERICAN SUZUKIS RESPONCE TO MY DEALER WAS SOUNDS LIKE YOUR CUSTOMER WANTS SOMETHING FRO NOTHING. NOT TRUE , BUT I HAVE PURCHASE A 10,000 DOLLAR BIKE THEY SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT PARTICULALY WHEN IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE ,IT APPEARS THEY ARE WAITING TILL SOMEONE DOES GET KILLED BY THIS MACHINE. WILL SEND A COPY OF THE LETTER I AM SENDING TO AMERICAN SUZUKI .*AK
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
FUEL LEAKS ONTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE WILL CATCH ON FIRE. *AK GAS TANL ROTTED ON THE BOTTOM OF TANK. MOTORCYCLE WAS ONLY SIX YEARS OLD AND GARAGE KEPT. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. SUZUKI CLAIMED THERE WAS APROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL, BUT ALSO SAID SUZUKI WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. *AK
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
THE PROPANE FULE LINE GOING TO T FURNANCE AND WATER DEVOLEPED A HOLE AND CAUSED THE FLAMES TO FULL THE COACH. *AK
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
1998 SUZUKI 1500 INTRUDER LC BALL BEARINGS LOCKED THE ENGINE AT A SLOW SPEED. *KB *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
1998 SUZUKI 1500 INTRUDER LC BALL BEARINGS LOCKED THE ENGINE AT A SLOW SPEED. *KB *JB
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
VEHICLE HAD A FLAT TIRE DRIVER PROCEDED TO TRAVEL EASTBOUND ON HIGHWAY WHEN CONSUMER FINALLY PULLED OVER TIRE CAUGHT ON FIRE SPREADING TO THE WHOLE CAR. OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT.
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
1998 SUZUKI 1500 INTRUDER LC BALL BEARINGS LOCKED THE ENGINE AT A SLOW SPEED. *KB *JB
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 .