2003 Suzuki Suzuki Motorcycle Owner Complaints

FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AT ABOUT 6500 MILES. MOTORCYCLE STARTED LURCHING AND I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND ONE OF THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WAS ALMOST TOTALLY DESTROYED. THERE WASN'T A SCREECHING SOUND OR ANTHING TO WARN ME THAT THE BEARINGS WERE FAILING PRIOR TO THIS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO OWNERS OF THE SUZUKI AF650 BUT SUZUKI HAS NOT ADDRESSED IT. SUZUKI DID REPLACE THE BEARING. INITIALLY THEY TOLD ME TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE IT WAS A BEARING THAT'S CONSIDERED A "WEAR ITEM." LATER THE DEALER REIMBURSED ME FOR THE COST OF THE BEARING AND LABOR.

NHTSA ID

10125162

Incident

May 26, 2005

Mileage

6,500 mi

VEHICLE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY SHAKING WHEN DRIVING AT 40 MPH OR LESS. WHEN PURCHASING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER HAD THE TIRES CHANGED AT THE DEALERSHIP, THAT WAS THE FIRST THING SUGGESTED WAS WAS WRONG WITH VEHICLE. SINCE THE TIRES HAD BEEN CHANGED VEHICLE STILL HAS THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10118909

Incident

Apr 13, 2004

Mileage

100 mi

THE SUZUKI VL1500LC INTRUDER (LC FOR SHORT) HAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ITS FUEL TANK CRACKING RIGHT BEHIND THE FRONT RIGHT MOUNTING BOLT. THIS IS KNOWN TO THE LC COMMUNITY, AND WE ASSUME THAT IT IS KNOWN BY SUZUKI. THE LATTER, HOWEVER, HAS SO FAR NOT DONE ANYTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. YES, THEY WILL REPLACE THE TANK, BUT THE NEW TANK CRACKS IN THE SAME PLACE, SO THAT IS NOT A 'GOOD' FIX. THE TANK ON MY BIKE HAS DEVELOPED THE SAME CRACK, AFTER LESS THAN 14,000 MILES. THE GAS IS ROUTED TO DRIP IN AN AREA VERY NEAR THE EXHAUST PIPES. (ON A BIKE WITH STOCK EXHAUST, IT MAY WELL DRIP ONTO THE EXHAUST EXPANSION CHAMBER.) BECAUSE THE REPAIR - IE REPLACEMENT OF TANK - IS NOT A SATISFACTORY REPAIR MOST OF US SEE NO REASON TO LEAVE THE BIKE IN THE SHOP FOR A WEEK OR MORE TO FACILITATE REPLACEMENT OF SAID TANK. IN STEAD, OTHER REMEDIES ARE SOUGHT. SOME SUCCESS IS REPORTED USING JBWELD.

NHTSA ID

10114686

Incident

Mar 24, 2005

Mileage

13,600 mi

I HAVE A 2003 SUZUKI INTRUDER LC1500. IT IS 2 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAS 5,100 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. RECENTLY I STARTED SMELLING GAS AND, AWARE THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD CRACKS IN THEIR FUEL TANKS THROUGH THE LC FORUM, CHECKED THE SUSPECT AREA OF THE TANK. THERE WAS RESIDUE, I CLEANED THE TANK AND RECHECKED IT YESTERDAY. THERE WAS NEW RESIDUE AND THE CRACK IS VISIBLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10100718

Incident

Nov 28, 2004

THERE IS A CRACK IN THE WELD ALONG THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GAS TANK ON MY 2003 SUZUKI VL1500LC MOTORCYCLE. I NOTICED IT AFTER OTHER OWNERS AND I HAVE STARTED COMMUNICATING AMONG EACH OTHER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *AK A COMMON FIX SEEMS TO BE TO USE JB WELD TO CLOSE THE CRACK. SUZUKI INTERNATIONAL WILL NOT EVEN TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE RUDELY TREATED MANY WHO HAVE CONTACTED THEM REGARDING THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. MANY DEALERS HAVE REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AND IT IS A WIDELYY KNOW ISSUE AMONG CURRENT OWNERS OF THE MOTORCYCLE.

NHTSA ID

10100667

Incident

Nov 27, 2004

Mileage

9,800 mi

A SMALL SEPARATION OF THE TOP WELD ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GAS TANK ON MY 2003 SUZUKI VL1500LC MOTORCYCLE. I NOTICED IT WHEN I WAS CHANGING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM ON MY BIKE, THE FIX IS TO USE JB WELD TO CLOSE THE CRACK. SUZUKI INTERNATIONAL WILL NOT EVEN TALK TO ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY STATED NHTSA WOULD HAVE TO FORCE THEM TO EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS TANK. *NM

NHTSA ID

10100474

Incident

Nov 24, 2004

Mileage

26,000 mi

CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT BOTH HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN 3,500 MILES OF WEAR. DEALER NOTIFIED. DEALER URGED CONSUMER TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO CHECK THE OVER LOAD OF VOLTAGES.*AK *TC

NHTSA ID

10089840

Incident

Mar 15, 2004

Mileage

3,500 mi

MOTORCYCLE'S HEADLIGHTS CONTINUED TO BLOW OUT. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE BULBS THREE TIMES WITHIN TWO MONTHS. *AK *MR

NHTSA ID

10088030

Incident

Aug 17, 2004

Mileage

6,500 mi

BOUGHT MY 2003 SUZUKI INTRUDER 1500 LC NEW IN MAY OF 2003. NOT LONG AFTER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BATTERY GOING DEAD. THOUGHT MAYBE IT WASN'T FULLY CHARGED WHEN FIRST PUT IN. IT WOULD BE TOO LOW TO START THE BIKE SOMETIMES AFTER BIKE SAT FOR FIVE OR SIX DAYS. BROUGHT BATTERY BACK TO DEALER FOR A LOAD TEST AND WAS TOLD IT WAS O.K.. STILL HAD SAME PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD TO BRING BIKE IN. THEY SAID VOLTAGE REGULATOR WAS BAD AND REPLACED IT. ONE WEEK LATER SAME PROBLEM, BUT NOW WARRANTY EXPIRED. WENT BACK AND THEY SAID BATTERY WAS NOW FAULTY AND GAVE ME A NEW ONE. SOON AFTER BIKE STARTED DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. WILL START AND RUN FINE FOR A FEW DAYS THEN WHEN OUT RIDDING WHEN STARTING THE BIKE AFTER A STOP THE BATTERY WILL BE TOTALLY DEAD. TOLD DEALER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND WAS TOLD TO BASICALLY FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT MYSELF. *JB

NHTSA ID

10087048

Incident

Aug 1, 2003

Mileage

1,000 mi

TO WHOM IT MAY VCONCERN. LAST WEEK I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL FROM SUZUKI MOTOR. REFERENCE A 2003 SUZUKI, VZ800K3 MOTORCYCLE, I PURCHASED ON 07/05/04 FROM QUINSEY POWERSPORT OF EL CAJO, CALIFORNIA. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER TO HAVE THE WORK PERFORMED ON SAID MOTORCYCLE I WAS TOLD BY THE MANAGER OF SERVICE TO RIDE THE BIKE IN AND 3 DAYS IT WILL BE READY. HOW COULD A RIDE IN A BIKE THAT THE MANUFACTURER STATES " DO NOT RIDE YOUR CALIFORNIA MODEL". I HAVE CALLED PEOPLE AT THE DEALER AND AT THE MANUFACTURER WITHOUT GETTING A STRAY ANSWER YET. WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT? DID I MENTION, THAT ON THE FIRST DAY I TOOK THE BIKE HOME. WHILE IN MY WAY TO WORK DOING 60 THE SPEEDOMETER BROKE. DO I HAVE A LEMON? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. MARIO

NHTSA ID

10086703

Incident

Aug 11, 2004

I HAVE A 2003 SUZUKI GSF1200S BANDIT. AND MY LIGHTING HAS DEGRADED SIGNIFIGANTLY AND HAS A BLACK RESIDUE LOCATED AT THE LENS OPSTUCTING THE LIGHT WITH THIS FILM. THIS MOTORCYCLE HAS CONDENSER STYLE LIGHTS AND THE OUTPUT IS SEVERLY REDUCED MAKING IT HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10058183

Incident

Feb 14, 2004

RE: SUZUKI VOLUSIA: THE KICKSTAND WILL FOLD UP WITHOUT WARNING. I PARKED MY BIKE ON A VERY SLIGHT INCLINE AND IT FELL OVER. I THINK THE STAND DOESN'T OPEN FAR ENOUGH TO BE SAFE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10058118

Incident

Feb 12, 2004

2003 SUZUKI VINSON ATV MANUAL 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION. TRANSMISSION WILL SOMETIMES GET STUCK IN FIRST GEAR AND NO AMOUNT OF PRESSURE WILL ALLOW YOU TO SHIFT TO SECOND GEAR. SOMETIMES IN HIGHER GEARS GEAR TRANSMISSION WILL GET STUCK BETWEEN GEARS IN A "FALSE NEUTRAL" EFFECTIVELY DISENGAGING THE TRANSMISSION AND WILL PRODUCE GRINDING NOISES. AFTER A FEW SECONDS THE TRANSMISSION WILL "SLAM" INTO SELECTED GEAR. PROBLEMS ARE MORE THAN OCCASIONAL AND DEALER HAS PROVIDED NO HELP. *LA

NHTSA ID

10052659

Incident

Feb 1, 2003

RE: 2003 SUZUKI SCOOTER AN 650 BURGMAN. ELECTRONIC (LCD) DISPLAYS OF SPEED AND OTHER DATA ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO READ IN BRIGHT LIGHT WHEN TRAVELING. THIS MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCURATELY CONTROL SPEED ON THE VEHICLE. THIS UNIT SHOULD BE REPLACE BY ANALOG GUAGES WHICH CAN BE READ IN ALL LIGHT CONDITIONS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10049715

Incident

Nov 25, 2003

Mileage

20 mi

UNABLE TO GET TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AFTER A LONG OR HARD RUN. *LA

NHTSA ID

10043263

Incident

Sep 27, 2003

Mileage

4,885 mi

VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH BOTH AUTOMATIC AND STANDARD TRANSMISSIONS. WHILE IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MODE THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, RESULTING IN THE REAR TIRES LOCKING UP. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT IF VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT A FASTER SPEED. CORRECT MODEL NAME BIRDMAN, 650, 2003,NOT IN ARTEMIS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10042546

Mileage

700 mi

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10032160

Incident

Jul 29, 2003

WHEN DRIVING, THE VEHICLE'S CHAIN JUMPED THE SPROCKET WHICH CAUSED THE WHEELS TO LOCKUP. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *PH

NHTSA ID

10031741

Incident

May 20, 2003

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A SCOOTER.THE SCOOTER MAKES A LOUD NOISE, AS IF METAL PARTS BROKE INSIDE, AND DESIGN ISSUES WHILE DRIVING. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL.*AK

NHTSA ID

10029766

THIS INVOLVES AN ATV QUAD, ARTIC CAT 500. THE VEHICLE IS REGISTED AND INSURED. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON A STATE MAINTAINED ROAD NORTH OF FLORENCE AND SOUTH OF BOX CANYON IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA. AT ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR, BRAKES WERE APPLIED WHEN TURNING LEFT AND DOWNHILL. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CONTROL IN THE TURN, AND ROLLED OVER THE DRIVER, ME.IT WASN'T UNITL RECENTLY THAT I FOUND THE VEHILCE ONLY HAD THREE DISC BRAKES CALIPERS . TWO IN FRONT AND ONE ON THE RIGHT REAR. HAVING ONE BRAKE IN THE REAR ACTS AS A TURNING BRAKE TO THE RIGHT CAUSING THE 650 POUND VEHICLE TO TIP RIGHT IN THE FRONT WHEN TURNING AND IS EXAGERATED GOING DOWNHILL. THE VEHICLE RECEIVED SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS IN DAMAGE AND APPEARS TO HAVE A BENT FRAME. I RECEIVED SEVERE INJURIES TO BOTH LEGS AND PERMANENT INJURY TO MY RIGHT LEG. I HAVE GIVEN THIS GREAT THOUGHT AS I AM A MECHANIC FOR A LOCAL DEALERSHIP THAT SPECIALIZES IN FRONT AND REAR AXLES AND BASIC BRAKE SYSTEMS. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE LACK OF THE FOURTH BRAKE HAS CAUSED THIS ACCIDENT AND IS LIKELY TO CAUSE MORE SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY TO OTHER DRIVERS. PLEASE REVIEW MY COMPLAINT. IF THERE IS ANYTHING FURTHER THAT YOU REQUIRE OF ME DO NOT HESITATE TO ASK.*AK

NHTSA ID

10025695

Incident

Jan 5, 2003

Mileage

120 mi

THE KICKSTAND ON MY VOLUSIA ALMOST GAVE OUT. LUCKILY I NOTICED IT BEFORE IT FELL OVER. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023156

Incident

May 17, 2003

ENGINE FAILURE WITH NEW MOTORCYCLE. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10023016

Incident

May 10, 2003

Mileage

250 mi

THE KICKSTAND ON MY 03 SUZUKI VOLUSIA BIKE IS FAULTY. MY BIKE WAS IN THE DRIVEWAY AND IT FELL OVER. THIS BIKE WEIGHS OVER 500 LBS, IF A CHILD WAS NEARBY THEY WOULD BE SERIOUSLY HURT. I CALLED SUZUKI AND TO NO AVAIL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10021138

Incident

Apr 25, 2003

THE MOTORCYCLE HAD A DEFECTIVE CLUTCH. "SUZUKI MODEL# AN650 YEAR 2003". *JB

NHTSA ID

10015103

Incident

Apr 3, 2003