2003 Suzuki SV1000 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 2003 Suzuki SV1000, 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
- Electrical646.2%
- Engine323.1%
- Fuel system323.1%
- Other / unspecified17.7%
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
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE CHARGING SYSTEM MAGNETS DETACHED FROM THE FLYWHEEL/ROTOR (INTERNAL TO THE MOTOR), CAUSING AN ISSUE WHERE THE CHARGING SYSTEM WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE MAGNETS COULD HAVE BECOME DISLODGED ENOUGH TO CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC AND IMMEDIATE ENGINE SEIZURE/FAILURE, RESULTING IN I A CRASH. THANKFULLY, I CAUGHT THE ISSUE BEFORE IT BECAME SEVERE. AFTER A BIT OF ONLINE RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE FOR SUZUKI BIKES EQUIPPED WITH THIS FAMILY OF ENGINES. NUMEROUS INSTANCES CAN BE FOUND ON THE SV650, SV1000, AND ALL MODELS OF THE V-STROM. I HAVE NOT YET CONTACTED SUZUKI REGARDING THIS MATTER, BUT PLAN TO DO SO TODAY. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT A CASE HAS BEEN OPENED TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. I BELIEVE THE CASE NUMBER IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
MY SV1000 HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH ITS CHARGING SYSTEM THAT AFFECTS THE ENTIRE ENGINE. I CAME TO FIND IT WAS A HEAVILY DOCUMENTED ON PUBLIC ONLINE FORUMS SUCH AS SV-PORTAL.COM AND HAS AFFECTED ALMOST ALL SV1000 OWNERS. THE MAGNETS, WHICH ARE GLUED TO THE INTERIOR OF THE STATOR ROTOR, BREAK FREE OF THEIR EPOXY BOND AND SHATTER INTO PIECES INSIDE THE ENGINE CASE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS DAMAGE TO THE STATOR/ALTERNATOR IS CERTAIN AND FRAGMENTED MAGNETS ENTER THE TRANSMISSION, OIL PAN, CLUTCH AND OTHER ENGINE SYSTEMS. WHEN ANY OF THESE SYSTEMS ARE CAUSED TO FAIL BY THE BROKEN MAGNET PIECES OR CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURE AT DRIVING SPEED THE RIDER AND ALL NEAR BY MOTORISTS ARE AT SERIOUS RISK. THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AND AFFECTS ALL YEARS OF THE SV1000. THE SAFETY ISSUE OCCURS AT VARYING MILEAGE BUT IT IS CERTAIN THAT VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 15,000 TO 18,000 MILES WILL HAVE THIS ISSUE. *TR
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
FLYWHEEL MAGNETS SHIFTED AND CRACKED. PIECES OF THE MAGNET ARE ALL OVER THE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE. STATOR IS SCRATCHED. FOUND OUT BECAUSE OF VIBRATION AT LOW RPM AND BIKE NOT HOLDING A CHARGE. *TR
THE CHARGING SYSTEM MAGNETS DETACHED FROM THE FLYWHEEL/ROTOR (INTERNAL TO THE MOTOR), CAUSING AN ISSUE WHERE THE CHARGING SYSTEM WAS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE MAGNETS COULD HAVE BECOME DISLODGED ENOUGH TO CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC AND IMMEDIATE ENGINE SEIZURE/FAILURE, RESULTING IN I A CRASH. THANKFULLY, I CAUGHT THE ISSUE BEFORE IT BECAME SEVERE. AFTER A BIT OF ONLINE RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE FOR SUZUKI BIKES EQUIPPED WITH THIS FAMILY OF ENGINES. NUMEROUS INSTANCES CAN BE FOUND ON THE SV650, SV1000, AND ALL MODELS OF THE V-STROM. I HAVE NOT YET CONTACTED SUZUKI REGARDING THIS MATTER, BUT PLAN TO DO SO TODAY. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT A CASE HAS BEEN OPENED TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. I BELIEVE THE CASE NUMBER IS [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
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
MY SV1000 HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH ITS CHARGING SYSTEM THAT AFFECTS THE ENTIRE ENGINE. I CAME TO FIND IT WAS A HEAVILY DOCUMENTED ON PUBLIC ONLINE FORUMS SUCH AS SV-PORTAL.COM AND HAS AFFECTED ALMOST ALL SV1000 OWNERS. THE MAGNETS, WHICH ARE GLUED TO THE INTERIOR OF THE STATOR ROTOR, BREAK FREE OF THEIR EPOXY BOND AND SHATTER INTO PIECES INSIDE THE ENGINE CASE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS DAMAGE TO THE STATOR/ALTERNATOR IS CERTAIN AND FRAGMENTED MAGNETS ENTER THE TRANSMISSION, OIL PAN, CLUTCH AND OTHER ENGINE SYSTEMS. WHEN ANY OF THESE SYSTEMS ARE CAUSED TO FAIL BY THE BROKEN MAGNET PIECES OR CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURE AT DRIVING SPEED THE RIDER AND ALL NEAR BY MOTORISTS ARE AT SERIOUS RISK. THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AND AFFECTS ALL YEARS OF THE SV1000. THE SAFETY ISSUE OCCURS AT VARYING MILEAGE BUT IT IS CERTAIN THAT VEHICLES WITH MORE THAN 15,000 TO 18,000 MILES WILL HAVE THIS ISSUE. *TR
MY 2003 SUZUKI SV1000S STARTED RUNNING POORLY AFTER I FILLED UP THE GAS TANK ON 9/10/2005. INITIALLY I THOUGHT I HAD BAD GAS. I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE DEALER AND THEY CHECKED IT AND FOUND THERE IS A CRACK IN THE TANK. THE DEALER SAID THE CRACK IS NEAR THE FUEL VAPOR SEPARATOR. THIS PART IS ONLY INSTALLED ON E-33 (CALIFORNIA MODEL) GAS TANKS FOR EMISSIONS PURPOSES. THAT CRACK CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK INTO THE CARBON CANISTER WHICH IS ONLY FOR FUEL VAPOR. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE TANK, AND CARBON CANISTER UNDER WARRANTY. I AM NOT THE ONLY SV1000S OWNER LIVING IN CA THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM. SEVERAL MEMBERS FROM A FORUM I AM A MEMBER OF (HTTP://WWW.SV1000.ZYNS.COM/INDEX.PHP?) ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. I FOUND A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT FROM ANOTHER OWNER AND THAT IS WHY I AM WRITING THIS COMPLAINT UP. I BELIEVE SUZUKI WILL REPLACE THE TANKS BUT ONLY ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. *NM
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
MY 2003 SUZUKI SV1000S STARTED RUNNING POORLY AFTER I FILLED UP THE GAS TANK ON 9/10/2005. INITIALLY I THOUGHT I HAD BAD GAS. I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE DEALER AND THEY CHECKED IT AND FOUND THERE IS A CRACK IN THE TANK. THE DEALER SAID THE CRACK IS NEAR THE FUEL VAPOR SEPARATOR. THIS PART IS ONLY INSTALLED ON E-33 (CALIFORNIA MODEL) GAS TANKS FOR EMISSIONS PURPOSES. THAT CRACK CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK INTO THE CARBON CANISTER WHICH IS ONLY FOR FUEL VAPOR. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE TANK, AND CARBON CANISTER UNDER WARRANTY. I AM NOT THE ONLY SV1000S OWNER LIVING IN CA THAT HAS THIS PROBLEM. SEVERAL MEMBERS FROM A FORUM I AM A MEMBER OF (HTTP://WWW.SV1000.ZYNS.COM/INDEX.PHP?) ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. I FOUND A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT FROM ANOTHER OWNER AND THAT IS WHY I AM WRITING THIS COMPLAINT UP. I BELIEVE SUZUKI WILL REPLACE THE TANKS BUT ONLY ON A CASE BY CASE BASIS. *NM
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 .