RoadVitals

2003 Suzuki SV1000S Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
27
Latest Jun 4, 2019
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
6
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 Suzuki SV1000S, 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

  • Electrical1965.5%
  • Fuel system620.7%
  • Driver assistance13.4%
  • Engine13.4%
  • Powertrain (other)13.4%
  • Suspension13.4%

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.

19
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

MOTORCYCLE WOULD NOT CHARGE BATTERY AND COMPLETELY DIED BECAUSE OF IT ONE DAY. OPENED UP MAGNETO COVER AND FOUND THE ROTOR MAGNETS HAD DISINTEGRATED. RUINED THE ROTOR AND MAGNETO AND ONLY HAD 17,000 MILES ON IT. CLEANING UP BITS OF MAGNET ALL AROUND THE CRANK AND INSIDE THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ID 11217862 · filed Jun 4, 2019

MY SUZUKI SV1000S HAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I FIRST NOTICED THIS PROBLEM WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START THE MOTORCYCLE IN MY GARAGE IN MAY OF 2011. I TURNED THE SWITCH AND NOTHING CAME ON. I CHECKED THE BATTERY AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH IT. MYSTERIOUSLY, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED WORKING SEVERAL DAYS LATER. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 3 TIMES. ON 09/26/2011, I WAS RIDING WITH MY 12-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER ON A BUSY 2-LANE ROAD. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL EVENING (5 PM, SUNNY, ABOUT 85 DEGREES). WE WERE APPROACHING A STOP SIGNAL (SPEED APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH). THE CLUTCH WAS ENGAGED AND I WAS LIGHTLY APPLYING FRONT AND REAR BRAKES. THE MOTORCYCLE LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER WHILE WE WERE STILL MOVING. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, THE POWER WAS RESTORED AS MYSTERIOUSLY AS IT LEFT. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS AS THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT POSTED ONLINE. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT RESULTING IN INJURY OR THE LOSS OF LIFE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10428379 · filed Oct 3, 2011
All 19 reports naming electrical

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUZUKI SV1000S MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE MOTOR AND OVERFLOWING INTO THE CHARCOAL CANISTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE LIQUID SEPARATOR BRACKET INSIDE THE FUEL TANK AND UNDERNEATH, THE SEAMS WERE SEPARATED. AS A RESULT, THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK WAS SENT TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED WHO CONFIRMED DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE MOTORCYCLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V013000 ( FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,071 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,245.

NHTSA ID 10405603 · filed Jun 8, 2011

MY SUZUKI SV 1000S 2003 # HAS A FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE WHICH CAN RESULT IN FIRE. I FOUND OUT ON THE SUZUKI WEBSITE THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. I CONTACTED SUZUKI AND THEY SAID THE RECALL IS ONLY FOR CALIFORNIA MODELS AND MY BIKE IS NOT ONE OF THOSE. I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK IS A CRACK IN THE AREA WHERE THE LIQUID/ VAPOR SEPARATOR BRACKET IS WELDED INSIDE THE TANK AND THE SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM WOULD BE A TANK FUEL REPLACEMENT, JUST LIKE IT SAYS ON RECALL ID# 32059 RECALL DATE JAN/18/06. MY QUESTION IS, IF THE PROBLEM ON MY BIKE IS EXACTLY THE SAME WHY MY MOTORCYCLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE SAME RECALL? THANKS ! WES MORAES. *TR

NHTSA ID 10239998 · filed Aug 27, 2008

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

IN MID RIDE I WAS APPROACHING A LOW SPEED CORNER AT THE END OF A HIGH SPEED STRAIGHT AWAY. I TRIED TO PULL MY CLUTCH HANDLE IN TO BEGIN TO BRAKE AND DOWNSHIFT AND THE CLUTCH HANDLE HAD NO RESISTANCE AT ALL. COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH SYSTEM. UNABLE TO TAKE THE DRIVE PRESSURE OFF THE REAR TIRE THE BIKE LOST TRACTION IN THE REAR AND LOWSIDED THE BIKE INTO A 6 FOOT DITCH AT AROUND 60 TO 70 MPH. I RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES THANKS TO MY GEAR BUT INJURIES NONE THE LESS. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS AND ALL OF THEM HAVE STATED THAT HYDRO CLUTCHES ARE DEATH TRAPS. AND ALMOST ALL OF THEM SAID TO GET A CABLE CLUTCH CONVERSION KIT ASAP. NO I KNOW WHY. THIS IS A RESULT OF SUZUKI MOTORS OUTSOURCING THEIR WORK TO CHEAP LABOR AND NOT CHECKING TO MAKE SURE THEIR PARTS ARE WITHIN THE TOLERANCES THAT WERE SET FOR THAT PART. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT SUZUKI NEEDS TO SUSPEND PRODUCTION ON ALL SV1000 BIKES AND ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX ALL THE PARTS THAT HAVE BEEN POORLY MADE WITH UNSAFE RESULTS. THE FLYWHEEL ROTORS LOSE THE MAGNETS ON ALMOST EVERY 2003 SV1000 AND ITS BEGINNING TO EFFECT UP TO THE 05 MODELS. I AM ON 2 DIFFERENT FORUMS FOR THIS BIKE THAT ARE INTERNATIONAL FORUMS THE FLYWHEEL MAGNETS ARE THE SECOND MOST COMMON FAILURE FROM SUZUKI JUST BEHIND THE PISS POOR JOB ON THE CLUTCH BASKET HUB BEARING. NOW THE FUEL TANKS ARE KNOWN TO RANDOMLY BURST INTO FLAMES WHEN THE FUEL LINE LEAKS UNDER THE TANK. THIS BIKE SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM MARKET UNTIL SUZUKI CAN GET IT RIGHT. THESE BIKES ARE DEATH TRAPS WAITING TO VIBRATE LOOSE ON YOU IN MID RIDE. PERSONALLY I WOULD LIKE IT IF SUZUKI GAVE ME A NEW BIKE LIKE A GSX OR GSXR SINCE MY BIKE IS TOTALED BECAUSE THEIR STOCK EQUIPMENT FAILED TO WORK AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO. AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS NOT GOING TO COVER THE DAMAGE TO MY BIKE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10468213 · filed Jul 30, 2012

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

MOTORCYCLE WOULD NOT CHARGE BATTERY AND COMPLETELY DIED BECAUSE OF IT ONE DAY. OPENED UP MAGNETO COVER AND FOUND THE ROTOR MAGNETS HAD DISINTEGRATED. RUINED THE ROTOR AND MAGNETO AND ONLY HAD 17,000 MILES ON IT. CLEANING UP BITS OF MAGNET ALL AROUND THE CRANK AND INSIDE THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ID 11217862 · filed Jun 4, 2019

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

IN MID RIDE I WAS APPROACHING A LOW SPEED CORNER AT THE END OF A HIGH SPEED STRAIGHT AWAY. I TRIED TO PULL MY CLUTCH HANDLE IN TO BEGIN TO BRAKE AND DOWNSHIFT AND THE CLUTCH HANDLE HAD NO RESISTANCE AT ALL. COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH SYSTEM. UNABLE TO TAKE THE DRIVE PRESSURE OFF THE REAR TIRE THE BIKE LOST TRACTION IN THE REAR AND LOWSIDED THE BIKE INTO A 6 FOOT DITCH AT AROUND 60 TO 70 MPH. I RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES THANKS TO MY GEAR BUT INJURIES NONE THE LESS. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS AND ALL OF THEM HAVE STATED THAT HYDRO CLUTCHES ARE DEATH TRAPS. AND ALMOST ALL OF THEM SAID TO GET A CABLE CLUTCH CONVERSION KIT ASAP. NO I KNOW WHY. THIS IS A RESULT OF SUZUKI MOTORS OUTSOURCING THEIR WORK TO CHEAP LABOR AND NOT CHECKING TO MAKE SURE THEIR PARTS ARE WITHIN THE TOLERANCES THAT WERE SET FOR THAT PART. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT SUZUKI NEEDS TO SUSPEND PRODUCTION ON ALL SV1000 BIKES AND ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX ALL THE PARTS THAT HAVE BEEN POORLY MADE WITH UNSAFE RESULTS. THE FLYWHEEL ROTORS LOSE THE MAGNETS ON ALMOST EVERY 2003 SV1000 AND ITS BEGINNING TO EFFECT UP TO THE 05 MODELS. I AM ON 2 DIFFERENT FORUMS FOR THIS BIKE THAT ARE INTERNATIONAL FORUMS THE FLYWHEEL MAGNETS ARE THE SECOND MOST COMMON FAILURE FROM SUZUKI JUST BEHIND THE PISS POOR JOB ON THE CLUTCH BASKET HUB BEARING. NOW THE FUEL TANKS ARE KNOWN TO RANDOMLY BURST INTO FLAMES WHEN THE FUEL LINE LEAKS UNDER THE TANK. THIS BIKE SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM MARKET UNTIL SUZUKI CAN GET IT RIGHT. THESE BIKES ARE DEATH TRAPS WAITING TO VIBRATE LOOSE ON YOU IN MID RIDE. PERSONALLY I WOULD LIKE IT IF SUZUKI GAVE ME A NEW BIKE LIKE A GSX OR GSXR SINCE MY BIKE IS TOTALED BECAUSE THEIR STOCK EQUIPMENT FAILED TO WORK AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO. AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS NOT GOING TO COVER THE DAMAGE TO MY BIKE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10468213 · filed Jul 30, 2012

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REAR WHEEL WOBBLED. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED, WHICH WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE SPEED WAS LOWERED TO 10 MPH, AND THE SAME THING OCCURRED 2 TENTHS OF A MILE LATER. THE REAR WHEEL AND AXLE WERE THEN TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT REAR BEARING HAD BEEN DESTROYED DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. THE REMAINING BEARINGS WERE ALSO INSPECTED, AND WERE FOUND TO HAVE THE SAME LACK OF LUBRICATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE OWNERS MANUAL ABOUT HOW OR WHEN TO LUBRICATE THE BEARINGS.*AK

NHTSA ID 10174665 · filed Nov 29, 2006

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

Data on this page last refreshed .