RoadVitals

2003 Suzuki VL1500

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
1
Latest May 13, 2005
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Jan 30, 2006
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2003 Suzuki VL1500, most frequently naming the suspension category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Suspension1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
06V025000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Jan 30, 2006
37,911 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, STRESS AROUND THE RIGHT FRONT FUEL TANK MOUNTING POINT CAN CAUSE HAIRLINE FATIGUE CRACKS TO FORM. THIS CAN RESULT IN A FUEL LEAK.
The risk: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FUEL LEAK CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK AND INSTALL IMPROVED CUSHIONS THAT MOUNT AND SUPPORT THE FUEL TANK. ANY FUEL TANKS THAT ARE FOUND TO HAVE A CRACK WILL BE REPLACED. IF A TANK IS FOUND TO HAVE A CRACK AND A REPLACEMENT TANK IS NOT AVAILABLE, FUEL TANK SEALANT WILL BE APPLIED TO THE TANK AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. WHEN THE REPLACEMENT TANK BECOMES AVAILABLE, THE OWNER WILL BE CONTACTED AND A REPLACEMENT TANK WILL BE INSTALLED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-714-572-1490.
AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP.Manufacturer number 2087View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE05031ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

FUEL LEAK

Opened Jun 15, 2005
Closed Feb 1, 2006

ODI OPENED THIS PE AFTER RECEIVING FUEL TANK LEAK ALLEGATIONS FROM EIGHT OWNERS.SUBSEQUENTLY, WE MET WITH BOTH COMPLAINT MOTORCYCLE OWNERS AND OWNERS OF MOTORCYCLES WHICH HAD NOT LEAKED FUEL AND INSPECTED THEIR MOTORCYCLES. WE ALSO DISCUSSED THE MATTER WITH SUZUKI AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP PERSONNEL, REQUESTED AND REVIEWED INFORMATION FROM SUZUKI, AND DISCUSSED THIS MATTER WITH COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES ON 11-3-05. SUZUKI HAS DECIDED TO RECALL THE SUBJECT MOTORCYCLES TO CORRECT THE FUEL LEAK ISSUE.WITH SUZUKI'S ACTION, THIS MATTER IS CONCLUDED AND THE INVESTIGATION CLOSED.A COPY OF SUZUKI'S RECALL IS ATTACHED.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLYLed to recall 06V025000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Suspension
Filed May 13, 2005

12003 SUZUKI 1500 : CONSUMER IS EXPERIENCING A BAD SHAKING VIBRATION IN THE HANDLE BARS WHEN DECELERATING FROM 40 TO 25 MPH.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR SLOWING DOWN AND USING THE TURN SIGNAL COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. THE CONSUMER COULD NOT TAKE HIS HANDS OFF OF THE HANDLE BARS TO SIGNAL A TURN OR STOP. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FIXED. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10121547
Incident
May 1, 2005

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSB-40A

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

SUZUKI MOTORCYCLE: REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FUEL TANK INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT PROCEDURES. THE DEMAND FOR CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL TANKS HAS EXCEEDED OUR PRODUCTION CAPACITY. *PE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Suzuki VL1500 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2008500—
2007900—
2006011—
2005131141.4
2004611—
2003Viewing111—
2002111—
2001311—
2000111—
1999111—
1998211—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.