RoadVitals

2005 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.
13
Latest Oct 20, 2011
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
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 13 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Suzuki VL1500, most frequently naming the electrical, fuel system and body & structure categories. 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

  • Electrical426.7%
  • Fuel system426.7%
  • Body & structure213.3%
  • Driver assistance16.7%
  • Brakes16.7%
  • Other / unspecified16.7%
  • Steering16.7%
  • Suspension16.7%

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

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

View all 13
Electrical
Filed Oct 20, 2011

CHARGING SYSTEM STATOR RECTIFIER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10430902
Incident
Oct 6, 2011
Mileage
17,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 9, 2011

I WAS RIDING ALONG AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, MY MOTORCYCLE LOST POWER AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT TURN OVER AND THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP WOULD BARELY RUN. SUBSEQUENT TROUBLESHOOTING REVEALED THAT THE GENERATOR STATOR HAD SHORTED AND WAS NO LONGER FUNCTIONING CAUSING THE BATTERY TO BECOME DEPLETED. REPLACEMENT OF THE STATOR, REGULATOR/RECTIFIER AND THE BATTERY WAS REQUIRED. I WOULD EXPECT THESE COMPONENTS TO LAST LONGER THAN 18,000 MILES BUT AFTER DOING MY RESEARCH ON THIS PROBLEM FOR THIS MOTORCYCLE, I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10424530
Incident
Jun 26, 2011
Mileage
18,058 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Feb 28, 2010

THE MOTORCYCLE (SUZUKI C 90 BOULEVARD) WOBBLES UNCONTROLLABLY ON DECELERATION, THAT CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL, THIS STARTED WHEN IT HAD ONLY 1500 MILES ON IT. DEALER WOULD DO NOTHING. IT HAS ALSO HAD ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS THE RECTIFIER SHORTS OUT. SUZUKI REPLACED THE RECTIFIER AND STATOR. THESE PROBLEMS ARE INHERENT IN 2005 AND 2006 SUZUKI C90 BOULEVARD. IN 2007 SUZUKI REVAMPED THE STATOR AND RECTIFIER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10314924
Incident
Jun 23, 2005
Mileage
1,500 mi
ElectricalFuel system
Filed May 15, 2008

2005 SUZUKI VL 1500 WITH SAFETY RECALL FOR THE FUEL PAD. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ORDER THE PART AND LET HIM REPAIR THE PROBLEM HIMSELF. THEY ARE SAYING HE HAS TO HAVE A DEALER DO IT. HE STATES HE DOESN'T TRUST THE DEALERS. *KB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE BATTERY DIED.

NHTSA ID
10228409
Incident
May 1, 2008
Body & structure
Filed Nov 2, 2007
1 injury reported

2005 VL1500 BOULEVARD HAS FALLEN FROM THE KICK STAND. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE WAS INFORMED BY A MECHANIC THAT THE KICK STAND DOES NOT GO FORWARD ENOUGH TO HOLD THE BIKE ON AN INCLINE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE MOTORCYCLE HAS FALLEN THREE TIMES THIS YEAR, IN WHICH HE SUFFERED A MINOR MUSCLE PULL. *JB

NHTSA ID
10208327
Incident
May 1, 2007
Fuel system
Filed Feb 6, 2006

I RECEIVED A RECALL ON MY 2005 SUZUKI C90 RELATED TO THE GAS TANK. THE RECALL STATES NOT TO OPERATE THE MOTORCYCLE. THE DEALER REFUSES TO PICK THE BIKE UP AND TELLS ME TO RIDE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. IF IT IS TOO DANGEROUS TO RIDE, WHY AREN'T THE DEALERS RESPONSIBLE FOR TOWING THE BIKE? *JB

NHTSA ID
10149579
Incident
Feb 6, 2006
Brakes
Filed Oct 4, 2005

FRONT BRAKE FAILS TO STOP VEHICLE. FRONT BRAKE LEVER TRAVEL IS EXCESSIVE AND OFTEN TOUCHES THE THROTTLE GRIP WITHOUT PROVIDING ANY SIGNIFICANT DECELERATION. DEALER RECENTLY BLED BRAKES AT THE 4000 MILE SERVICE. ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT ON OCT 1, 2005 WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE WAS UNABLE TO STOP IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. HAD TO CHANGE LANES TO AVIOD A REAR END COLLISION. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WITH OTHER VS1400 SUZUKI INTRUDERS. *NM

NHTSA ID
10138545
Incident
Oct 1, 2005
Mileage
4,800 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 3, 2005

2005 SUZUKI BOULEVARD C90 MOTORCYCLE: GAS TANK LEAK, SOME SPOT AS PREVIOUS YEARS. TOP RIGHT CORNER. BAD WELD VERIFIED BY DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGER. DEALER ORDERED NEW GAS TANK. DOWN TIME FOR CUSTOMER (ME) 1 WEEK.*JB

NHTSA ID
10135234
Incident
Aug 30, 2005
Mileage
7,456 mi

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—
2005Viewing131141.4
2004611—
2003111—
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.