2007 Suzuki VL1500 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 2007 Suzuki VL1500, 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
- Electrical650.0%
- Steering216.7%
- Brakes18.3%
- Engine18.3%
- Fuel system18.3%
- Suspension18.3%
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
Motorcycle has brand new battery. Sudden loss of power, engine sputtering, gauges moving sporadically like they were loosing power. Engine backfiring. vehicle would die. be able to be restarted. Known issue with this vehicle. part reported is to be a faulty stator. manufacturer recalled earlier and later year vehicles that use this same part, but did not recall this specific model for recall warranty service. Known faulty part not being covered by manufacturer warranty. Due to this issue the bike lost all power/regained full power intermittently causing bike to become uncontrollable. Thankfully no one was injured.
DRIVING SOUTH ON US45, NORTH OF OSHKOSH, WI. MOTORCYCLE UNEXPECTEDLY AND WITHOUT WARNING LOST ALL ENGINE POWER. COASTED TO SIDE OF ROAD WHILE AVOIDING HIGHWAY TRAFFIC. WAITED WITH VEHICLE AT ROADSIDE FOR 1.5 HOURS UNTIL A TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. MY PERSONAL SAFETY WAS IN JEOPARDY AS I MANEUVERED THROUGH HIGHWAY TRAFFIC TO THE ROADSIDE; I WAS ALSO EXPOSED TO DANGEROUS HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AS I AWAITED A TOW TRUCK FOR MY DISABLED MOTORCYCLE. AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER IDENTIFIED THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT AS A FAILED STATOR. SUBSEQUENT ONLINE RESEARCH SUGGESTS THAT STATOR FAILURE IS A CHRONIC AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL OF VEHICLE. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT WHEEL WOBBLES VIOLENTLY ABOVE 25 MPH. ONLY HAVE ABOUT 8,000 MILES. BIKE IS LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT IT IS THE FAULTY STEERING HEAD BEARINGS. *TR
RE: INFERIOR STEERING HEAD BEARING ISSUE. FOR: MOTORCYCLE SUZUKI BOULEVARD C90T (VL1500T) WTF, AT 35 MPH HANDLE BAR CONSISTENTLY SHAKES VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. FAILURE OF OEM BALL BEARINGS ARE JUNK AND CAUSES THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION. NEEDS NEW TIMKEN TAPERED ROLLER BEARINGS TO CURE THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION. THIS IS MAJOR COST TO ME TO REPAIR AND REMOVE FRONT END FOR INFERIOR CHEAP BEARINGS. THE OEM BEARINGS SUCK, AND TO REPLACE THE BEARINGS WITH SAME JUNK IS RIDICULOUS. WARRANTY IS VOIDED IF ANY OTHER BEARING IS USED, THIS IS BS. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR ROTOR ON SUZUKI C90 07 MODEL, WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER TWICE IN THE FIRST YEAR.WITH UNDER 16000 MILES AT THE TIME IT WORKED IT'S WAY LOOSE AGAIN AND THE DEALER REFUSED TO PASS IT FOR INSPECTION AND SUZUKI REFUSED TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT. SINCE THAT TIME HAVE PUT A LOT MORE MILES ON THE BIKE AND CANNOT TAKE IT TO THE DEALER FOR AN INSPECTION. NOW AFTER ABOUT 65,000 MILES ON THE BIKE, THE RIVETS FINALLY GAVE OUT ON A TRIP IN THE MOUNTAINS SOUTH OF PAGOSA SPRINGS, CO. THEN BEFORE I COULD GET A REPLACEMENT HAD A MINOR WRECK MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN WHEN SOMEONE RAN OUT IN FRONT OF ME. THERE ARE A LOT OF THESE REAR ROTORS RIVETS COMING LOOSE AND FAILING. WHY IS THERE NO RECALL. *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
Motorcycle has brand new battery. Sudden loss of power, engine sputtering, gauges moving sporadically like they were loosing power. Engine backfiring. vehicle would die. be able to be restarted. Known issue with this vehicle. part reported is to be a faulty stator. manufacturer recalled earlier and later year vehicles that use this same part, but did not recall this specific model for recall warranty service. Known faulty part not being covered by manufacturer warranty. Due to this issue the bike lost all power/regained full power intermittently causing bike to become uncontrollable. Thankfully no one was injured.
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
Motorcycle has brand new battery. Sudden loss of power, engine sputtering, gauges moving sporadically like they were loosing power. Engine backfiring. vehicle would die. be able to be restarted. Known issue with this vehicle. part reported is to be a faulty stator. manufacturer recalled earlier and later year vehicles that use this same part, but did not recall this specific model for recall warranty service. Known faulty part not being covered by manufacturer warranty. Due to this issue the bike lost all power/regained full power intermittently causing bike to become uncontrollable. Thankfully no one was injured.
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
FRONT WHEEL WOBBLES VIOLENTLY ABOVE 25 MPH. ONLY HAVE ABOUT 8,000 MILES. BIKE IS LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD. RESEARCH INDICATES THAT IT IS THE FAULTY STEERING HEAD BEARINGS. *TR
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 .