RoadVitals

2008 Suzuki VL800

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.
3
Latest May 11, 2016
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 Feb 23, 2011
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.
0
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 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Suzuki VL800, most frequently naming the electrical and fuel system categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year.

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

  • Electrical266.7%
  • Fuel system133.3%

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

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
11V108000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

Feb 23, 2011
73,426 units potentially affected
The defect: SUZUKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 2007 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2009, EQUIPPED WITH REGULATOR/RECTIFIER ASSEMBLIES, SUZUKI PART NUMBERS 32800-41F11, 32800-15H10, 32800-05H11, 32800-41G10, 32800-15H00, 32800-18H00, 32800-05G10, 32800-10G10, 32800-05H20, OR 32800-06G01. SOME REGULATOR/RECTIFIER ASSEMBLIES WERE PRODUCED WITH INSUFFICIENT ADHESION BETWEEN THE POWER MODULE (CIRCUIT BOARD) AND THE RECTIFIER CASE THAT CONTAINS A HEAT SINK TO DISSIPATE HEAT. DUE TO INSUFFICIENT ADHESION, HEAT GENERATED ON THE POWER MODULE CIRCUIT BOARD CAN CAUSE THE CIRCUIT BOARD TO DEFORM, AND LIFT OF THE CASE.
The risk: THIS CONDITION CAUSES EXCESSIVE HEAT ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND UNCONTROLLED ELECTRIC CURRENT OUTPUT, WHICH CAN RESULT IN INSUFFICIENT CHARGING CURRENT BEING PROVIDED TO THE MOTORCYCLE BATTERY. THIS CAN CAUSE DISCHARGE OF THE BATTERY AND CAN LEAD TO ENGINE STALLING AND/OR A NO-START CONDITION. ENGINE STALLING WHILE RIDING CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: SUZUKI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND SUZUKI DISTRIBUTORS WILL REPLACE THE REGULATOR/RECTIFIER WITH AN IMPROVED PART FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 2, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-714-572-1490.
AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Electrical
Filed May 11, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI VL800TK8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS INDICATED IN A RECALL FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURES LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000. ..UPDATED 06/08/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY WOULD DIE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED.

NHTSA ID
10864377
Incident
May 7, 2015
Mileage
11,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 20, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI BOULEVARD M109R VL800 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS LOW ON FUEL, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY. THE FUEL TANK WAS NOT EMPTY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD OFTEN FAIL TO RESTART UNLESS THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL TO CAPACITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

NHTSA ID
10407575
Incident
Aug 1, 2009
Mileage
3,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 2, 2011

SUZUKI SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN (RECTIFIER ASSEMBLIES) I TOOK MY MOTORCYCLE IN TO THE DEALER FOR THIS SAFETY RECALL ASSUMING THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF IT QUICKLY. THE BIKE HAS NOW BEEN IN THEIR SHOP GOING ON THREE WEEKS WAITING FOR THE RECALL PART TO BE REPLACED. SUZUKI IS BEING VERY SLOW TO PROVIDE THEIR DEALERS WITH THIS PART. THEY(THE DEALER) HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY WILL GET THE PARTS. THIS IN TURN MEANS THAT I DO NOT HAVE USE OF MY BIKE. SUZUKI NEEDS TO MAKE THESE RECALL PARTS AVAILABLE TO THEIR DEALS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10394049
Incident
Mar 2, 2011

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Suzuki VL800 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2023000—
2010010—
2009410—
2008Viewing310—
2007200—
2006710—
2005910—
2004300—
2003300—

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.