RoadVitals

2009 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.
4
Latest May 24, 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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Suzuki VL800, most frequently naming the powertrain (other) and driver assistance categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 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

  • Powertrain (other)266.7%
  • Driver assistance133.3%

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

Powertrain (other)
Filed May 24, 2016

MAKING A DOWNSHIFT FROM 3RD TO 2ND AROUND A CORNER I APPLIED THROTTLE THEN A BIG CLUNK OCCURRED AND I LOST POWER TO MY REAR DRIVE. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, ELUDING TRAFFIC TO MOVE TO THE RIGHT LANE. UPON INVESTIGATION I'VE FOUND OUT THE PROBLEM TO BE THE FINAL DRIVE PROPELLER GEAR AND THE COUPLING WERE RUSTED AND TOTALLY WORN OUT. THIS JOINT HAD NEVER BEEN LUBED DURING ORIGINAL MANUFACTURING ASSEMBLY. THIS LACK OF LUBE HAS CAUSED THE SHAFT TO RUST CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE GREASE CANNOT BE APPLIED UNLESS THE FINAL DRIVE IS TOTALLY REMOVED. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 05-09 MODEL YEARS AS EVIDENCE BY A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH. NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED YET. THE COST OF THE CHANGE IS AROUND $600 - $800 DOLLARS BUT THIS DEFFECT CAN CERTAINLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT FOR THE LOSS OF POWER WHILE OPERATING THE MOTORCYCLE ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID
10870646
Incident
May 11, 2016
Mileage
1 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 26, 2013
Crash reported

COMING AROUND A CORNER UP A HILL I APPLIED THROTTLE TO GO UP HILL. A LARGE CLUNK OCCURRED AND I LOST ALL FORWARD ABILITY. NOT HAVING POWER I BARELY MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ALMOST GETTING HIT. I SWERVED TO AVOID A CAR AND WENT DOWN. NOTHING OTHER THAN MINOR SCRAPES AS A RESULT. UPON DETERMINING THE PROBLEM TO BE THE FINAL DRIVE I REMOVED THE PART AND FOUND IT WAS NEVER LUBED DURING ASSEMBLY. THIS CAUSED THE SHAFT TO RUST CAUSING THE FAILURE. THERE IS NO WAY TO APPLY GREASE TO THE PART WITHOUT ENTERING THE NON MAINTENANCE AREA OF THE FINAL DRIVE. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE 05-09 MODEL YEARS AS EVIDENCE BY A SIMPLE INTERNET SEARCH. NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED YET. I WAS LUCKY AND MADE IT OUT OF TRAFFIC, OTHERS MAY NOT BE AS LUCKY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10537186
Incident
Aug 21, 2013
Mileage
16,240 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 8, 2011

2009 SUZUKI VL800TK9. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO REPAIR REIMBURSEMENT AND RECALL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE RETURNED THE BIKE TO THE DEALER, BECAUSE THE SPEEDOMETER WAS OFF BY 9 MPH. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPONENT, BUT IT DIDN'T CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THERE WASN'T ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD BE DONE AND IT WAS PROBABLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10406374
Incident
Jul 2, 2010
Filed Apr 10, 2011

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FROM AMERICAN SUZUKI CORPORATION. MOTOR CYCLE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, IT HAS BEEN THERE A MONTH. I HAVE CHECKED EVERY WEEK. I AM TOLD THEY HAVE GOTTEN NO RESPONSE ABOUT A REPLACEMENT PART. CAN YOU HELP RESOLVE THIS MATTER IN A TIMELY FASHION? COMPONENT THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED: RECTIFIER ASSEMBLIES INSTALLED ON THE AFFECTED MODELS MAY HAVE A CONDITION WHICH CAN CAUSE THE INTERNAL CIRCUIT BOARD TO FAIL IN SERVICE DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT.

NHTSA ID
10396272
Incident
Mar 18, 2011
Mileage
846 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

SB-09-24

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

SUZUKI MOTORCYCLE: AN ASSEMBLY AND PRE-DELIVERY SERVICE GUIDE WILL NOT BE ISSUED FOR THE VL800K9, BECAUSE THE SET UP PROCEDURE REMAINS SIMILAR TO THE VL800K6. TO SET UP VL800K9, PLEASE USE THE VL800K6 ASSEMBLY AND PRE-DELIVERY SERVICE GUIDE AND THE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OUTLINED IN THIS BULLETIN. *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 VL800 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2023000—
2010010—
2009Viewing410—
2008310—
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.