RoadVitals

2008 Suzuki VLR1800

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.
2
Latest Jul 8, 2013
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.
2
Latest Jan 19, 2016
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 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Suzuki VLR1800, most frequently naming the electrical and fuel system categories. 2 safety recalls have 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

  • Electrical150.0%
  • Fuel system150.0%

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

2 campaigns 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
16V018000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Jan 19, 2016
68,344 units potentially affected
The defect: Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 AN400, AN400A, DL1000, GSX1300R, 2008-2009 GSF1250S and GSF1250SA, 2008 GSX1300BK and GSX1300BKA, 2008-2010 GSX650F, GSX-R600, GSX-R750, VLR1800, VLR1800T, and 2009-2010 SFV650 and VZ1500 motorcycles. Due to a problem with the circuit board for the regulator/rectifier power module, the motorcycle may not sufficiently charge the battery and the motorcycle may stall.
The risk: If the engine stalls while riding, there would be an increased risk of a crash.
The remedy: Suzuki will notify owners, and dealers will replace the regulator/rectifier, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 4, 2016. Owners may contact Suzuki customer service at 1-800-444-5077. Suzuki's number for this recall is 2A56 to 2A64.
Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.Manufacturer number 2A56 to 2A64View 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 Jul 8, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI VLR1800 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 11V108000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE PART HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPLACED UNDER THE RECALL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PART THAT WAS BEING USED AS THE REPLACEMENT UNDER THE RECALL EXHIBITED THE EXACT SAME PART NUMBER AS THE PART THAT WAS FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AND BEING RECALLED (PART NUMBER: 32800-41G10). THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

NHTSA ID
10523669
Incident
Jul 4, 2013
Mileage
6,000 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 4, 2010

[XXX] 6/04/2010 DEAR: NHTSA MY BROTHER, NEPHEW AND MYSELF ALL BOUGHT NEW 2008 SUZUKI BOULEVARD C109RT MOTORCYCLES RECENTLY. WE HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH GAS COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE GAS CAP. WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED TO ME I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN I GOT SOME LIQUID IN MY FACE AND EYES. THIS TEMPORALLY BLINDED ME FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND. WENT I WAS LOOKING AROUND TO SEE WHAT IT WAS I SAW GAS COMING FROM UNDER THE GAS CAP. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT COULD CAUSE A WRECK. WE CONTACTED THE SUZUKI DEALER WE GOT THE MOTORCYCLES FROM AND THEY CALLED SUZUKI THEN CALLED ME BACK. THEY SAID SUZUKI SAID JUST DON'T PUT SO MUCH GAS IN THE TANK. THAT IS NOT A VERY GOOD ANSWER FOR SUCH A SAFETY HAZARD. WILL THE GAS LEAK OUT FROM UNDER THE GAS CAP IF THE BIKE IS DROPPED? IF SO WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF YOU ARE PINNED UNDER THE BIKE OR YOU ARE UNCONSCIOUS? GAS COULD SPILL ALL OVER YOU AND CATCH ON FIRE AND BURN YOU TO DEATH OR GIVE YOU SERIOUS BURNS ON YOUR BODY. I DON'T KNOW IF ANYONE ELSE HAS REPORTED THIS ISSUE OR NOT BUT CAN YOU CHECK INTO IT TO SEE IF THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE OR TELL ME WHO TO CONTACT IF NOT NHTSA. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10334678
Incident
May 31, 2010
Mileage
2,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

65

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

SUZUKI MOTORCYCLE: SERVICE MANUAL CORRECTION-WIRE HARNESS CLAMPING. *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 VLR1800 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2010010—
2009120—
2008Viewing220—

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.