Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
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Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2007 Suzuki VZR1800 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 27 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 27, in the owner's own words
I got on the highway going to [XXX] on [XXX]. When I merged into traffic I almost got hit from behind because the Suzuki M109R slipped out of second gear. Fortunately the driver of the dump truck behind me noticed that I was not speeding up and he slammed on the brakes saving my life. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
During acceleration after shifting into 2nd gear the transmission slips out and then back in sometimes causing the rear wheel to spin.
WHEN YOU SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR AND ACCELERATE HARD IT FEELS LIKE IT SKIPS AND SHUTTER HARD INTERMITTENTLY. IT DOESNT DO IT EVERYTIME. SCARY FEELING. I USUALLY SHIFT INTO 1ST INTO 3RD WITHOUT ACCELERATING IN SECOND IF POSSIBLE. I CANT BELIEVE SUZUKI BEING A PROMINENT BIKE COMPANY HAS NOT CORRECTED THIS PROBLEM. I WISH I HAD READ UP MORE ON THE THOUSANDS OF THREADS ABOUT THIS SAME TYPE PROBLEM WITH THIS BIKE BEFORE I PURCHASE
MAJOR LOSS OF POWER TO THE GROUND. MAINLY IN SECOND GEAR IF I OPEN THE THROTTLE TO ANYTHING ABOVE SAY 20% TWIST OF THE WRIST THE RPMS GO UP BUT BIKE WONT GAIN SPEED WHILE ALREADY DRIVING. CLUTCH DOES NOT SHOW SIGNS OF BURNING UP AND ALL SEEMS NORMAL THERE. IVE ADJUSTED IT PER SUZUKI'S MANUAL AND FOLLOWED THEIR UPDATED METHOD VIA SERVICE BULLETIN THE NEXT TIME I MADE ADJUSTMENT. IN ALL GEARS I GET THIS SLIPPING SENSATION TOO WHERE THE MOTORCYCLE FEEL LIKE ITS DRAGGING OR NOT PICKING UP SPEED ALONG WITH THE RPMS WHENEVER I TRY TO USE SOME OF THE BIKES STRONG POWER WHILE ALREADY DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS POTENTIALLY CAN PUT ME INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION WHERE I CANNOT PICKUP SPEED TO AVOID ANOTHER VEHICLE NEED BE AND PLUS IT JUST PLAIN OLD TAKES THE CONFIDENCE AND FUN OUT OF RIDING THIS MACHINE I SPENT A LOT OF HARD EARNED MONEY ON. SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR IS ROUGH AND DIFFICULT AT TIMES. I ALWAYS SHIFT IN LOW RPM (4K RPM) AND EASE ON THROTTLE FOR ALL GEARS TO NOT ABUSE IT. THE GEAR INDICATOR I HAD INSTALLED NO LONGER SENSES WHAT GEAR I AM IN MORE TIMES THAN NOT. I SUSPECT THE SHIFT FORK FOR SECOND GEAR ALONG WITH THE GEAR ITSELF TO BE BADLY ENGINEERED AFTER GATHER INFO ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON THE M109ERS.COM FORUM. THINKING THE SECONDARY DRIVE MIGHT BE WORN OUT WHEN I DON'T ABUSE THIS BIKE. THIS BIKE HAS ALSO HAD A TERRIBLE "STUTTER" IN FIRST GEAR WHEN DRIVING FROM A STAND STILL THAT I NOTICED GOES AWAY WHEN YOU PARK THE BIKE WITH THE HANDLE BARS TURNED TO THE RIGHT TO STAND UP THE BIKE MORE UPRIGHT (MORE OIL GETS TO THE CLUTCH STACK) 24000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, THIS IS THE THIRD BIKE I HAVE EVER PURCHASED OUT OF THE 5 IN MY LIFETIME. WILL BE FILING A COMPLAINT AGAIN ONCE I HAVE MORE INFO AND DOCUMENTATION.
TL* THE CONTACT'S WIFE OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI VZR1800K7 MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE GEAR INTERMITTENTLY SHIFTED FROM FIRST INTO SECOND GEAR, AND THEN DOWNSHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT WARNING. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO SYSCO HOUSTON (10710 GREENS CROSSING BLVD, HOUSTON, TX 77038, (713) 672-8080) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GEAR WAS STUCK AND NEEDED TO BE LOOSENED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 30,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI VZR1800. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE SECOND GEAR SLIPPED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALL OHIO MOTORSPORTS (23361 AURORA RD, CLEVELAND, OH 44146, (440) 786- 2230) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SECOND GEAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED BY THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 22,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI VZR1800K7 (NA). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HESITATED WHILE SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR AND WHEN ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000.
JUST LIKE OTHER DRIVERS, 2ND GEAR WOULD DROP TO NEUTRAL AND WHEN SUZUKI REPAIR THE WARRANTED BIKE, THEY TOOK ALMOST 6 MONTHS TO FIX IT AND IT HAPPEN 3 MORE TIME WITHIN THE NEXT 4 YEARS AND LESS THAN 20,00 MILES...ALONG WITH THE CLUTCH GOING OUT 3 TIMES AND A BROKEN SWINGARM THE BIKE HAS BEEN GROUNDED LONGER THAN IT'S BEEN ON THE ROAD... *TR
WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN I WENT TO FIRST GEAR THEN SECOND. WHILE TRYING TO GO TO THIRD IT SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR AND A CAR HIT ME FROM BEHIND. *TR
WAS ON MY 2007 SUZUKI M109R AND SITTING AT A LIGHT I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AFTER LIGHT TURNED GREEN. AS I MADE THE TURN I WENT TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR AND IT WENT INTO SECOND GEAR THEN SLIPPED BACK INTO NEUTRAL CAUSING ME TO LOSE MY CONCENTRATION AND ALMOST HITTING CAR NEXT TO ME. I AM A MEMBER OF THE M109RIDER MESSAGE BOARD AND HAVE FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE HTTP://WWW.M109RIDERS.COM/FORUMS/SEARCH.PHP?SEARCHID=865572 THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO IT HAPPENS WHEN A RIDER IS STARTING TO ACCELERATE (POSSIBLY LIKE ME IN A TURN OR MERGING INTO TRAFFIC) AND IS LIKELY TO EVENTUALLY CAUSE EITHER A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES OR POSSIBLY DEATH. *JS
2007 SUZUKI M109R TRANSMISSION FAILURE. SECOND GEAR POPS OUT WHEN THE THROTTLE IS ABOUT 4000+ RPM AND SLAMS BACK INTO GEAR. THE RESULT IS A BENT SHIFT FORK AND ROUNDED OFF GEAR ENGAGEMENT TANGS (DOGS). REMOVED THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION ON MY OWN, AND REPLACED SUSPECTED PROBLEM PARTS IN THE TRANSMISSION SUCH AS: SHIFT FORKS (TO UPDATED PART NUMBERS), SHIFT FORK SHAFTS (TO SOLID 14MM 4140 STEEL RODS), UNERCUT OR BACKCUT THE GEARS BY 5 DEGREES (TO ALLOW POSITIVE ENGAGEMENT OF THE DOGS WITHOUT SLIPPING APART). THE BACKCUTTING ALONE COULD BE THE SOLE FIX FOR SUZUKI, IF THEY PRODUCED THESE PARTS LIKE THIS (5 DEGREE CUT) FROM THE FACTORY, AND SOLID SHIFT SHAFTS PREVENT WARPAGE TO OCCUR AND THE SHIFT FORKS TO POSITIVELY ENGAGE THE DOGS. ALTHOUGH THE BIKE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND RESEARCH SHOWS THAT SUZUKI IS VERY RELUCTANT TO EVEN ADMIT THIS IS A PROBLEM, IT IS DANGEROUS AND COSTLY FOR THE OWNERS.. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI VZR 1800. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD DROP OUT OF GEAR AND HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE MOTOR WAS TOO POWERFUL FOR THE GEAR BOX AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. AS A RESULT, THE GEAR BOX NEEDED TO BE UPGRADED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 6,200. UPDATED 09/01/2011
I WAS RIDING ALONG SIDE A SEMI-TRUCK WHEN THE DRIVER OF THE SEMI-TRUCK DECIDED TO CHANGE LANES. MY ASSUMPTION IS THAT THE DRIVER DID NOT SEE ME AND PROCEEDED TO CHANGE LANES. I TRIED TO SPEED UP AND THAT'S WHEN MY MOTORCYCLE LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. SO IN ORDER FOR ME TO AVOID BEING RUN OVER BY THE TRUCK; I HAD TO BRING MY MOTORCYCLE TO AND ABRUPT STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. WHAT I BELIEVE HAPPENED WAS THAT MY MOTORCYCLE SLIPPED OUT OF 2ND GEAR INTO NEUTRAL!!!
2007 SUZUKI M109R (VZR1800) LE AFTER SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR, AND ACCELERATING, THE MOTORCYCLE SEEMS TO BE MISSING THE GEAR OR SLIPPING THE GEAR. THIS CAUSES THE MOTORCYCLE TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY AND CAUSE THE RIDER TO ALMOST LOSE CONTROL. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, THIS SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THESE BIKES FOR HAVING FAULTY SHIFT FORKS. SUZUKI NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THIS ISSUE AS THIS CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. *TR
TRANSMISSION OFTEN FAILS TO SHIFT PROPERLY IN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS. THERE IS ALSO EXCESSIVE VIBRATION THROUGH ENTIRE MOTORCYCLE WHEN POWER IS APPLIED AT CERTAIN RPM'S. *TR
CLUTCH SHUDDERS VIOLENTLY WHEN ENGAGING FIRST GEAR CAUSING LOSS OF FORWARD MOTION AND ENDANGERING RIDER SAFETY. THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. *TR
DEFECTIVE CLUTCH THAT CAUSES UNSAFE VEHICLE RESPONSE WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IN MOTION FROM A STOPPED POSITION. CLUTCH VIBRATES VIOLENTLY AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO JERK OR LURCH FORWARD OR KILLS THE ENGINE. *TR
IF YOU BRING RPMS TO 3000 RPM THE BIKE JUMPS VIOLENTLY FEELS LIKE IT IS GOING EXPLODE IT DOES ANY TIME YOU ARE GOING TO GET IN TO THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC IN HURRY I AM BRINGING IT TO THE SHOP TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS. *TR
THE CLUTCH VIBRATES DANGEROUSLY IN THE 3000RPM RANGE. IT MAKES THE ENTIRE REAR END OF THE MOTORCYCLE FEEL UNSTABLE WHILE THIS IS HAPPENING. *TR
CLUTCH SHUDDER. *TR
CLUTCH PROBLEM. STARTING OUT IF THE REVS. ARE AROUND 3000RMP THE BIKE WILL SHAKE AND BUCK AND THE REAR WHEEL WILL HOPE UNTIL THE CLUTCH IS PULLED BACK IN. IT HASN'T CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL YET, BUT IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. *TR
CLUTCH VIOLENTLY SHUTTERS AND MAKE THE MOTORCYCLE STALL. WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT THE BIKE WANTS TO TAKE OFF BY ITSELF. THIS HAPPEN ALMOST EVERYTIME. SUZUKI CLAIMS IT NEVER HAPPENS,BUT IS NOW A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG OWNERS. *TR
I HAVE A 2007 SUZUKI M109R MOTORCYCLE. THE CLUTCH CHATTERS WHEN ENGAGING INTO GEAR & PULLING OFF FROM A STOP. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IN TRAFFIC, THE BIKE WILL BUCK WILDLY AS YOU TRY TO PULL OFF. THIS ISSUE WAS BROUGHT UP TO MY DEALER BUT HE SAYS THE BIKE IS SUPPOSED TO DO THIS BECAUSE OF THE HIGH TORQUE MOTOR. I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS. I BELIEVE THE CLUTCH IS DESIGNED POORLY. I ALSO HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY REAR BRAKE ROTOR AS IT CAME VERY LOOSE & WOULD MAKE A SCREECHING SOUND AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE DEALER ALSO SAID THIS IS NORMAL & THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. AFTER ARGUING & BEING PERSISTED. THEY REPLACED THE ROTOR UNDER WARRANTY BUT DID NOT GIVE ME ANY PAPERWORK ON THE WORK THAT WAS DONE. *TR
BRAND NEW MOTORCYCLE WITH 500 MILES ON IT. CLUTCH OR TRANNY IS NOT RIGHT. DEALER SAYS IT'S FINE, BUT IT SHIFTS LIKE A MACK TRUCK. REAR BRAKE ROTOR IS SO LOOSE, IT ALMOST WIGGLES A QUARTER OF AN INCH EITHER WAY. STILL BATTLING SUZUKI, OR AT LEAST MY DEALER OVER THE SHIFTING AND REAR BRAKE PROBLEM. *TR
CLUTCH VIBRATES TREMENDOUSLY AND FEELS UNSAFE. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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