2014 Victory Vision

This Preliminary Evaluation (PE14006) was opened after NHTSA became aware of alleged steering lockup involving Victory Vision motorcycles built by Polaris Industries, Inc. (Polaris).This issue has been the subject of numerous online forum posts by the filer of VOQ 10534733.Both the VOQs and forum posts (from all sources) formed the foundation of our investigation. The subject motorcycles are equipped with a two-piece, plastic, front fender.The back half (the all-black portion in the photo below) is secured to the fork with a single fastener on each side.It is secured to the front half of the fender with two plastic pushpins.The back half of the subject 2-piece fender is alleged to cause steering lockup when it partially separates and becomes wedged in the lower faring.We have expanded the PE's original scope to include the MY2014 and 2015 Visions because (1) these bikes came on-line after we opened this investigation and (2) the subject fender remains unchanged.Since its introduction in May, 2007, Polaris has produced 7,337 Visions (and trim derivatives).In the 8 years since, we are aware of 35 incidents of partial fender separation wherein the fender wedged in the lower fairing opening.None of the incidents involved a crash.During testing, with the fender both wedged in the lower fairing and with it pinned in the seam joining the right and left lower fairing halves, we noted a ?notchy? steering feel but no steering lock-up.At no time was steering control lost in either circumstance (wedged and/or pinned).When the front forks were rotated at angles greater than 10 degrees, and vehicle speed was, by necessity, below 10mph we noted an increase in steering effort that was easily manageable.This is consistent with the results of Polaris? testing where steering effort increased at steering angles beyond ten degrees.Such steering angles were only reasonably obtainable at speeds below ten mph.Polaris concluded that a fender separation of the type owners allege, does not represent an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety, but does compromise owner satisfaction.Consequently, on April 28, 2015, Polaris advised the agency that it decided to undertake a consumer satisfaction campaign to improve fender durability on all MY 2008-15 Victory Vision motorcycles regardless of mileage, time in service, or ownership status.Owners will receive notification of this campaign by June 20, 2015.A copy of Polaris' April 28, 2015 letter to us about this program is in the public file for this PE.In light of the low risk to motor vehicle safety as a result of displaced fenders, and Polaris?s actions to reduce the likelihood of fender interference through a consumer satisfaction campaign, further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.For additional detailed information on this investigation, see the attached closing report.The ODI complaints cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the following (ODI) numbers: 10534913, 10535066, 10430546, 10469285, 10468997, 10592181, 10585428, 10534743, 10597031, 10535938, 10594160, 10594161, 10606364

I have experienced what is known in the Victory community as the C-Clip failure in the transmission. The bike has just over 17K miles on it. I was downshifting from 3rd gear to 2nd gear while coming out of a switchback curve and climbing a steep hill. As soon as I downshifted, the failure occured. There was a loud clashing of metal that you could literally feel in the seat of our pants (my wife was on the bike with me). The bike immediately lost power and no gear. I was able to handle the bike and pull into a scenic overlook that was nearby. I attempted to put the bike into 1st gear when stopped and could not shift through the gears and there was a lot of what sounded like metal "clanking" around in the crankcase. The immediate loss of gears is a real safety concern...not to mention an expensive repair. I have been quoted $3500 minimum and it's possibly more depending on any damage that may have occured to other parts. This has been documented on the Victory Facebook Group pages and I personally believe Polaris is ignoring the issue. They need to be held accountable for this issue. I suggest you reach out to Rylan Vos of the Vic Shop in Iowa as he has fielded many calls on this issue and also has developed a fix and can walk you through the details of the mechanical/safety issue. I have a video of what this sounds like with the bike running. I can send it.

NHTSA ID

11585992

Incident

Apr 25, 2024

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VICTORY VISION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE EXTERIOR HEADLIGHTS FAILED AND THE MOTORCYCLE INDEPENDENTLY SLOWED DOWN. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS SHUT OFF AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE CONTACT CHARGED THE BATTERY AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE MOTORCYCLE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE RESIDENCE AND THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BATTERY WAS LOW AGAIN. THE CONTACT ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THE RECTIFIER WAS DISPLAYING INACCURATE READINGS AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 08V131000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000.

NHTSA ID

10807832

Incident

Nov 20, 2015

Mileage

17,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 VICTORY VISION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE MIRRORS VIBRATED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO CLEARLY VIEW AND DETERMINE THE DISTANCE OF AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE MIRROR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED IF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10734694

Incident

Feb 15, 2015

Mileage

3,000 mi

A STOP RIDE MEANS THE CONSUMER MUST NOT OPERATE THEIR VEHICLE UNTIL THE REPAIR IS COMPLETE. We have been made aware that some dealers are incorrectly communicating the importance of STOP RIDE communications.

Victory has determined that some 2011-2014 Victory Vision motorcycles, designated for sale in EU and non-EU countries outside of the United States and Canada, may not meet emission standards set forth by the Conformity of Production (COP). Victory has released an ECM software update to bring the CO levels into compliance with COP standards.

The Victory Motorcycle Division of Polaris Industries Inc. has determined that certain California Air Resource Board (CARB) certified Victory Vision models, equipped with approved Stage 1 accessory exhaust, must have the Stage 1 Certification decal updated. The new decal will ensure that the emission certification information displayed on the decal aligns with CARB requirements for Stage 1 equipped motorcycles.

VICTORY MC: TSB HAS AN OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER. SELECT DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON BELOW. AT MOUNTING HOLES ON FRONT FENDER HALVES, CRACKS WILL DEVELOP AND EITHER HAVE BOTH OR ONE REPLACED. MODEL 2008-15 VISION. *PE

Victory Motorcycles has determined that 2008-2015 Victory Vision front fenders may not meet internal durability standards. Certain operating conditions may cause the fender halves to crack at the mounting holes. A fender bracket kit has been developed to address this concern.