Total Complaints
30 filings
HONDA HONDA MOTORCYCLE · model year
30 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003HONDAHONDA MOTORCYCLE carries 30 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 HONDA MOTORCYCLE is unknown or other with 4 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe (3) and engine and engine cooling (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 77 investigation files overlapping the 2003 HONDA MOTORCYCLE, and 9 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
30 filings
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 2 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE | 1 |
THE FRAME IS CRACKED. HONDA HAD A RECALL THAT IS NO LONGER HONORED. HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID BIKE WAS REPAIRED BUT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF THAT OR IT RECRACKED. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. IT WAS DISCOVERED BY SERVICE ON 9/12/13
Mileage: 125,000
THERE ARE CRITICAL NUTS AND BOLTS THAT MUST BE TORQUED TO SPECIFIC MANUFACTURER'S ASSEMBLY SPECIFICATIONS BY ALL HONDA POWERSPORTS DEALERS THAT ARE COMPLETING THE FINAL ASSEMBLY PROCESS FOR AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR COMPANY ON NEW HONDA MOTORCYCLES. IF THESE CRITICAL NUTS AND BOLTS ARE NOT TORQUED TO THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFIC SPECIFICATIONS, THEN THEY CAN COME LOOSE IF UNDER TIGHTENED OR THEY CAN COME LOOSE IF OVERTIGHTENED AND THE TREADS STRIP. THIS CAN CAUSE A MALFUNCTION OF THE MOTORCYCLE THUS POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT THAT CAN RESULT IN A SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. SOUTHERN HONDA POWERSPORTS IN CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE HAS NEVER USED ACTUAL TORQUE WRENCHES (THAT GAUGE THE POUNDS OF PRESSURE APPLIED WHEN TIGHTENING SPECIFIC NUTS AND BOLTS), AS REQUIRED IN THE FINAL ASSEMBLY PROCESS. THESE NUTS AND BOLTS IF NOT TORQUED CORRECTLY TO MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS (I.E. TO A SPECIFIC NUMBER OF POUNDS) CAN COME LOOSE THUS CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE OPERATOR TO LOOSE CONTROL. THIS CRITICAL SAFE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA 900F (NA). WHILE RIDING 20 MPH ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS, THE SHIFTER FELL OFF AND THE CONTACT COULD NOT CHANGE GEARS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN SIXTH GEAR. HE WAS INJURED WHILE GETTING OFF OF THE BIKE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 2,321.
Mileage: 2,321
FINAL DRIVE FLANGE BEARING FAILURE,2003 HONDA VTX 1800 RETRO MODEL MOTORCYCLE, I WAS REPLACING A WORN TIRE AND INSPECTED THE FLANGE BEARINGS,BOTH WERE NO GOOD,BALL BEARINGS AND SEAL MISSING FROM ONE AND THE OTHER DID NOT TURN,MY DEALER REPLACED THEM BOTH UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. *JB
Mileage: 53,500
DT: OWNS A HONDA GOLDWING WHICH HAS BEEN MODIFIED INTO A CONVERSION MOTOR BIKE WHICH TURNED THIS INTO A 3 WHEEL VEHICLE. CONSUMER FELT THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE BRAKES. THE BRAKE PADS DESTROYED THE ROTORS. CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE A SENSOR LIKE THOSE ON A CAR ,BUT THERE WAS ONLY 4-5,000 MILES BEFORE THE ROTOR WERE DESTROYED. BECAUSE HONDA WAS A DUAL BRAKING SYSTEM ,SO IF LOSING THE REAR STILL HAS THE FRONT BRAKES, THE MOTOR BIKE CONVERSION FRONT BRAKES WERE NOT MODIFIED BUT REAR BRAKES WERE CONVERTED. THE DESIGN OF THE SOFT ROTORS WAS A PROBLEM, AND THEY USED A IRON ROTOR WITH A MOTORCYCLE DISC PAD WHICH WAS STRONG AND HARD WHICH DESTROYED THE ROTOR. WHEN THIS OCCURRED THE PADS BEGAN TO WEAR AS WELL. HAS BEEN TO DEALER TO REPLACE ROTORS AND PADS, BUT THEY WERE REPLACED WITH THE SAME DEFECTIVE ROTORS AND PADS. *AK
Mileage: 20,000
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY WHEN STARTING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK
THE CONSUMER STATED HIS FRIEND CAN START HIS MOTORCYCLE WITH HIS KEYS, BOTH VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME VIN NUMBER. *JB
2003 HONDA VTX1300S... DURING DECELERATION AT ABOUT 40-45 MPH THE FRONT END OF THE MOTORCYCLE WILL START TO SHAKE VIGOROUSLY. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY OVER TORQUED THE HEAD BEARING WHICH QUIETED IT DOWN A LITTLE. I FEEL THIS IS NOT A GOOD FIX, BUT INSTEAD A "RIG" OF SOME SORT TO SAY THAT THIS BIKE DOES NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT END SHAKES. I, ALONG WITH OTHERS WHO OWN THIS BIKE, HAVE BROUGHT THIS UP TO OUR DEALERS AND TO HONDA THEMSELVES AND THEY CLAIM THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BIKE. *JB
Mileage: 50
(1) FRONT END WOBBLES EXCESSIVLY BETWEEN 30 AND 45 MILES PER HOUR (2) SO FAR NO CRASHES BUT THE WOBBLE IS DANGEROUS (3) HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. *AK
CONSUMER STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS INACCURATE. THE READING WAS OFF BY ABOUT 10%. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS COMMON AND THAT THEY WERE ALLOWED 10% DEVIATION. *AK *NM
Mileage: 100
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Mileage: 20,000
EXHAUST HAS A LARGE AMOUNT OF BLOW BACK THAT MY CLOTHES ALWAYS SMELL BAD, MY RIDING JACKET HAS BEEN HANGING IN THE HOUSE FOR THREE MONTHS(WINTER) AND STILL SMELLS. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED LIGHT-HEADED AFTER SOME RIDES. I AM PLANNING ON BUYING A DIFFERENT EXHAUST FOR THAT REASON ONLY.*AK
SEVERE WHEEL/TIRE BOUNCE BETWEEN 35 AND 60 MPH. DEALER TRUED AND BALANCED FRONT AND REAR WHEELS/TIRES. HELPED SITUATION SOME, BUT IS STILL NOTICABLE AT CRUISING SPEEDS. CAUSES STRESS AND DISCOMFORT WHEN RIDING AS WELL AS BEING POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS IF WHEEL/TIRE FAILS. TECHNICIAN SAID AFTER THE 3RD SERVICE, "THAT'S THE SMOOTHEST RIDING 750 I'VE EVER BEEN ON." I DON'T THINK HE REALLY WANTED TO DEAL WITH IT ON SATURDAYS. I FEEL HONDA SHOULD EVALUATE THIS SITUATION MORE SERIOUSLY TO PREVENT POSSIBLE INJURIES OR DEATH TO THEIR RIDERS.*AK
Mileage: 1
THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A FUEL INJECTION PROBLEM WITH HIS VEHICLE WHICH CAUSED THE SPEED TO DROP 3 TO 5 MPH . THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING 20 TO 50 MPH. *AK *PH *NM
I RECEIVED 2ND DEGREE BURNS ON THE ABDOMEN AFTER RIDING A HONDA MOTORCYCLE ABOVE 90 DEGREE TEMPERATURE. *JB
Mileage: 8,500
I HAVE A 2003 HONDA 919 . SEEMS LIKE WHEN I GET OFF THE BIKE MY LEATHER SMELLS LIKE EXHAUST. IT SMELLS THIS WAY EVEN WHEN IM OUT OF TRAFFIC. *AK
HONDA MOTORCYCLE MODEL CB900F. WHILE RIDING THE BIKE I CAN SMELL EXAUHST FUMES. ONCE I ARRIVE AT ANY DESTINATION MY CLOTHES AND BODY SMELL HORRIBLLY LIKE THE FUMES AS WELL. I HAVE HAD SNEEZING FITS AS WELL AS A RESULT OF WHAT I AM BREATHING ON THE BIKE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF WITHOUT NOTICE. *AK THE HANDLEBAR WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED TO THE STEERING SHAFT. (FREEPLAY FROM LEFT TO RIGHT) THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE BALANCE AND CONTROL OF THE SCOOTER. *SCC *JB
Mileage: 217
WHILE DRIVING DRIVING AT 30 MPH REAR SUSPENSION BROKE , CAUSING MOTORCYCLE TO CRASH.*AK
Mileage: 217
REAR SUSPENSION OF 2003 HONDA 954 COLLAPSED. WELDED PLATE FOR REAR SUSPENSION BROKEN AT WELD.*AK
Mileage: 2,000
Inaccurate Rear Passenger Seat Belt Warning Status
Loss of Motive Power
Inadvertent Deployment of Side Air Bags
Engine failure
No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.