HONDA VTX1300 · model year

2004 HONDA VTX1300

89 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2004HONDAVTX1300 carries 89 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, 4 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 2004 VTX1300 is steering with 24 filings, followed by suspension (13) and suspension:front (10). 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 2004 VTX1300, 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.

89
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

89 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
STEERING24
SUSPENSION13
SUSPENSION:FRONT10
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL9
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR9
WHEELS3
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
STRUCTURE1
WHEELS:MULTI PIECE1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING1
WHEELS:HUBCAP/COVER1
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION1

Recent Complaints

20200624STEERING

MY FRONT END WOBBLES BAD WHEN I'M SLOWING DOWN. IT HAPPENS ON BOTH CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS.I REPLACED THE FRONT AND BACK TIRES AND HAD THEM BALANCED. NOTHING CHANGED. I'VE RESEARCHED IT AND IT'S APPARENTLY A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 1300 MODELS AND REPLACING THE UPPER AND LOWER STEERING BEARINGS WITH THE ONES USED IN THE 1800 MODELS FIXES IT. I'VE RESEARCHED HOW TO REPLACE THEM AND IT REQUIRES SPECIAL TOOLS AND THE RACE FOR EACH BEARING NEEDS TO BE PRESSED IN AT A SHOP. I NOTICED THAT ONLY 75 COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN REGISTERED. I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE THERE'S NOT A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. I'VE SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS ONLINE. I'VE HAD THIS ISSUE FOR YEARS AND IT KEEPS GETTING WORSE. I'M GOING TO HAVE TO PAY TO GET THEM REPLACED SOON AND I'M SURE IT'S NOT GOING TO BE CHEAP AFTER READING ABOUT HOW TO DO IT. THANK YOU. *TR

Mileage: 8,000

20180304SUSPENSION

THERE IS A SEVERE FRONT END WOBBLE WHEN DECELERATING FROM 50+ MPH. THE ENTIRE FRONT END SHAKES TO THE POINT THAT CONTROL IS ALMOST LOST. IT IS ALSO CAUSING THE TIRE ON THE FRONT TO WEAR UNEVENLY AND AT A VERY FAST RATE. THE BIKE HAS LESS THAN 6000 MILES ON IT AS OF MARCH OF 2018.

Mileage: 5,500

20160524STEERING

ON 2004 HONDA VTX1300C MOTORCYCLE, FRONT TIRE DEVELOPS A SEVERE SHIMMY WHEN DECELERATING FROM 40-50 MPH. HAVE REPORTED PROBLEM TO HONDA REPAIR CENTER AND TECH'S STATE THEY DO NOT KNOW CAUSE OF PROBLEM WHERE MANY FORUMS ONE STATED TO REPLACE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WITH VTX 1800 TAPERED BEARINGS.

Mileage: 18,000

20140710SUSPENSION

REMOVED THE FRONT AND REAR WHEELS TO HAVE NEW TIRES INSTALLED. NOTICED THE FINAL DRIVE FLANGE BEARINGS SEAL TOWARD WHEEL, WAS TORN OPEN AS IF THE SEAL HAD MELTED AND THE BEARINGS WERE DRY AND VERY ROUGH TO TURN. PROBLEM IS, I REPLACED THE BEARINGS AND FELT RESISTANCE WHEN TURNING THE NEW BEARINGS. READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN ONE OF THE FORUMS, REMOVED THE NEW BEARINGS AND ORDERED A SECOND SET. MEASURED THE BEARING FIT IN THE FLANGE AND IT WAS .001" TOO CLOSE AT THE TOP AND .002" AT THE BOTTOM. HAD THE FLANGE MACHINED TO CORRECT CLEARANCE AND INSTALLED NEW BEARINGS. JUST LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FROM THE FACTORY, AND I AM VERY GLAD I FOUND THE PROBLEM BEFORE A DEADLY OR COSTLY INCIDENT OCCURRED. *TR

Mileage: 15,000

20140710POWER TRAIN

REMOVED THE FRONT AND REAR WHEELS TO HAVE NEW TIRES INSTALLED. NOTICED THE FINAL DRIVE FLANGE BEARINGS SEAL TOWARD WHEEL, WAS TORN OPEN AS IF THE SEAL HAD MELTED AND THE BEARINGS WERE DRY AND VERY ROUGH TO TURN. PROBLEM IS, I REPLACED THE BEARINGS AND FELT RESISTANCE WHEN TURNING THE NEW BEARINGS. READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN ONE OF THE FORUMS, REMOVED THE NEW BEARINGS AND ORDERED A SECOND SET. MEASURED THE BEARING FIT IN THE FLANGE AND IT WAS .001" TOO CLOSE AT THE TOP AND .002" AT THE BOTTOM. HAD THE FLANGE MACHINED TO CORRECT CLEARANCE AND INSTALLED NEW BEARINGS. JUST LIKE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FROM THE FACTORY, AND I AM VERY GLAD I FOUND THE PROBLEM BEFORE A DEADLY OR COSTLY INCIDENT OCCURRED. *TR

Mileage: 15,000

20120402WHEELS

THIS PART IS MOUNTED TO THE RIM OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND CONNECTS TO THE DRIVE SHAFT . THE HOUSING THAT THE FLANGE BEARINGS PRESS INTO IS BORED TO TIGHT CAUSING THE BEARINGS TO BE CRUSHED AND NOT BE SMOOTH LIKE THEY SHOULD BE . I PURCHASED BRAND NEW BEARINGS AND HAD THE DEALER PUT THEM IN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE . *TR

Mileage: 11,175

20110927STEERING

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA VTX1300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HANDLE BAR WOBBLED EXCESSIVELY WHEN DRIVING 35 MPH AND ABOVE. THE CONTACT CHANGED THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE BUT THAT DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE STEERING STEM BEARINGS FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER STATED THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,200.

Mileage: 6,200

20110903STEERING

JUST PURCHASED THIS BIKE I'M 2ND OWNER, AND WHILE INSPECTING THIS BIKE I NOTICED THAT LEFT SIDE OF FRONT TIRE WAS COMPLETELY WORN BUT RIGHT SIDE HAD TREAD, SO I REPLACED WITH NEW DUNLOP TIRES FRONT AND REAR AND AFTER DRIVING HAVING ONLY 300 MILES ON BIKE ONE DAY I LET GO OF LEFT HAND GRIP AT 40 MPH TO SCRATCH MY NOSE AND THE BIKE FRONT WHEEL BEGAN TO WOBBLE ENOUGH TO REALLY SCARE ME. I CALLED HONDA THEY SAID WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER GETTING ON LINE WITH SEVERAL VTX OWNERS WEB-SITES AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VTX 1300. I HAVE NEW TIRES AND VTX WITH LESS THAN 8000 MILES ON BIKE, SEEMS LIKE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 7,781

20110903UNKNOWN OR OTHER

JUST PURCHASED THIS BIKE I'M 2ND OWNER, AND WHILE INSPECTING THIS BIKE I NOTICED THAT LEFT SIDE OF FRONT TIRE WAS COMPLETELY WORN BUT RIGHT SIDE HAD TREAD, SO I REPLACED WITH NEW DUNLOP TIRES FRONT AND REAR AND AFTER DRIVING HAVING ONLY 300 MILES ON BIKE ONE DAY I LET GO OF LEFT HAND GRIP AT 40 MPH TO SCRATCH MY NOSE AND THE BIKE FRONT WHEEL BEGAN TO WOBBLE ENOUGH TO REALLY SCARE ME. I CALLED HONDA THEY SAID WE KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER GETTING ON LINE WITH SEVERAL VTX OWNERS WEB-SITES AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE VTX 1300. I HAVE NEW TIRES AND VTX WITH LESS THAN 8000 MILES ON BIKE, SEEMS LIKE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

Mileage: 7,781

20110725STEERING

THERE IS A FRONT FORK WOBBLE ON MY 2004 HONDA VTX MOTORCYCLE. THIS IS COUPLED WITH EXTREMELY FAST WEAR ON THE FRONT TIRES. THE WOBBLE IS MOST NOTICEABLE BETWEEN 20 - 50 MPH, AND MORE PREVALENT WHEN COASTING TO A STOP. IT IS BAD ENOUGH AT TIME TO CAUSE A CONTROL ISSUE WHEN GOING AROUND TURNS. *TR

Mileage: 25

20110725SUSPENSION

THERE IS A FRONT FORK WOBBLE ON MY 2004 HONDA VTX MOTORCYCLE. THIS IS COUPLED WITH EXTREMELY FAST WEAR ON THE FRONT TIRES. THE WOBBLE IS MOST NOTICEABLE BETWEEN 20 - 50 MPH, AND MORE PREVALENT WHEN COASTING TO A STOP. IT IS BAD ENOUGH AT TIME TO CAUSE A CONTROL ISSUE WHEN GOING AROUND TURNS. *TR

Mileage: 25

20110722SUSPENSION:REAR

REPLACING REAR TIRE ON 2004 HONDA VTX 1300C. CHECKING WHEEL AND FLANGE BEARINGS AT THIS TIME. THE FLANGE BEARINGS ARE ROUGH TURNING AND ONE BEARING IS FALLING APART. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS ONLY 16,000 MILES ON IT. REPLACING FLANGE BEARINGS WITH A NEW SET OF AFTERMARKET BEARINGS. LUCKY TO FIND THE BEARING PROBLEM WHEN I DID. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT IF THE REAR WHEEL WOULD HAVE LOCKED UP DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS!!! THIS IS NOT THE FIRST REPORTED FLANGE BEARING FAILURE. *TT

Mileage: 16,400

20110722WHEELS

REPLACING REAR TIRE ON 2004 HONDA VTX 1300C. CHECKING WHEEL AND FLANGE BEARINGS AT THIS TIME. THE FLANGE BEARINGS ARE ROUGH TURNING AND ONE BEARING IS FALLING APART. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS ONLY 16,000 MILES ON IT. REPLACING FLANGE BEARINGS WITH A NEW SET OF AFTERMARKET BEARINGS. LUCKY TO FIND THE BEARING PROBLEM WHEN I DID. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT IF THE REAR WHEEL WOULD HAVE LOCKED UP DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS!!! THIS IS NOT THE FIRST REPORTED FLANGE BEARING FAILURE. *TT

Mileage: 16,400

20110531STEERING

I HAVE A 2004 HONDA VTX 1300 AND WHILE DECELERATING, USUALLY BETWEEN 50 AND 30 MILES PER HOUR, THE HANDLE BARS AND FRONT END STARTS TO WOBBLE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS ON A MOTORCYCLE. *TR

Mileage: 18,000

20110128POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

2004 HONDA VTX 1300. BEARING FLANGE FAILURE ON THE REAR WHEEL. APPROX. 50,000 MILES BEFORE IT GOT REAL NOTICEABLE REAL FAST. THE BEARING FLANGE COST 249.00. CANT FIND A CROSS REFERENCE TO THE BEARING USED, SO HAD TO PURCHASE THE WHOLE FLANGE ASSY. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

20100607STEERING

2004 HONDA VTX 1300C. FRONT END SHAKE AND WOBBLE.THE WOBBLE IS BETWEEN 35-50 MPH. NEW TAPERED BEARINGS ARE RECOMMENDED FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

Mileage: 19,000

20091101STEERING

ON 2004 HONDA VTX1300C MOTORCYCLE, FRONT TIRE DEVELOPS A SEVERE SHIMMY WHEN DECELERATING FROM 40-50 MPH. HAVE REPORTED PROBLEM TO HONDA REPAIR CENTER AND TECH'S STATE THEY DO NOT KNOW CAUSE OF PROBLEM WHERE MANY FORUMS DISCUSS ISSUE IN DETAIL. *TR

Mileage: 7,000

20090526POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

I HAVE A 2004 HONDA VTX 1300C WITH 14,483 MILES ON IT. I CHECKED THE BEARINGS IN REAR WHEEL AS I WAS PUTTING A NEW TIRE ON. THE BEARINGS ARE SO BAD IT VERY HARD TO TURN THEM BY HAND. I'M 51 YEARS OLD AND PUT OVER 300,000 MILES ON BIKES. I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS IN SUCH A SHORT TIME. I'VE BEEN TOLD THAT HONDA WILL NOT CORRECT THIS PROBLEM SO I WILL TRY TO FIND BETTER BEARINGS TO REPLACE THE STOCK ONES THAT FAILED. *TR

Mileage: 14,483

20090417FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

LEAKING FUEL VALVE ON A 2004 HONDA VTX 1300. EXACT SAME DESCRIPTION AS THE 2007 MODEL YEAR. *TR

Mileage: 2,000

20081105ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

THE SPEEDOMETER IS OFF BY APPROXIMATELY 9-10% (READS FASTER THAN ACTUAL SPEED). THIS CREATES A SAFETY ISSUE WITH OTHER DRIVERS BEHIND YOU TAILGATING, PASSING YOU IN ROAD RAGE TYPE MANNERS AND CREATES AN OVERALL SAFETY ISSUE WHEN YOU ARE IMPEDING TRAFFIC AND DON'T KNOW IF YOUR DRIVING THE LEGAL SPEED LIMIT. FURTHER MORE THE ODOMETER READING IS FALSIFIED BECAUSE OF THIS. THIS PROBLEM IS WELL DOCUMENTED WITH ALL OWNERS OF HONDA VTX MOTORCYCLES, AFTERMARKET COMPANIES ARE MAKING MONEY PROVIDING A REPAIR SOLUTION BECAUSE THE DEALER CHOOSES TO IGNORE THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM AND TELLS THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM IS NORMAL. THE FACT THAT AN AFTERMARKET PART CALLED THE SPEEDO HEALER EXISTS SHOULD BE PROOF ENOUGH THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. THE DEALER SHOULD PROVIDE THE FIX FOR FREE, I SHOULDN'T NEED TO RELY ON AN AFTERMARKET COMPANY TO PROVIDE ACCURACY ON AN IMPORTANT ITEM SUCH AS MY SPEEDOMETER. *TR

Mileage: 6,500

Compare 2004HONDAVTX1300 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 9 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2004 HONDA VTX1300 have?
The 2004 HONDA VTX1300 has 89 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 HONDA VTX1300?
The most-complained component for the 2004 HONDA VTX1300 is STEERING with 24 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION and SUSPENSION:FRONT.
Is the 2004 HONDA VTX1300 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

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.