Total Complaints
43 filings
HONDA VTX1300 · model year
2006 HONDA VTX1300
43 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2006HONDAVTX1300 carries 43 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 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 2006 VTX1300 is steering with 22 filings, followed by suspension (4) and electrical system: instrument cluster/panel (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 2006 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.
43
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
4
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| STEERING | 22 |
| SUSPENSION | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| WHEELS | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING | 1 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20201016STEERING
THE FRONT END STARTS TO GET THE DEATH WOBBLE WHEN LET OFF THE GAS GOING AROUND 45 MPH. AND IT IS STARTING TO DO IT AT MORE SPEEDS NOW. BUT THAT IS WHEN IT IS THE WORST. CAN'T TAKE BOTH HANDS OF THE HANDLE BARS OR GRIP IT LIGHTLY OR ELSE IT WILL SHAKE TO MUCH AND CAUSE ME TO WRECK.
Mileage: 30,000
20201016SUSPENSION
THE FRONT END STARTS TO GET THE DEATH WOBBLE WHEN LET OFF THE GAS GOING AROUND 45 MPH. AND IT IS STARTING TO DO IT AT MORE SPEEDS NOW. BUT THAT IS WHEN IT IS THE WORST. CAN'T TAKE BOTH HANDS OF THE HANDLE BARS OR GRIP IT LIGHTLY OR ELSE IT WILL SHAKE TO MUCH AND CAUSE ME TO WRECK.
Mileage: 30,000
20190522ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MY STARTER MAGNET SHORTED OUT & BURNED CONNECTING PLUG & ELECTRICAL HARNESS. MY BIKE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE LIKE ALWAYS. I WENT OUT IN MORNING TO START BIKE & NOTHING HAPPENED, A FEW SECONDS LATER I NOTICE A BURNED SMELL & IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF KEY. I THEN DISCONNECTED MY BATTERY & STARTED TO LOOK FOR THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE BATTERY CHECKED OUT TO BE GOOD , I STARTED CHECKING FUSES , WHEN I NOTICE THE STRING BURNED SMELL FROM THE STARTER MAGNET AREA , THE MAIN FUSE WAS STILL GOOD BUT NOTICED THE CONNECTOR PLUG SLIGHTLY MELTED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION OF PLUG, I NOTICED THE CONNECTORS & SOME WIRING WERE BURNT.
Mileage: 18,500
20190321FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
PETCOCK IS LEAKING THEY WERE RECALLED ON THE 07-09 BUT NOT THE 06 WHEN ITS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING WHILE I WAS RIDING
Mileage: 15,000
20190321UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PETCOCK IS LEAKING THEY WERE RECALLED ON THE 07-09 BUT NOT THE 06 WHEN ITS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING WHILE I WAS RIDING
Mileage: 15,000
20170531SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA VTX1300 MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35-55 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOBBLED WHILE ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. THE PIONEER EQUIPMENT HONDA DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE COULD BE DUE TO THE WHEEL BEARING OR TIRES; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
Mileage: 30,000
20160519STEERING
THE BIKE WOBBLES AND SHAKES VERY BAD WHEN DECELERATING FROM 45 MPH. THIS OCCURS ON STRAIGHT OR WHILE TURNING.
Mileage: 2,000
20160504STEERING
WHEN DRIVING ABOVE 25 OR 30 MPH THE HANDLEBARS SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM. TRIED NEW TIRES, DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM
Mileage: 6,800
20150201STEERING
WOBBLE WHEN DRIVING. WOBBLE GETS MUCH WORSE WHEN 1 OR 2 HANDS ARE NOT FIRMLY ON HANDLEBARS. GETS MUCH WORSE DURING DECELERATION. *TR
Mileage: 8,700
20150118STEERING
HONDA VTX 1300C.. BOUGHT USED.. NOTICED THAT AT AN APPROX. SPEED THE FRONT END WOULD START TO WOBBLE.. SPOKE TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING BEFORE.. TIRES ARE NEW AND ALIGNED. *TR
Mileage: 16,000
20141227STEERING
SEVERE STEERING WOBBLE ON DECELERATION FROM ANY SPEED. GETS WORSE IF I TAKE HANDS OFF BARS, BAD ENOUGH TO CRASH. *TR
Mileage: 11,000
20141012STEERING
HANDLEBARS SHAKE BETWEEN 35-45 MPH NOW EVEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS, WOBBLE. GO INTO A TURN IT SEEMS TO DROP JUST A LITTLE ENOUGH TO SCARE THE S--- OUT OF YOU. I SEE YOU HAVE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM. CAN YOU LET ME KNOW YOUR FINDINGS, PLEASE. WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS I JUST ASSUMED YOU HAVE NOT HAD THE TIME TO INVESTIGATE. THIS IS TRULY A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. SOMEONE MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN HURT OR WORSE. NO ONE HAS PROVED THE FRONT STEERING BEARINGS WERE BAD. SOMETHING I THOUGHT YOU WERE SUPPOSE TO INVESTIGATE, AFTER ANY COMPLAINT. *TR
Mileage: 3,850
20141012STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
HANDLEBARS SHAKE BETWEEN 35-45 MPH NOW EVEN AT HIGHER SPEEDS, WOBBLE. GO INTO A TURN IT SEEMS TO DROP JUST A LITTLE ENOUGH TO SCARE THE S--- OUT OF YOU. I SEE YOU HAVE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM. CAN YOU LET ME KNOW YOUR FINDINGS, PLEASE. WITH ALL THE COMPLAINTS I JUST ASSUMED YOU HAVE NOT HAD THE TIME TO INVESTIGATE. THIS IS TRULY A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. SOMEONE MAY HAVE ALREADY BEEN HURT OR WORSE. NO ONE HAS PROVED THE FRONT STEERING BEARINGS WERE BAD. SOMETHING I THOUGHT YOU WERE SUPPOSE TO INVESTIGATE, AFTER ANY COMPLAINT. *TR
Mileage: 3,850
20140906STEERING
EXTREME STEERING WOBBLE WITH LIGHT OR SINGLE HANDED GRIP HANDLE BARS. VERY SEVERE! *TR
Mileage: 11,250
20140814STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA VTX 1300 MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING AND FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.
Mileage: 5,000
20140808STEERING
THE STEERING WILL SHAKE/VIBRATE AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 25-40MPH, SOMETIMES MORE VIOLENTLY THAN OTHERS. THE FRONT BEARING WAS INSPECTED AND APPEARED TO BE OK. THE FRONT TIRE WAS RECENTLY REPLACED AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN 2007. *TR
Mileage: 5,000
20140321STEERING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA VTX1300C. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE STEERING FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,786.
Mileage: 19,786
20120629STEERING
MY STEERING ON MY 2006 VTX1300C SHAKES WHEN YOU LET GO OF ONE SIDE OF THE HANDLEBARS. IF YOU TAKE PRESSURE OFF THE GRIPS WITH BOTH HANDS THE BIKE SHAKES VIOLENTLY. I JUST HAD TWO BRAND NEW TIRES PUT ON THE BIKE THINKING IT MAY HAVE BEEN ONE OF THE TIRES CAUSING THE ISSUE. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED EVEN AFTER THE NEW TIRES WERE INSTALLED. *TR
Mileage: 9,450
20120508CrashSUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA VT1300S MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AT 75 MPH, HE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR AND THE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER WERE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED TO A TOWING YARD. THE FAILURE WAS NOT INVESTIGATED. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE BEARING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 16,118. SM. UPDATED 6/20/12 *CN
Mileage: 16,118
20120508CrashTIRES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA VT1300S MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AT 75 MPH, HE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR AND THE REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER WERE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED TO A TOWING YARD. THE FAILURE WAS NOT INVESTIGATED. THE CONTACT FELT THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE BEARING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 16,118. SM. UPDATED 6/20/12 *CN
Mileage: 16,118
Compare 2006HONDAVTX1300 to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 9 Open
PE25017Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Inaccurate Rear Passenger Seat Belt Warning Status
PE25016Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Loss of Motive Power
PE25018Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Inadvertent Deployment of Side Air Bags
PE25008Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Engine failure
EA25004Engineering AnalysisOpen
No Restart After Auto Start/Stop Engages
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2006 HONDA VTX1300 have?▼
The 2006 HONDA VTX1300 has 43 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2006 HONDA VTX1300?▼
The most-complained component for the 2006 HONDA VTX1300 is STEERING with 22 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL.
Is the 2006 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.