SUZUKI VZR1800 · model year

2008 SUZUKI VZR1800

11 NHTSA complaints, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2008SUZUKIVZR1800 carries 11 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 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 2008 VZR1800 is power train with 4 filings, followed by power train:manual transmission (4) and power train:driveline (1). 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. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 14 investigation files overlapping the 2008 VZR1800. 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.

11
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

11 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN4
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION4
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
ENGINE1

Recalls (1)

15E05300023/06/2015

SEATS:MOTORCYCLE

Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. (Suzuki) is recalling certain Accessory Backrest Mounting Hardware kits, part numbers 990A0-75148 and 990A0-75148-BLK, manufactured March 1, 2012, to April 21, 2015. The affected hardware kits are for installing accessory backrests on 2006-2015 Suzuki VZR1800 (Boulevar

Recent Complaints

20210831ENGINE

I recently purchased a 2008 M109 and had no issues for the first 24 hours. However the next day at a stoplight experienced my first engine shudder from stopped to 1st gear that resulted in tire spin on rear tire and then stall. I have read this is a known issue with the clutch hub but Suzuki will not address. Also related is a high grinding 200-300 RPM before shifting up. I am left with a motorcycle that is an actual hazard in the form that it is produced and would like help resolving this issue. I do not mind paying for parts but Suzuki and their dealers refuse to help.

20210831POWER TRAIN

I recently purchased a 2008 M109 and had no issues for the first 24 hours. However the next day at a stoplight experienced my first engine shudder from stopped to 1st gear that resulted in tire spin on rear tire and then stall. I have read this is a known issue with the clutch hub but Suzuki will not address. Also related is a high grinding 200-300 RPM before shifting up. I am left with a motorcycle that is an actual hazard in the form that it is produced and would like help resolving this issue. I do not mind paying for parts but Suzuki and their dealers refuse to help.

20160922POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI VZR1800. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR, THE GEAR INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED OUT OF SECOND GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

Mileage: 23,000

20160123UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THERE IS A VIOLENT SHUDDER WHEN TAKING OFF IN FIRST GEAR WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS ON A MOTORCYCLE WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. TALKING TO OTHER OWNERS AND MECHANIC...IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCH AND SPRINGS AND APPARENTLY A PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL OF THESE BIKES.

Mileage: 9,000

20150205POWER TRAIN

WHEN RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE IT JUMPS OUT OF 2ND GEAR AT 2000-3000 RPM,S. I CONTACTED THE SUZUKI CORPORATION. I ASKED IF THEY HAD A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM AND THEY STATED NO. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE MY BIKE TO THE DEALER AND LET THEM DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. MY BIKE IS A 2008 WITH LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON IT. THIS IS UNFAIR BECAUSE IT'S A PROBLEM WITH A LOT OF THE M109 I ALMOST WAS REAR ENDED ON SEVERAL OCCASION. *TR

Mileage: 9,240

20111117POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

2ND GEAR FAILED, SHIFT FORK BENT, 3RD GEAR DOGS SHOW WEAR COST $3,322.33 TO REPAIR

Mileage: 15,591

20110711POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

2ND GEAR JUMPING OUT AND CAUSING SLOWING DOWN IN TRAFFIC WHEN SUPPOSED TO BE ACCELERATING. MANY TIMES.HAS BEEN "FIXED" TWICE UNDER WARRANTY BUT STILL HAPPENS. ITS A SAFTEY ISSUE AND I DOUBT I WILL BUY ANOTHER SUZUKI AND I OWNED ONE FOR 14 YEARS PRIOR TO THIS ONE *TT

Mileage: 5,000

20110501POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

I HAVE A SUZUKI BLVD M109R I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY SECOND GEAR JUMPING OUT OF GEAR SUDDENLY. I AM RIDING ALONG AND THE BIKE WILL START TO SLOW DOWN WHILE I AM TWISTING THE THROTTLE FOR THE BIKE TO ACCELERATE. SUZUKI CLAIMS THAT THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION ON THESE BIKE BUT I HAVE SEEN THE DAMAGE THAT CAN BE DONE TO THE TRANNY WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME MANY TIMES WITHIN THE PAST YEAR OR SO, ITS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION!!!! *TR

Mileage: 6,000

20110430POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC SHIFTED TO 2ND GEAR AND JUST AS I WAS CHANGING LANES INTO FLOW OF TRAFFIC MY MOTORCYCLE POPS ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL LOSING ALL FORWARD MOTION. I HAD TO SWERVE BACK ONTO SHOULDER TO AVOID BEING STRUCK FROM BEHIND, THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES SINCE AND SCARES THE HELL OUT OF ME. *TR

Mileage: 9,860

20100708POWER TRAIN

THE VEHICLE IS A MOTORCYCLE CALLED A SUZUKI VZR 1800 OR M109R. THE FAILURE INVOLVES RELEASING THE CLUTCH TO ENGAGE THE VEHICLE. WHEN RELEASING THE CLUTCH THERE IS A "SHUDDER" OR A "JERKING" BY THE CLUTCH THAT CAUSES MASSIVE VIBRATION TO THE WHOLE VEHICLE. THIS MAINLY RESULTS IN (1) LOSS GRIP OF THE HANDLE BARS (2) LOSS OF BALANCE (3) AND THE ENGINE STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. I HAVE ASKED MY RETAILER AND SUZUKI DEALER TO LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM AND THE RESPONSE IT "IT IS NORMAL" AND SUZUKI HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. HOWEVER, THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM AS EVIDENCED BY THE MANY OWNERS WHO ARE MEMBERS OF M109RIDERS.COM AND OTHER OWNER SITES. I HAVE HEARD BUT I DO NOT KNOW FOR SURE, THAT SUZUKI, SINCE 2006, HAS ATTEMPTED TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM BY INCREASING THE SIZE OF HOLES IN THE CLUTCH PLATES. HOWEVER, MY MOTORCYCLE IS A 2008 AND STILL HAS THE ISSUE. THIS HAS NOT CAUSED A COLLISION YET BUT RESULTS IN MANY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. A RECALL SHOULD BE ISSUED O

Mileage: 5,000

20090909POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

I OWN A 2008 SUZUKI VZR1800N OR M109R MOTORCYCLE. FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS INCLUDING TODAY THE BIKE HAS DEVELOPED A VIOLENT SHUDDER OR CHATTER WHILE DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. IT HAPPENS MOSTLY RIGHT AFTER WARM UP AND CONTINUES UP UNTIL YOU RUN IT THROUGH THE GEARS A COUPLE OF TIMES. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT SUZUKI DEALERS AND THEY HAVE BRUSHED OFF THE PROBLEM BY SAYING ITS A TRAIT OF THE MOTORCYCLE. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET BUT IT IS UNNERVING TO RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE. ON THE M109RIDERS FORUM YOU ARE HEARING MORE AND MORE COMPLAINTS AND A LEAST ONE CRASH AS A RESULT OF THIS ISSUE. APPARENTLY SUZUKI IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT.(SPECULATED TO BE LACK OF PROPER OILING TO THE CLUTCH BASKET) WHICH IS CAUSING THE SHUDDER/CHATTER. ESSENTIALLY THE CLUTCH PLATES ARE TOO DRY TO PERFORM PROPERLY. SUZUKI HAS REPLACED SOME RIDERS CLUTCHES UNDER WARRANTY BUT STILL HAS YET TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

Compare 2008SUZUKIVZR1800 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2008 SUZUKI VZR1800 have?
The 2008 SUZUKI VZR1800 has 11 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2008 SUZUKI VZR1800?
Yes, the 2008 SUZUKI VZR1800 has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is SEATS:MOTORCYCLE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 SUZUKI VZR1800?
The most-complained component for the 2008 SUZUKI VZR1800 is POWER TRAIN with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION and POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE.
Is the 2008 SUZUKI VZR1800 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.