Honda Honda Motorcycle Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 44 consumer complaints across the 3 model years of the Honda Honda Motorcycle (1998–2003) that have at least 5 complaints. 2003 has the most, with 28. Across all years, the part named most often is engine cooling (15 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All Honda Motorcycle model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 28 | 2,160 | 0 | 6 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2002 | 10 | 2,500 | 0 | 4 | — | Not enough data |
| 1998 | 6 | — | 0 | 0 | — | Not enough data |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Engine cooling15 41%
- Body and structure4 11%
- Other or unknown4 11%
- Fuel system4 11%
- Tires3 8.1%
- Suspension3 8.1%
- Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)2 5.4%
- Transmission and drivetrain2 5.4%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2003: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #10143570, filed 2005-11, 53,500 miles2002: “I bought a Honda 2002 919 (cb900f) a few months ago and have had a bad experience with exhaust fumes. It doesn't matter if you are sitting still or riding slow,fast, or stop and go. My cloths and body smells like exhaust after every ride and when stopped in or out off traffic I can smell the fumes in my helmet. When my wife rides with me she gets a really bad headache and feels sick and sleepy after the ride. To me that is a sign of carbon monoxcide poisoning. …”
NHTSA complaint #10037525, filed 2003-09, 2,500 miles1998: “My rear tire ply is delaminating which has caused an uneveness in the shape of the tire, causing it to exhibit an irregular surface that effects handling (particularly while cornering). I was advised by a local dealer (milpitas Honda) that this problem is commonly caused by driving with low tire pressure. I have kept my pressure at 41 PSI (the recommended pressure). I have heard from others that this is a very common problem with these tires and that dunlop has refused to warranty the tire.. Even when it has happened to owners with as few as 1800 miles. …”
NHTSA complaint #706961, filed 1999-05Other Honda models
24,630 complaintsHonda Civic
16,255 complaintsHonda CR-V
16,067 complaintsHonda Odyssey
12,889 complaintsHonda Pilot
9,418 complaintsHonda Ridgeline
2,225 complaintsHonda Fit
2,202 complaintsHonda HR-V
1,878 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology