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Honda Honda MotorcycleModel year report

2003 Honda Honda Motorcycle Problems

Complaints
28filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
2,160miles, 16 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Honda Honda Motorcycle (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 28 consumer complaints for the 2003 Honda Honda Motorcycle. The part named most often is engine cooling, with 9 complaints (32% of the total), followed by other or unknown (4) and suspension (3). 16 of the complaints include a mileage, and 88% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 2,160 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 5 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 6 technical service bulletins for this model year.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Body and structure (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Engine cooling: “The motorcycle and many of the same models have a heat issue. The bike does not over heat, but it over heats the driver. In 85 degree weather, the heat coming from the engine vents is unbearabe. It heats the driver from the shins to the crotch. When this first happened, I expectd to pull down my pants and have burns on my legs and crotch area. I took the bike to my dealer and they agree with me, they called Honda and Honda says they are not doing any thing about it. …”

NHTSA complaint #10020786, filed 2003-05, 890 miles

Other or unknown: “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 miles

Suspension: “(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.”

NHTSA complaint #10075357, filed 2004-06

Electrical system: “2001 Honda shadow sabre 1100cc motorcycle... Starter switch burns out when lights are wired. Pushed sale of lights( fog and position lights) from dealers , owners not told of low amprage rate on starter switches! Low amp rated switches are used in these motorcycles. Leads to start failure, expensive towing,and high maitenance cost. Fire. Loss of control, and highway accidents possible! Headlights are wired thru starter switch!???”

NHTSA complaint #10023808, filed 2003-06, 19,575 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

88% of the 16 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 217 and 19,575 miles.

69%0–1019%10–250%25–506%50–750%75–1006%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (16 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 2,160 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

20031520042005200820122016
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2003 Honda Honda Motorcycle in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 6 on record; the latest 6 are shown.

Other model years of the Honda Honda Motorcycle

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2003282,1600——Not compared (before 2008)Stable
2002102,5000———Not enough data
19986—0———Not enough data

All Honda Honda Motorcycle model years

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 Honda Honda Motorcycle have?

NHTSA recorded 28 consumer complaints for the 2003 Honda Honda Motorcycle as of Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2003 Honda Honda Motorcycle is reported most often?

Engine cooling is named most often, in 9 complaints (32% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 4.

Has the 2003 Honda Honda Motorcycle been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2003 Honda Honda Motorcycle reported?

Among the 16 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 2,160 miles and the middle half falls between 217 and 19,575 miles; 88% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

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.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.