2004 Honda VTX1300 Problems
- Complaints
- 78filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 4,860miles, 52 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2004 Honda VTX1300 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year most often describe a front-end wobble or shake that appears while slowing down, typically in the middle of the speed range, and many say they feel it through the handlebars even with both hands on the grips. A second, smaller cluster of complaints concerns the rear drive flange and wheel bearings, which owners usually find while fitting a new tyre. Owners also mention a speedometer that reads faster than actual speed, noticed from the first miles of ownership.
- Steering
Front-end wobble or shake when slowing down
- 43 complaints (55%)
- median 4,860 mi at 2.9 yrs old (28 state mileage)
- 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2004–2020
Owners describe the handlebars and front end shaking or wobbling as the bike decelerates, most consistently between roughly 50 and 30 mph, and some also notice it in curves or when riding one-handed. Tyres and tyre pressures were often the first thing changed, and several owners say new tyres did not change the symptom. According to complaints, some dealers could not reproduce the shake or said it was tyre-related or within specification, while others replaced the steering stem bearings or fitted tapered bearings and described improvement. Covered anywhere from a few hundred miles to around 30,000 miles, with many reports below 8,000 miles, and several describing it on deceleration from new.
What to check: Ride the bike at low speed and while coasting down through the middle of the speed range, ideally with a light or one-handed grip, and ask whether tyres, steering head bearings or fork springs have been replaced. Check the front tyre for uneven or cupped wear.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Honda vtx 1300c has a serious front end wobble that impedes the safe operation of this vehicle at speeds of 40 miles per hour. I have replaced tires and replaced fork springs/oil. Still front end shakes violently. This started around 7,000 miles .I'm currently at 20,000 and wanted to replace all parts before complaining.”
NHTSA complaint #10223299, filed 2008-04, 7,000 miles“Front end wobbled on mt 2004 VTX1300. I have talked to Honda corp and they deny any issues. I took it to the shop twice and they only came back to say it is the tires which it is not. There is something that is causing the tires ti wear the way they are. This is a major safty issue and these bikes should be recalled.”
NHTSA complaint #10098532, filed 2004-11, 3,000 miles - Vehicle speed control
Speedometer reads faster than actual speed
- 13 complaints (17%)
- median 1 mi at 1.0 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
- filed 2004–2008
Owners report the speedometer reading high compared with GPS, radar or other vehicles, and most describe the gap as noticeable at highway speeds rather than a small constant offset. Complaints say the reading was off from the first miles of ownership, and dealers reportedly said the error was normal or declined to correct it. Some owners mention aftermarket correction devices installed at their own cost. Noticed from the first rides, often with very low mileage.
What to check: Compare the indicated speed against a GPS or phone app at a steady highway pace, and ask whether any speedometer correction module has been fitted.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Speedometer incorrect as verified with local law enforcement. 10% over actual speeds. Causes me to go slower than other traffic unintentionally. Angers drivers of other vehicles and places myself and my passenger in danger. This can be remedied with a speedo healer but why should I spend $100 to correct a defect in Honda's design?”
NHTSA complaint #10134273, filed 2005-08, 1 miles“Bike was purchased new and the speedomoter reads approx 10% higher than actual speed. Concerning myself with calculating speed while driving at highway speeds is a distraction. Cars constantly passing and discourteous as most often than not I am not maintaining an accurate posted highway speed. Some drivers have passed and cut in front in rage posing a serious danger to me and my passenger. Speed has been confirmed with a GPS. Inquiries to my dealer, Honda and internet based clubs or message boards have produced the same assessment. …”
NHTSA complaint #10134256, filed 2005-08, 1 miles - Wheels
Rear drive flange bearing wear
- 9 complaints (12%)
- median 14,483 mi at 5.6 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
- filed 2005–2014
Owners typically notice this while removing the rear wheel for a tyre change: the flange bearings feel rough, gritty or hard to turn by hand, and in some cases the bearing cage was distorted or balls were missing. Several complaints describe the bearing seat or flange bore as too tight, so even fresh bearings felt stiff once pressed in, and one owner had the flange machined to correct clearance. The flange assembly and bearing were often replaced. Usually found somewhere between a few thousand and about 18,000 miles, often at tyre changes; one report much later in life.
What to check: With the rear wheel off the ground, spin it and listen for roughness, and ask whether the drive flange bearings or the whole flange assembly have ever been replaced. Replacing the rear tyre is a good moment to check them.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10269960, filed 2009-05, 14,483 miles“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 .”
NHTSA complaint #10453792, filed 2012-04, 11,175 miles
Buying note. The most common owner report for this model year is a front-end wobble on deceleration, so a test ride that includes coasting down through the middle of the speed range matters more than a short run up the road. Ask for service records on steering head bearings, tyres and rear flange bearings, and treat the speedometer reading as approximate rather than exact.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 78 consumer complaints for the 2004 Honda VTX1300. 52 of the complaints include a mileage, and 98% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 4,860 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 3 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.
- Steering33 42%
- Suspension25 32%
- Wheels5 6.4%
- Electrical system4 5.1%
- Other or unknown4 5.1%
- Fuel system2 2.6%
- Engine cooling1 1.3%
- Body and structure1 1.3%
Example complaints
Steering: “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. …”
NHTSA complaint #11330658, filed 2020-06, 8,000 milesSuspension: “I have a 2004 Honda vtx 1300cc motorcycle, which has developed a large problem in the steering (wobble). This problem has been noted by hundreds of owners that I have seen on the web. I am replacing the front wheel bearings and the steering stem bearings to avoid being killed. That failure of the NHTSA to address this issue with Honda is sickening. I guess people have to die before our wonderful government agencies will do their jobs; maybe not even then.”
NHTSA complaint #10235297, filed 2008-07, 8,000 milesVehicle speed control: “Since the day I bought the bike, the speedometer has read high by about 10% (checked by GPS). If the speedometer reads 60mph, I am actually going about 54mph. Doing the calculations in my head to get an accurate speed reading are a distraction and take my concentration off the road. When I first got the bike, that speedometer put me in a bad spot with cars passing me at thier normal to higher speeds while I was under the speed limit. A bad and dangeous combination that could lead to a crash with injuries or fatalities. There should be a recall. Letters to Honda have been ineffective.”
NHTSA complaint #10100606, filed 2004-11, 1 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #10379492, filed 2011-01, 50,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
98% of the 52 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 500 and 8,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2004 Honda VTX1300 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.
- 10128531Aug 6, 2014Air bags. Dealer message - On Monday, June 23, 2014, American Honda announced three recalls for various 2001-11 Honda models. As of August 4, 2014, affected VINs have been identified, and VIN status inquiry…
- 10128559Jul 23, 2014Air bags. Dealer message - On Monday, June 23, 2014, American Honda announced three recalls for various 2001-11 Honda models. As of July 23, 2014, affected VINs have been identified, and service bulletins…
- 10025523May 31, 2008Equipment. Load carrying capacity reduced label for all honda vehicles.
- 10032953May 9, 2008Electrical system. Honda: warranty extension-vehicle warranty mileage. Class action lawsuit alleging that the odometers on certain 2002-2006 honda models were overstating mileage. Federal court provided final approval…
- 10018337Nov 1, 2005Engine cooling. Cooling fan ground. Honda the wrench.
- 10013766Jul 1, 2004Engine cooling. Don't straight edge it when performing periodic valve inspection.
Other model years of the Honda VTX1300
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 36 | 3,900 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2006 | 35 | 6,800 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 47 | 6,400 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 78 | 4,860 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 35 | 3,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
All Honda VTX1300 model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Honda VTX1300?
Owners of this model year most often describe a front-end wobble or shake that appears while slowing down, typically in the middle of the speed range, and many say they feel it through the handlebars even with both hands on the grips. The issues reported most often: Front-end wobble or shake when slowing down; Speedometer reads faster than actual speed; Rear drive flange bearing wear.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2004 Honda VTX1300 have?
NHTSA recorded 78 consumer complaints for the 2004 Honda VTX1300 as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2004 Honda VTX1300 is reported most often?
Steering is named most often, in 33 complaints (42% of the total), followed by suspension with 25.
Has the 2004 Honda VTX1300 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 2004 Honda VTX1300 reported?
Among the 52 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 4,860 miles and the middle half falls between 500 and 8,000 miles; 98% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 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.