2004 Honda VTX1300 Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 6about this part
- Share
- 8%of 78 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 15,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 6 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2004 Honda VTX1300, 8% of the 78 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 15,000 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“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 miles“Removed the front and rear wheels to have new tires installed. Noticed the final drive flange bearings seal toward wheel, was torn open as if the seal had melted and the bearings were dry and very rough to turn. Problem is, I replaced the bearings and felt resistance when turning the new bearings. Read about this problem in one of the forums, removed the new bearings and ordered a second set. Measured the bearing fit in the flange and it was .001 too close at the top and .002 at the bottom. Had the flange machined to correct clearance and installed new bearings. …”
NHTSA complaint #10609741, filed 2014-07, 15,000 miles“Rear flange bearing in final drive on 2004 Honda vtx 1300 motorcycle. This bearing basically came apart in the rear end, and was discovered by a local tire seller. If I had continued to ride, it could have locked up the rear end, resulting in a very bad accident.”
NHTSA complaint #10172681, filed 2006-11, 31,000 milesTransmission and drivetrain: other model years
Other parts of the 2004 Honda VTX1300
33 complaintsSuspension
25 complaintsVehicle speed control
9 complaintsWheels
5 complaintsElectrical system
4 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsFuel system
2 complaintsEngine cooling
1 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Honda VTX1300
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.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology