2002 Honda VTX1800 Problems
- Complaints
- 63filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 15,000miles, 47 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 3campaigns 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 2002 Honda VTX1800 (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error
What owners report
Owners of this model year most often report rear wheel and final-drive flange bearing failures, frequently noticed while the rear tire is being changed, and side-stand spring hardware that breaks or drops the stand and kills the engine. Spark plug fouling tied to fuel-rich running is the other recurring theme, appearing both very early in life and later; a smaller group of reports covers radiator and trim heat problems and drive-shaft or wobble complaints at speed.
- Suspension
Rear wheel / final drive flange bearing failure
- 29 complaints (46%)
- median 18,000 mi at 4.8 yrs old (25 state mileage)
- 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
- filed 2005–2018
Complaints describe the rear wheel flange bearing (final drive side) coming apart: rough or seized rotation, destroyed ball cage, missing balls, metal shavings in the hub, and a plastic seal that is gone. Many owners say it was found only when the rear tire was removed for replacement or maintenance, sometimes after thousands of miles of vibration or a grinding noise in the rear. Several report paying out of pocket for bearings or the whole flange assembly; some dealers replaced the flange, others simply changed bearings. Reported from under 5,000 miles up past 60,000, but most mentions fall between about 6,000 and 35,000 miles and crop up at tire changes.
What to check: Have the rear wheel pulled and the flange bearings spun and inspected by hand, since a wheel on the stand can feel fine. Ask for records of any bearing or flange replacement and check again at every rear tire change.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“The flange bearing on the rear wheel failed. The bearing was rough and very hard to turn. Many, many metal shavings were found in the rear hub assembly. These shavings were from the bearing. The problem was found when installing a new tire. The dealership replaced the entire flange assembly. They only charged me labor, did not charge me for the part. They are a very, very good dealership.”
NHTSA complaint #10137695, filed 2005-09, 26,628 miles“My 2002 vtx 1800 experienced rear wheel bearing failure with less than 10,000 miles on the bike. The bearing was checked by a Honda dealer and was found to be locked up. Repair is being completed by dealer with expense out of my pocket.”
NHTSA complaint #10134864, filed 2005-08, 9,600 miles - Body and structure
Side stand spring hook or bolt breaks, stand drops
- 11 complaints (17%)
- median 7,400 mi at 2.9 yrs old (10 state mileage)
- filed 2004–2006
Owners describe the spring anchor stud or hook that holds the side stand spring breaking, letting the stand hang down; the stand then trips the engine kill switch and the engine stops, sometimes in traffic, and the bike can fall over when parked. In some reports the bolt was flexing but had not yet broken. Repairs were done with identical parts, and at least one owner reported difficulty getting recall parts from a dealer. Mostly reported between roughly 2,500 and 14,000 miles, often during normal riding or while getting off the bike.
What to check: Inspect the side stand spring bolt, washer and hook for flexing, cracks or a loose spring, and ask whether recall 04V564000 was performed and whether parts were actually installed.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“The side-stand spring anchor failed and the side stand would not remain in its un-deployes (retracted) position. This could be disasterous when making a left turn. I managed to make it back to my dealer and they reluctantly replaced it immediatly, they wanted me to leave the bike there. The failure occured some 200 miles from home on a sunday and I had to mcgyver it with bungee cords and once I failed to hold the side stand down, it retracted, and the bike fell over!”
NHTSA complaint #10088272, filed 2004-08, 8,000 miles“Kick stand retract spring stud broke allowing the side stand to lower and kill the engine. The stud broke while stopped at a gas station. I bungeed the stand up and continued my trip.”
NHTSA complaint #10091002, filed 2004-09, 59,400 miles - Engine cooling
Spark plug fouling and rich running
- 5 complaints (8%)
- median 8,300 mi at 0.7 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
- filed 2002–2003
Complaints describe plugs fouling within a few hundred to a few thousand miles, hard or no starting, running on one cylinder, a gasoline smell behind the bike, backfiring on deceleration and poor fuel mileage. Owners point to cam timing off by a tooth, a decompression lobe stuck open, or rings seating poorly as explanations given by dealers or mechanics, with some dealers saying they did not know how to fix it. Repairs mentioned include cam replacement. Appears both within the first 500 miles and later, with several reports in the 5,000 to 16,000 mile range.
What to check: Ask whether plugs have been replaced repeatedly and whether cam timing or the decompression mechanism was checked; look for a strong fuel smell at the exhaust and black, sooty plug tips.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“Decompression lobe on the front cyclinder has failed on my 2002 vtx1800r. Decompression lobe is stuck in open postiion and caused spark plugs to foul quite regularly (every 5k miles). Have had people tell me they had the same problem with their motorcycles and Honda would not repair under warranty. My warranty was only out 2 weeks before problem was diagnosed. Only fix fix problem is cam replacementm which runs about $350. …”
NHTSA complaint #10025701, filed 2003-07, 16,000 miles“Every 600 miles the plugs foul. Bike wont even start. Dealer has other vtx's with same problem. Doesnt no how to fix problem. He stated that Honda inc. Has been no help.”
NHTSA complaint #10005648, filed 2003-02, 600 miles
Buying note. On this model year, have the rear wheel flange bearings inspected before purchase and budget for them at each tire change, and confirm both the side-stand and swingarm recalls were actually completed rather than just notified. A test ride at lower speeds and a check for repeated spark plug changes will also tell you a lot.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 48 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 63 consumer complaints for the 2002 Honda VTX1800. 47 of the complaints include a mileage, and 91% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 15,000 miles. Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 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.
- Suspension14 22%
- Engine cooling9 14%
- Body and structure8 13%
- Wheels6 9.5%
- Other or unknown3 4.8%
- Tires3 4.8%
- Brakes2 3.2%
- Steering2 3.2%
- Electrical system1 1.6%
Also reported: Engine (1), Fuel system (1), Latches, locks and linkages (1).
Example complaints
Suspension: “I was having the rear tire changed and I checked the bearings. It has been reported on the Honda web site that there have been several problems. The bearings were replaced and it was found that one was severely damaged. I have the bearing and photos.”
NHTSA complaint #10154043, filed 2006-03, 29,223 milesTransmission and drivetrain: “I own a 2002 Honda vtx retro . I am a member of the vtxoa , it has come to my attention after ready what other owners have experienced that there may be a problem with the final drive bearings or the final drive flange. I receantlly inspected my final drive, and much to my displeasure discovered I am also a victom of failure. I will be ordering new bearings to fix this problem temporally. Please use this link to futher investigate this problem as there is much more information than I can provide here. …”
NHTSA complaint #10112571, filed 2005-03, 14,000 milesEngine cooling: “2002 Honda vtx 1800 right side of the radiator plastic trim melted through. .....the right side of the radiator plastic trim shroud melted through where it comes in close proximity with the exhaust pipe. The top of the shroud is approximately 8 feet from the fuel tank. Consumer is afraid that plastic shroud will catch on fire.”
NHTSA complaint #10121466, filed 2005-05Body and structure: “Kick stand broke pt#hook spring50536-mch-000 motocycle kick stand spring holder broke witch means bike stalls wile riding in gear because kick stand down and bike falling over wile parked.a serious hasard wile riding and a costly damadge wile parked or could fall over on someone bike weighs over 700 lps.”
NHTSA complaint #10091083, filed 2004-09, 8,051 milesMileage when problems were reported
91% of the 47 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 9,000 and 27,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Recalls and investigations
- 09V362000Sep 17, 2009Structure › Frame and membersCovers: Honda VTX1800 2002
Honda is recalling certain model year 2002 vtx1800 motorcycles manufactured between august 14 and october 4, 2001. The swingarm may not have been properly welded.
- 04V564000Nov 30, 2004Structure › Motorcycle › Kickstand/center standCovers: Honda VTX1800 2002
On certain motorcycles, the washer for the side stand spring bolt does not have sufficient harness and could deform, which could cause the bolt to flex and eventually break during side stand operation.
- 01V134000May 9, 2001Power train › Manual transmissionCovers: Honda VTX1800 2002
Vehicle description: motorcycles. A transmission circlip was not seated correctly and could allow gears to lock.
Recall details for the 2002 Honda VTX1800 → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
NHTSA investigations
- PE04063Unintended side-stand deploymentClosed · Sep 15, 2004
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…
- 10018357Jul 1, 2005Fuel system. Stuck fuel pump. Honda. The wrench.
- 10016287May 1, 2005Engine cooling. No start condition. To include honda vtx1800 2004.
Other model years of the Honda VTX1800
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 5 | 1,950 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2004 | 6 | 17,050 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 2003 | 53 | 11,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2002 | 63 | 15,000 | 3 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Honda VTX1800?
Owners of this model year most often report rear wheel and final-drive flange bearing failures, frequently noticed while the rear tire is being changed, and side-stand spring hardware that breaks or drops the stand and kills the engine. The issues reported most often: Rear wheel / final drive flange bearing failure; Side stand spring hook or bolt breaks, stand drops; Spark plug fouling and rich running.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2002 Honda VTX1800 have?
NHTSA recorded 63 consumer complaints for the 2002 Honda VTX1800 as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2002 Honda VTX1800 is reported most often?
Suspension is named most often, in 14 complaints (22% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 13.
Has the 2002 Honda VTX1800 been recalled?
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
At what mileage are problems with the 2002 Honda VTX1800 reported?
Among the 47 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 15,000 miles and the middle half falls between 9,000 and 27,000 miles; 91% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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.