2003 Honda VTX1800 Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year mostly report failing rear flange bearings on the rear wheel, often found when the tire was being changed. Other reports are scattered, with a smaller group describing wobble or vibration at riding speed. Most bearing reports that list mileage are under 15,000 miles, though some fall between 16,000 and 49,999 miles.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Rear flange bearings failing, often found at tire change

   • 40 complaints (75%)
   • median 14,332 mi at 5.4 yrs old (34 state mileage)
   • filed 2005–2017

   Owners describe the rear driven flange bearings failing, often noticed when the rear tire was being replaced. Reported signs include a rear wheel that turns roughly or hard, grinding or noise when turning, and bearings found broken apart or with missing pieces, and some say the failure came with little warning. According to complaints, some dealers replaced the bearing under warranty, while others said it is part of the design or charged the owner, and some owners asked why no factory recall was issued. Most reports that give mileage are under 15,000 miles, with the range running from 3,000 to 49,999 miles, and many were found during a rear tire change.

   What to check: Spin the rear wheel by hand with the bike supported to check for rough turning, grinding or play. Ask for records showing when the flange bearings were last inspected or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2003 Honda vtx 1800c all flange bearings destroyed near 50k miles inner wheel bearings starting to have play found when changing tire, I've been on a Honda since I was a kid never seen Honda have this poor a a design! Especially on a two wheel machine. Should be a recall !! I did not know or have any symptoms of failure. Fortunately no one was hurt or killed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10183004, filed 2007-02, 49,999 miles

   “Changing tire on my 2003 Honda vtx 1800 s model, removed rear wheel and found that the final drive flange bearings were bad. Balls fell out of the races when I removed the bearings. This was at my first tire change so I don't know exactly when they failed. I ordered new bearings and replaced them myself. Old parts were thrown away. This motorcycle was purchased new on 9/2005.”

   NHTSA complaint #10198442, filed 2007-08, 3,000 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Wobble and vibration while riding

   • 5 complaints (9%)
   • median 10,000 mi at 4.0 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2003–2013

   Owners describe a front end that wobbles between 35 and 50 mph, especially if the handlebars are not held with both hands, and handlebar vibration in other reports. A complaint describes a frame that feels uneven and unstable at various speeds, and a dealer inspection could not duplicate it and attributed the feel to the design of the motorcycle. A rear tire shake is described before a fatal crash, where the complaint says a car tire had been fitted to the rear, and rear wheel vibration in another report traces to failed bearings. Mileage is listed for only some of these, between 2,000 and 20,000 miles, and the wobble report describes speeds between 35 and 50 mph.

   What to check: On a test ride, note any wobble or vibration in the handlebars or frame, especially between 35 and 50 mph. Ask the seller whether a dealer has diagnosed the wobble or vibration and what was done about it.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Major front end wobble (especially if not gripping with both hands) between 35-50mph. Several hundred complaints online, but nobody has a 100% fix. Almost caused an accident during a turn with the wobble. Almost feels like you're going to lose control. Brought it to the Honda dealership and they said several people have also brought in there bikes with the same issue, but no known fixes.”

   NHTSA complaint #10507265, filed 2013-04, 10,000 miles

   “(1)vibration in rear wheel of Honda vtx1800c 2003 (2)upon disassembly of rear wheel, bearings in the spline flange were found to be totally disintegrated. Although the bearings had not yet welded themselves together. (3)motorcycle had Honda warranty, Honda refused to repair,fixed myself. Still have old parts.”

   NHTSA complaint #10172079, filed 2006-10, 20,000 miles

Buying note. Anyone considering this model year should check the rear flange bearings by hand and ask for proof they were inspected or replaced, since many reports describe failures in this area. A test ride that checks for wobble or handlebar vibration is also worthwhile, given the handling reports in the sample.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 41 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.