2003 Honda Vtx1800 Problems & Complaints

JUST HAD REAR TIRE REPLACED ON MY VTX 1800R AT HONDA DEALER. WAS INFORMED BY TECHNICIAN THAT MY REAR BEARING NEEDS REPLACED. THE BIKE ONLY HAS 13,500 ORIGINAL MILES ON IT. THIS SEEMS WAY TO EARLY FOR THIS TO HAVE WORN OUT ALREADY. I SEE ON THIS FORUM THAT THIS PROBLEM IS ENORMOUSLY COMMON ON THE 1800S. PRETTY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS. ORDERING REPLACEMENT PARTS AND HOPING THE BEARINGS HAVE BEEN UPGRADED IN THE LAST 13 YEARS.

NOTICED ODD TIRE WEAR ON THE REAR TIRE OF THE MOTORCYCLE WHILE AWAY FROM HOME. TIRE SEEMED TO HAVE WORN DOWN VERY QUICKLY. AFTER ANOTHER 100 MILES RIDDEN, NOTICED TREAD ON LEFT SIDE OF TIRE WAS WORN DOWN TO THE CORDS OF THE TIRE AND VERY CLOSE TO HAVING A BLOW OUT. REMOVED TIRE AND WHEEL TO REPLACE TIRE. DISCOVERED THAT THE BEARING IN THE FLANGE WAS DESTROYED, THIS BEARING WAS ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE TIRE THAT HAD WORN DOWN TO THE CORDS. BEARING HAD METAL PIECES LOOSE INSIDE AND BALL BEARINGS WERE LOOSE AND SCATTERED AROUND BEARING. I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND HAVE FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF PREVIOUS FAILURE. *TR

THE REAR WHEEL FLANGE BEARINGS WERE FOUND DAMAGED AND MISSING. *TR

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. *TR

I HEARD A NOISE WHEN TURNING OR CORNERIG BOTH DIRECTIONS. REMOVED REAR WHEEL AND FOUND DRIVE FLANGE BEARING HAD FAILED BREAKING APART INTO SMALL PIECES. *TR

REAR DRIVE SIDE FLANGE BEARING TOTAL FAILURE 4 TIMES BEFORE 30000 MILES. BEARINGS TOTALLY GROUND DOWN AND ROUGH. T $220.00 A POP, IT IS BECOMING EXPENSIVE AND AN IMMINENT DANGER TO ALL RIDERS. *JS

WHEN CHANGING REAR TIRE CHECKED FLANGE BEARING AND NOTICED BEARING WAS COMING APART. SEAL GONE AND METAL PIECES PRESENT ALONG WITH ROUGH AND LOOSE BEARINGS. 14,000 MILES ON 03 1800 VTX C. *TR

FLANGE BEARING WORN AT ONLY 11,000 MILES...LUCKILY I HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR TIRE FOR A 1200 MILE TRIP I WAS GETTING READY TO TAKE OR ELSE IT COULD OF MADE FOR A REALLY BAD TRIP FOR SOMETHING THAT I BELIEVE SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AFTER ONLY THIS MANY MILES...SPENT 35 BUCKS AND GOT THEM REPLACED.. *TR

THE REAR FLANGE BEARING ON MY 2003 HONDA VTX 1800C FAILED RESULTING IN A VERY SCARY DRIVING SITUATION FOR ME. IT HASN'T HAPPENED SINCE THE INITIAL FAILURE ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 2 OF LAST YEAR, BUT THE REAR WHEEL IS STARTING TO TURN A LITTLE HARDER AGAIN RECENTLY AND I AM LOOKING INTO REPLACING THE BEARING SOON. THE DEALERSHIP (HONDA/YAHAMA OF SAVANNAH, GA) REPLACED THE BEARING AT MY COST AND TOLD ME THAT IT JUST HAPPENS AND IT'S A PART OF THE DESIGN. I WASN'T AWARE THAT THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AN ITEM SUBJECT TO WEAR AND TEAR REPLACEMENT. *TR

WHILE REMOVING THE REAR TIRE FOR REPLACEMENT I NOTICED THE FLANGE BEARING HAS FAILED. 11,000 MILES, FIRST TIME INSPECTING THE BEARING. WILL REPLACE WITH NEW BEARINGS AND POSSIBLY MACHINE THE FLANGE FOR BETTER FIT. *TR

2003 HONDA VTX1800 MC BIKE STARTED TO SHAKE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED*CW ACCORDING TO WITNESSES THE REAR TIRE STARTED TO SHAKE AS THE CONSUMER WAS RIDING. SECONDS LATER, HE LOST CONTROL OF THE BIKE AND WENT DOWN ON THE PAVEMENT. THE SECOND PERSON, THE CONSUMERS WIFE WAS ON A SEPARATE BIKE TRIED TO SWERVE TO AVOID THE ACCIDENT, BUT LOST CONTROL INSTEAD. HUSBAND AND WIFE WERE PRONOUNCED DEAD. ACCORDING TO THE DECEDENT'S SON, THE CONSUMER HAD PLACED A CAR TIRE ON THE REAR OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND HAD BEEN RIDING THAT WAY FOR ABOUT A YEAR. *JB

HONDA MOTORCYCLE VTX-1800 REAR WHEEL FLANGE BEARING FAILURE. *TR

WHEN THE REAR TIRE WAS REPLACED, I HAD THE TECHNICIAN CHECK THE CONDITION OF THE REAR FLANGE BEARINGS. THEY WERE VERY ROUGH. I ORDERED TWO BEARINGS AND REPLACED THEM ON 12/04/2008 WITH 14,465 MILES ON THE MOTORCYCLE. UPON REMOVAL FROM THE FLANGE, THE BEARINGS WERE IN A STATE OF TOTAL FAILURE. *TR

REAR TIRE WAS WORN OUT UPON REPLACING TIRE I INSPECTED BEARINGS AND THEY FELL OUT. ORDERED NEW BEARINGS ON LINE AND REPLACED THEM. *TR

I WAS REMOVING REAR WHEEL ON MY 2003 HONDA VTX C MODEL TO REPLACE WORN TIRE AND WITH THE WHEEL OFF I DID A CHECK OF THE WHEEL BEARINGS. I FREQUENTLY VISIT THE HONDA VTX OWNERS SITE TO KEEP UP ON MAINTENANCE ISSUES AND HAVE FOUND THAT MANY OTHER OWNER HAVE HAD A FAILURE OF THIS ONE PARTICULAR BEARING ASSEMBLY REFERRED TO AS " FINAL DRIVEN FLANGE A , HONDA PART NUMBER 42630-MCH-000. I DID A CHECK OF THE BEARING AND FOUND THAT IT WOULD BARELY ROTATE, IT HAD COMPLETELY FAILED. CONSIDERING THIS IS ON A MOTORCYCLE, I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I HAVE ORDERED A NEW PART FROM HONDA AND I HOPE THAT THEY HAVE ADDRESSED THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. *TR

HONDA VTX 1800C DURING REAR TIRE REPLACEMENT AT 8,371 MILES DISCOVERED WHEEL BEARING ON THE RIGHT SIDE (BRAKE SIDE) WAS VERY BAD...HAD NO WARNING BUT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN VERY LONG. LONGEST TRIP HAS BEEN 100 MILES REST IS ALL CITY. NO REASON FOR THIS FAILURE! *TR

DRIVEN FLANGE BEARING SET FAILURE DISCOVERED WHEN REAR TIRE WAS REPLACED. *TR

FLANGE BEARING ON MOTORCYCLE FINAL DRIVE ENGAGEMENT FELL APART AFTER 9500 MILES. *TR

FLANGE BEARING FAILURE APPROXIMATE DATE OF FAILURE: JUNE 2008 YEAR OF MANUFACTURE: 2003 MODEL: R MILEAGE: 36,000 BEARING CONDITION: INNER BEARING COMPLETELY DESTROYED...FOUND WHEN I CHANGED OUT THE TIRE....SEAL BULGED OUT AND METAL PIECES EVERYWHERE. ACCIDENT : NO HOW FIXED: PURCHASED PART FROM BEARING SUPPLY STORE AND REPLACED IT MYSELF.......HOPING IT WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN! *TR

HONDA VTX DRIVE FLANGE BEARING FAILURE. REPAIRED AT HOME. NO ACCIDENT. *TR

FAILURE OF FLANGE BEARING, REAR WHEEL AT 9000 MILES CHECK BEARING AT TIRE REPLACEMENT REPLACE FLANGE BEARING UNIT-HONDA DOES NOT SELL BEARINGS ONLY. *TR

HONDA MOTORCYCLE 2003 VTX C REAR WHEEL BEARING. *TR

REAR WHEEL FLANGE BEARING FAILURE. *TR

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. *JB

FAILURE OF FLANGE BEARING ON 2003 HONDA VTX 1800S MOTORCYCLE

FAILURE OF REAR BEARINGS ON MOTORCYCLE. DEALER FOUND AT TIME OF TIRE CHANGE.

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. *NM

(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. *NM

FLANGE BEARING FAILURE. *NM

2003 HONDA VTX 1800C FLANGE BEARING FAILURE. DISCOVERED WHILE REAR WHEEL OFF FOR POLISHING. INNER 6905 BEARING OK, OUTER 6905RS BEARING ROUGH TO TURN. HATTIESBURG HONDA WOULD NOT EVEN TALK TO ME ABOUT IT, COLUMBIA HONDA REPLACED BOTH BEARINGS UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY. *NM

(1) 2003 HONDA VTX 1800C MOTORCYCLE REAR DRIVEN FLANGE BEARING FAILURE. WHEN REMOVING TIRE/WHEEL ASSEMBLY FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT, (2) I DISCOVERED THE SMALL BEARINGS PRESSED INTO THE DRIVEN FLANGE (MOUNTED ON REAR WHEEL) WERE VERY ROUGH AND HARD TO SPIN, USING MY INDEX FINGER IN THE AXLE HOLE. I REMOVED THE FLANGE FROM THE WHEEL AND DISCOVERED THE BEARING SEAL MISSING, PROBABLY CHEWED UP; THE CAGE THAT SPACES THE BALL BEARINGS HAD DISINTEGRATED INTO LITTLE PIECES AND HAD BEEN EXPELLED FROM THE BEARING/SLEEVE AREA ONTO THE MAIN REAR AXLE BEARING (WHICH IS STILL OKAY); THE TWO BEARINGS INSIDE THE FLANGE WERE ROUGH AND FELT LIKE THEY RATCHETED INSTEAD OF TURNING SMOOTHLY. (3) I PRESSED THEM OUT, MEASURED THE HOUSING BORE, CLEANED IT AND SLIGHTLY ENLARGED (APPROX 0.0005 IN.) THE BOTTOM OF THE BORE WITH MACHINE TOOLS AND SANDING DRUMS TO WHERE THE NEW BEARINGS ARE A PRESS FIT WITHOUT BINDING -- THE ORIGINAL BORE SEEMED SLIGHTLY TAPERED -CONE SHAPED- AND CAUSED THE OUTER BEARING RACE TO PINCH DOWN ON THE BALLS AND REMOVE ANY CLEARANCE BUILT INTO THE BEARING, CAUSING THE RATCHETING FEELING. REFERRED TO THIS SITE BY VTXOA (VTX OWNER'S ASSOCIATION) WEBSITE. *JB

2003 VTX 1800 FUEL LEAKED ON TO THE CYLINDER HEAD. *TS ***NAR*** FUEL LEAKED FROM THE LOWER RIGHT SIDE SEAM OF THE FUEL TANK. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR IS LOCATED ON THE FUEL TANK AND DOES NOT INDICATE WHICH REAR TURN SIGNAL ILLUMINATES. THE SWITCH TO INITIATE THE TURN SIGNAL IS LOCATED ON THE LEFT HANDLE BAR AND ONCE ENGAGED RETURNS TO A NEUTRAL POSITION WHICH ALSO FAILS TO DEMONSTRATE WHICH TURN SIGNAL IS ENGAGED. ADDITIONALLY, THE STRUCTURE FRAME APPEARED UNEVEN AND PHYSICALLY FELT UNSTABLE WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THIS WAS THE DESIGN OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEMS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED. UPDATED 6/27/2006 - WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER FEELS THAT THE MOTORCYCLE LEANS TO THE LEFT. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT THE FRAME IS CROOKED. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ADJUSTING THE VEHICLE FOR THE RIDERS HEIGHT THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS BROKE AT THE WELD. THE CONTACT WAS PERFORMING THE REPAIR WORK WITH THE INSTRUCTIONS IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

2003 HONDA VTX 1800 RETRO REAR WHEEL WAS REMOVED FOR TIRE REPLACEMENT AND FOUND THE REAR FLANGE BEARING TO BE ROUGHLY TURNING INDICATING PREMATURE FAILURE. MANY CASES OF THIS HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED IN THESE SAME MODELS AND NO FACTORY RECALL HAS BEEN DIRECTED. THIS BEARING FAILURE IF NOT DETECTED CAN CAUSE REAR AXLE DAMAGE AND FAILURE AND OR SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO BOTH OPERATOR AND PASSENGER. *JB

REAR AXLE BUSHING/BEARING FAILURE. 1 OF THE 2 BEARINGS HAD FAILED. I FOUND THIS BY PURE LUCK CHANGING MY REAR TIRE. THIS WAS DISCOVERED IN PREPARATION FOR A LONG WEEKEND RIDE TO THE HONDA GATHERING AT THERE FACTORY. I PURCHASED NEW BEARINGS FOR $54 A PIECE. AND REPLACED THEM MYSELF . *NM

2003 HONDA VTX1800R MOTORCYCLE REAR DRIVE UNIT BEARING FAILURE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TWO YEARS OLD WITH 20K MILES ON IT. DURING A ROUTINE REAR WHEEL REMOVAL, THE TWO RADIAL BALL BEARINGS P/N: 6304UU (20X47X20.9) (TOYO) WERE FOUND TO BE SEVERELY DAMAGED, MISSING BEARINGS ETC.... THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THIS CAN RESULT IN A CATASTROPHIC REAR DRIVE FAILURE WHILE OPERATING THE MOTOR VEHICLE WITH DEATH AND INJURY AS A POSSIBLE RESULT ALSO WHO EVER IT WAS AT HONDA REPORTING THE VTX TO HAVE 106HP SHOULD BE FLAGGED FOR A FLAT OUT LIE. *JB

DT: 2003 HONDA VTX1800 RETRO CAST. THE TURN SIGNAL LENSES KEEP FALLING OFF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP STATES THEY HAVE CONTACTED HONDA AND THEY ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 60 TIMES SINCE HE HAS OWNED THE MOTORCYCLE. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP IS GIVING HIM THE LENSES AND HE FIXES IT HIMSELF. WHEN THIS FALLS OF, IT COULD HIT SOMEONE BEHIND THE CONSUMER AND INJURE THEM. THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT KNOW WHY THE LENS KEEPS FALLING OFF.*AK

WHILE REPLACING REAR TIRE ON MY VTX 1800C I NOTICED THE FLANGE BEARING WAS ROUGH,THE LOCAL DEALER REPLACED IT UNDER WARRANTY. NO ACCIDENTS OR DAMAGE. *NM

DURING ROUTINE INSPECTION OF REAR WHEEL ASSEMBLY WHILE DOING A TIRE CHANGE, I IDENTIFIED A BAD PAIR OF BEARINGS. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS ONLY 7,000 MILES ON IT. I REPLACED WITH NEW BEARINGS. *NM

PREMATURE FAILURE IN THE DRIVEN FLANGE BEARING SET OF VTX1800S (ALL MODELS). MINE HAS NOW FAILED WITH 16,000 MILES ON THE BIKE.

FELT GRINDING IN REAR WHEEL WHILE RIDING MOTORCYCLE DISCOVERED FAILED BEARINGS(2) IN DRIVEFLANGE WHILE CHANGING REAR TIRE DEALER REPLACED DRIVE FLANGE UNDER WARRANTY, OLD PART WAS RETURNED TO HONDA MOTORS.

1. BEARING FAILURE WAS FOUND IN THE DRIVE FLANGE ASSEMBLY DURING REAR TIRE REPLACEMENT AT JUST UNDER 8,000 MILES ON MOTORCYCLE. 2.BEARING WAS TURNING ROUGH AND TRYING TO SIEZE UP, BUT WAS FOUND BEFORE ANY DAMAGE OR ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED. 3.HONDA ONLY SHOWS REPLACEMENT OF WHOLE DRIVE FLANGE (APPROXIMATELY $180). HOWEVER I HAVE LOCATED REPLACEMENT BEARINGS AND I AM IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THEM PRESSED INTO THE DRIVE FLANGE. I WILL KEEP OLD BEARINGS.

CLACK IN REAR DRIVE SHAFT

THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ON MY HONDA VTX 1800 MOTORCYCLE 2003 MODEL. MANY PEOPLE SAY THESE BEARINGS FAIL. SHOULD I BE CONCERNED? *JB

2003 HONDA VTX1800C MOTORCYCLE REAR DRIVE UNIT BEARING FAILURE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TWO YEARS OLD WITH 13K MILES ON IT. DURING A ROUTINE REAR WHEEL REMOVAL, THE TWO RADIAL BALL BEARINGS P/N: 6304UU (20X47X20.9) (TOYO) WERE FOUND TO BE SEVERLY DAMAGED. THIS CAN RESULT IN A CATASTROPHIC REAR DRIVE FAILURE WHILE OPERATING THE MOTOR VEHICLE WITH DEATH AND INJURY AS A RESULT.

BEARING FAILLURE ON READ DRIVE HUB ON VEHIVLE 2003 HONDA MOTORCYCLE MODEL 1800R AT 8000 MILES. BEARING IS HONDA PART NUMBER # 91052-KZ4-J21

ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED MOTORCYCLE SEVERAL TIMES AND COULD NOT FIX THE MOTORCYCLE. CURRENTLY, WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND CONSUMER HAD FIXED THE MOTORCYCLE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING MOTORCYCLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE MOTORCYCLE, AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR RIGHT BOLT THAT HOLDS THE AXLE SEPARATED. THE AXLE WAS HALF INCH OUT OF THE SWING ARM AND RESTED AGAINST IT. THE BOLT SHOULD NOT HAVE SEPARATED BECAUSE IT HAD A LOCK KNOT THAT PREVENTED IT FROM COMING OFF THE AXLE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. MR WHILE OPENING THE THROTTLE MORE THAN HALF WAY BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE TAILPIPE, THE MOTORCYCLE BACKFIRED AND CUT OFF. *NM

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING FUEL LIGHT WOULD COME ON TOO EARLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC TO HAVE THE AIR PRESSURE CHECKED. THE MECHANIC NOTICED CRACKS IN THE FRONT TIRE. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THE CRACKS WERE NOT FROM WEAR. THE BIKE WAS PURCHASED NEW WITH ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. *NLM, RETURNED USPS, 2ND ATTEMPT MADE 06/08/07 FAILED * LJ

WHILE DRIVING THE HANDLE BAR VIBRATED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *NLM