IllustrationIGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY WHEN STARTING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK
2003 Honda Honda Motorcycle
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Honda Motorcycle years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 16 of 28 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports0 fire reports5 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
2 reports2001 HONDA SHADOW SABRE 1100CC MOTORCYCLE... STARTER SWITCH BURNS OUT WHEN LIGHTS ARE WIRED. PUSHED SALE OF LIGHTS( FOG AND POSITION LIGHTS) FROM DEALERS , OWNERS NOT TOLD OF LOW AMPRAGE RATE ON STARTER SWITCHES! LOW AMP RATED SWITCHES ARE USED IN THESE MOTORCYCLES. LEADS TO START FAILURE, EXPENSIVE TOWING,AND HIGH MAITENANC…
Read full complaint
2001 HONDA SHADOW SABRE 1100CC MOTORCYCLE... STARTER SWITCH BURNS OUT WHEN LIGHTS ARE WIRED. PUSHED SALE OF LIGHTS( FOG AND POSITION LIGHTS) FROM DEALERS , OWNERS NOT TOLD OF LOW AMPRAGE RATE ON STARTER SWITCHES! LOW AMP RATED SWITCHES ARE USED IN THESE MOTORCYCLES. LEADS TO START FAILURE, EXPENSIVE TOWING,AND HIGH MAITENANCE COST. FIRE. LOSS OF CONTROL, AND HIGHWAY ACCIDENTS POSSIBLE! HEADLIGHTS ARE WIRED THRU STARTER SWITCH!???*AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.