2008 HONDA SHADOW SPIRIT AFTER PURCHASING THE BIKE FROM A A HONDA DEALERSHIP AS NEW, I KEPT NOTICING A STRONG GAS SMELL IN THE GARAGE.BUT I WAS NEVER ABLE TO FIND THE SOURCE, I SUSPECTED THAT IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH MY MOTORCYCLE BUT COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING SO I MADE SURE THAT THE PETCOCK VALVE WAS IN THE OFF POSITION AND THE…
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2008 HONDA SHADOW SPIRIT AFTER PURCHASING THE BIKE FROM A A HONDA DEALERSHIP AS NEW, I KEPT NOTICING A STRONG GAS SMELL IN THE GARAGE.BUT I WAS NEVER ABLE TO FIND THE SOURCE, I SUSPECTED THAT IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH MY MOTORCYCLE BUT COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING SO I MADE SURE THAT THE PETCOCK VALVE WAS IN THE OFF POSITION AND THEN I WOULD NOTICE THAT AFTER TIME THE SMELL DISAPPEARED. EVERY TIME I WOULD TAKE THE BIKE OUT FOR A RIDE I WOULD SMELL THIS SMELL WHEN I PARKED IT BUT AS LONG AS I KEPT THE PETCOCK VALVE CLOSED IN THE GARAGE THE SMELL WOULD DISIPATE. LAST WEEK AFTER STARTING THE BIKE AND CHANGING THE OIL I NOTICED A STAIN UNDER BIKE AND FOUND IT WAS GALOLINE. I THEN NOTICED GAS DRIPPING FROM PETCOCK VALVE, WHEN I SHUT IT OFF THE DRIPPING STOPPED. AFTER ONLINE RESEARCH, I DISCOVERED IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AND THERE WAS A RELATED RECALL FOR THE EXACT ISSUE. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER I WAS INFORMED THE RECALL HAD ALREADY BEEN PERFORMED ON THE BIKE, AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OUT OF POCKET. HONDA BLAMED ME FOR THIS PROBLEM SAYING THAT I DO NOT RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE ENOUGH AND THAT THE GAS WAS TOO OLD IN THE BIKE. ONLINE I FIND DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS OF DRIPPING GAS FROM PETCOCK AFTER RECALL WAS PERFORMED. I PURCHASE THIS 2008 FROM DEALERSHIP IN 2012 AS NEW. THERE WAS GAS IN BIKE WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED SO THERE IS NO TELLING HOW OLD THE GAS WAS IN THE BIKE. THIS DRIPPING FUEL CAN IGNITE AND CAUSE SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH.
NHTSA ODI #10927758
1,700 miles · Nov 21, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA VT750 SHADOW MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WOULD COST $600 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE WAS LEAKING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,700.
HONDA IS RECALLING 38,934 MY 2006-2007 VT600 AND MY 2007-2008 VT750 AND VTX1300 MOTORCYCLES. THE MOTORCYCLES MAY HAVE AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED FUEL CONTROL VALVE DIAPHRAGM AND THE FUEL VALVE MAY DRIP FUEL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, DRIPPING FUEL POSES THE RISK OF FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL CONTROL VALVE DIAPHRAGM ASSEMBLY, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 22, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-866-784-1870.
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
1
AQ12001 · Southern Honda Powersports
Opened May 14, 2012 · Closed May 13, 2013
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other
NHTSA opened Audit Query (AQ) 12-001 to determine whether Southern Honda Powersports (Southern Honda) of Chattanooga, Tennessee, had complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, as amended, 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 (Safety Act) and its implementing regulations. The Safety Act requires, among other things, that a motor vehicle or equipment manufacturer notify its dealers of defects related to motor vehicle safety and non-compliances with federal motor vehicle safety standards.In turn, a dealer may not sell and deliver a new vehicle subject to a recall unless the recall remedy has been performed.(see 49 U.S.C. 30120(i); 49 C.F.R. 573.11)NHTSA issued an information request to Southern Honda on May 14, 2012 to which they responded on July 6, 2012.NHTSA?s inquiry led it to believe that Southern Honda had failed to complete the requirements of five recalls that required inspections and/or repairs of motorcycles prior to their sale or delivery.NHTSA believes that 329 motorcycles affected by recalls had not been inspected and/or repaired prior to their sale and delivery between 2007 and 2012.The agency is unaware of any deaths or injuries involving these vehicles.NHTSA concluded that it had a potential civil penalty claim against Southern Honda for violations of the Safety Act.Southern Honda denied any violations of the Safety Act.In order to settle this matter, Southern Honda agreed to pay a civil penalty in the amount of $125,000, to be paid in five annual installments.This AQ is closed.
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