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2003 Honda VTX1300

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2003 Honda VTX1300 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 35.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 19 of 35 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.

  • Steering. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Suspension complaints

11 reports
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16,000 miles · Jul 31, 2012
SteeringSuspension

BAD WOBBLE IN STEERING/BEARING BETWEEN 30 AND 50 MPH. WHEN THIS IS GOING ON IN A CURVE YOU NEARLY LOOSE CONTROL IT CONVULSIVE WOBBLE GROWS. NOT HARD TO FIND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS CONDITION EVEN ON THESE BIKES RIGHT FROM THE DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10468388

270,000 miles · Jun 8, 2008
Suspension

REAR FLANGE BEARING IN VTX 1300 CAME APART, LOOKED AT BEARING WHILE CHANGING REAR TIRE. REPLACE 2004 AND 2003 VTX S BEARING WHILE CHANGING REAR TIRE. REPLACE BEARING # 91052-KZ4-J21. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230287

12,000 miles · Aug 3, 2006
SteeringSuspension

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2003 HONDA VT1300S. THIS MOTORCYCLE HAS A DECELERATION "WOBBLE" AT 35-45 MPH. IT IS FELT AT THE HANDLEBARS EVEN WHILE HAVING BOTH HANDS ON THEM. MANY VTX OWNERS I KNOW HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT REALLY FEELS AS IF THE STEERING HEAD WOULD COME LOOSE AT ANY POINT AND ALSO I…

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I AM THE OWNER OF A 2003 HONDA VT1300S. THIS MOTORCYCLE HAS A DECELERATION "WOBBLE" AT 35-45 MPH. IT IS FELT AT THE HANDLEBARS EVEN WHILE HAVING BOTH HANDS ON THEM. MANY VTX OWNERS I KNOW HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE BECAUSE IT REALLY FEELS AS IF THE STEERING HEAD WOULD COME LOOSE AT ANY POINT AND ALSO IT'S DANGEROUS WHEN RIDING ON CERTAIN ROADS. IT ALSO SHOWS UNEVEN TIRE WEAR ON THE FRONT TIRE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10164334

5,000 miles · Nov 1, 2005
SteeringSuspension

VEHICLE - 2003 HONDA VTX S/R MODEL PROBLEM IS FRONT END WOBBLE AT 45-35 MPH WHEN DECELERATING. I REPLACED FRONT AND REAR TIRES AT JUST OVER 9000 MILES. BEFORE I REPLACED THE FRONT TIRE THE WOBBLE WAS GETTING WORSE. AFTER I REPLACED THE FRONT TIRE I NOTICED THAT THE WOBBLE IS GONE BUT I CAN STILL FEEL A VERY SLIGHT SIDE TO SIDE…

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VEHICLE - 2003 HONDA VTX S/R MODEL PROBLEM IS FRONT END WOBBLE AT 45-35 MPH WHEN DECELERATING. I REPLACED FRONT AND REAR TIRES AT JUST OVER 9000 MILES. BEFORE I REPLACED THE FRONT TIRE THE WOBBLE WAS GETTING WORSE. AFTER I REPLACED THE FRONT TIRE I NOTICED THAT THE WOBBLE IS GONE BUT I CAN STILL FEEL A VERY SLIGHT SIDE TO SIDE VIBRATION IN THE HANDLEBARS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10141445

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2004
SuspensionTires

MOTORCYCLE'S TIRES WEAR DOWN UNEVENLY ON THE LEFT SIDE.*MR THE MOTORCYCLE DEVELOPED A TERRIBLE FRONT WHEEL AND FORK WOBBLE DUE TO TIRES (DUNLOP 404) THAT WORE UNEVENLY ON THE LEFT SIDE, AFTER ONLY 6000 MILES ON THE ORIGINAL TIRES, THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TREAD WAS DOWN TO 2MM WHILE THE RIGHT WAS ABOUT 5MM. AT 7000 MILES THE LEFT…

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MOTORCYCLE'S TIRES WEAR DOWN UNEVENLY ON THE LEFT SIDE.*MR THE MOTORCYCLE DEVELOPED A TERRIBLE FRONT WHEEL AND FORK WOBBLE DUE TO TIRES (DUNLOP 404) THAT WORE UNEVENLY ON THE LEFT SIDE, AFTER ONLY 6000 MILES ON THE ORIGINAL TIRES, THE LEFT SIDE OF THE TREAD WAS DOWN TO 2MM WHILE THE RIGHT WAS ABOUT 5MM. AT 7000 MILES THE LEFT SIDE WAS DOWN TO 1MM AND THE RIGHT WAS 4-5MM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10079888

580 miles · Jun 18, 2004
Suspension

I HAVE A 2003 HONDA VTX 1300 S RETRO. I FIRST NOTICED THE FRONT END WOBBLE AT 450 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IT STARTS BETWEEN 38 TO 45 MILES PER HOUR. YOU CAN REALLY NOTICE IT WHEN YOU HOLD A CONSTANT SPEED OF 40 MILES PER HOUR. AT THIS SPEED THE HANDLE BARS SHAKE RIGHT IN YOUR HANDS. IF YOU INCREASE THE SPEED TO 50 AND LET GO OF T…

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I HAVE A 2003 HONDA VTX 1300 S RETRO. I FIRST NOTICED THE FRONT END WOBBLE AT 450 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. IT STARTS BETWEEN 38 TO 45 MILES PER HOUR. YOU CAN REALLY NOTICE IT WHEN YOU HOLD A CONSTANT SPEED OF 40 MILES PER HOUR. AT THIS SPEED THE HANDLE BARS SHAKE RIGHT IN YOUR HANDS. IF YOU INCREASE THE SPEED TO 50 AND LET GO OF THE BARS YOU CAN SEE THE BARS SHAKE BACK AND FORTH WITH ABOUT 5 TO 8 INCHES OF SIDE TO SIDE PLAY UNTIL YOU GET DOWN TO AROUND 35 MPH. EVEN WITH YOUR HANDS ON THE BARS YOU CAN FEEL THE SIDE TO SIDE MOTION AT THESE SPEEDS. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER AND HE SAID HE NEVER HEARD ABOUT IT AND THEN HE TOOK OFF THE FRONT WHEEL AND CHECKED THE WEIGHTS ON THE TIRES AND TRUENESS. HE ADDED MORE WEIGHTS AND IT STILL DID IT. I KNOW HAVE 2600 MILES ON THIS BIKE WITH THE PROBLEM STILL HERE. I TOOK IT TO 2 OTHER HONDA DEALERS AND THEY WILL NOT EVEN LOOK AT IT BECAUSE I DID NOT BUY IT THERE BUT THEY SAID ANY OTHER PROBLEMS OTHER THAN THAT THEY CAN " HELP " ME WITH. THE MORE MILES THAT GETS ON THIS BIKE THE WORSE IT GETS. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM. EVERYONE THAT I TALK TO THAT HAS THIS TYPE OF BIKE IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10078420

Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 2004
Suspension

FRONT END WOBBLED ON MY 2003 HONDA VTX 1300 RETRO MOTORCYCLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10078414

Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2004
SuspensionTires

THE FRONT WHEEL OF MY HONDA VTX 1300 HAS A MAJOR WOBBLE WHEN I RUN 40 TO 50 MPH. A WHILE BACK (6 OR 7 MONTHS AGO) I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE PROBLEM WHEN I BROUGHT IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THE BIKE WAS NOT MADE TO RIDE WITH NO HANDS. END OF STORY. THE REASON WHY I WAITED SO LONG IS UNTIL NOW I DID …

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THE FRONT WHEEL OF MY HONDA VTX 1300 HAS A MAJOR WOBBLE WHEN I RUN 40 TO 50 MPH. A WHILE BACK (6 OR 7 MONTHS AGO) I TOLD THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE PROBLEM WHEN I BROUGHT IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THE BIKE WAS NOT MADE TO RIDE WITH NO HANDS. END OF STORY. THE REASON WHY I WAITED SO LONG IS UNTIL NOW I DID NOT KNOW WHO TO TURN TO. RECENTLY I WAS READING ON A WEB SITE JUST FOR HONDA VTX CRUISERS THAT I WAS NOT ALONE BY A LONG SHOT WITH THIS PROBLEM. I DON'T KNOW WERE TO GO SO I AM LOOKING TO FOR AN ANSWER FROM YOU INSTEAD OF THE ONE THE DEALER GAVE ME. PS. THE DATE I GAVE BELOW WAS ONLY TO PROCEED. I DON'T KNOW THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THE WOBBLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10074748

3,000 miles · Jun 1, 2004
Suspension

HAVE FRONT END WOBBLE ON HONDA VTX 1300 03 AT 40MPH VERY UNSAFE HONDA SAYS THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS AND DONT SEAM TO WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

NHTSA ODI #10074573

Mileage unknown · May 31, 2004
Suspension

EXCESSIVE FRONT END WOBBLE. AT SPEEDS AROUND 40 MPH, THE FRONT END WOBBLES EXCESSIVELY, MANY HONDA VTX RIDERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALERS. HOWEVER, ITS ALWAYS THE SAME ANSWERS, "NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS, OR HONDA RECOMMENDS THAT YOU NOT LET GO OF THE HANDLE BARS. I REPLACE MY TIRE AT 8500 MILES AND HAD THE RIMS…

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EXCESSIVE FRONT END WOBBLE. AT SPEEDS AROUND 40 MPH, THE FRONT END WOBBLES EXCESSIVELY, MANY HONDA VTX RIDERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALERS. HOWEVER, ITS ALWAYS THE SAME ANSWERS, "NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS, OR HONDA RECOMMENDS THAT YOU NOT LET GO OF THE HANDLE BARS. I REPLACE MY TIRE AT 8500 MILES AND HAD THE RIMS CHECKED. STILL SAME PROBLEM... CHECK OUR WEB SITE HTTP://WWW.VTXOA.COM/FORUMS/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?T=16810&HIGHLIGHT=WOBBLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10074522

Official recalls

0

No 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.