Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
330–25K
1025–50K
450–75K
075–100K
0100–150K
1150K+
48 reports with mileage · 15 unknown
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.
Suspension. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
63 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2005
Unknown Or Other
THE REAR FLANGE OUT- PUT BEARING IN MY 2002 HONDA VTX R 1800 IS MAKING A GRINDING SOUND. I HAVE READ ON NUMEROUS HONDA OWNER CHAT SITES THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM IN SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS. HONDA MOTORCYCLE CORP IS NOT TAKING ANY ACTION TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM. IF THIS COMES APART AT ANY SPEED IT COULD CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS A…
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THE REAR FLANGE OUT- PUT BEARING IN MY 2002 HONDA VTX R 1800 IS MAKING A GRINDING SOUND. I HAVE READ ON NUMEROUS HONDA OWNER CHAT SITES THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM IN SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS. HONDA MOTORCYCLE CORP IS NOT TAKING ANY ACTION TO ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM. IF THIS COMES APART AT ANY SPEED IT COULD CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10141391
26,628 miles · Sep 26, 2005
Suspension
THE FLANGE BEARING ON THE REAR WHEEL FAILED. THE BEARING WAS ROUGH AND VERY HARD TO TURN. MANY, MANY METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND IN THE REAR HUB ASSEMBLY. THESE SHAVINGS WERE FROM THE BEARING. THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND WHEN INSTALLING A NEW TIRE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENTIRE FLANGE ASSEMBLY. THEY ONLY CHARGED ME LABOR, DID NOT …
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THE FLANGE BEARING ON THE REAR WHEEL FAILED. THE BEARING WAS ROUGH AND VERY HARD TO TURN. MANY, MANY METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND IN THE REAR HUB ASSEMBLY. THESE SHAVINGS WERE FROM THE BEARING. THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND WHEN INSTALLING A NEW TIRE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENTIRE FLANGE ASSEMBLY. THEY ONLY CHARGED ME LABOR, DID NOT CHARGE ME FOR THE PART. THEY ARE A VERY, VERY GOOD DEALERSHIP. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10137695
9,600 miles · Aug 31, 2005
Suspension
MY 2002 VTX 1800 EXPERIENCED REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILURE WITH LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON THE BIKE. THE BEARING WAS CHECKED BY A HONDA DEALER AND WAS FOUND TO BE LOCKED UP. REPAIR IS BEING COMPLETED BY DEALER WITH EXPENSE OUT OF MY POCKET. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10134864
14,200 miles · Aug 13, 2005
Suspension
BEARING FAILURES ON THE FLANGE OR WHEEL BEARINGS OF 2002 HONDA VTX 1800C MOTORCYCLE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10132708
Mileage unknown · May 19, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling
2002 HONDA VTX 1800 RIGHT SIDE OF THE RADIATOR PLASTIC TRIM MELTED THROUGH.*MR.....THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RADIATOR PLASTIC TRIM SHROUD MELTED THROUGH WHERE IT COMES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY WITH THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE TOP OF THE SHROUD IS APPROXIMATELY 8 FEET FROM THE FUEL TANK. CONSUMER IS AFRAID THAT PLASTIC SHROUD WILL CATCH ON FIRE.…
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2002 HONDA VTX 1800 RIGHT SIDE OF THE RADIATOR PLASTIC TRIM MELTED THROUGH.*MR.....THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE RADIATOR PLASTIC TRIM SHROUD MELTED THROUGH WHERE IT COMES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY WITH THE EXHAUST PIPE. THE TOP OF THE SHROUD IS APPROXIMATELY 8 FEET FROM THE FUEL TANK. CONSUMER IS AFRAID THAT PLASTIC SHROUD WILL CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
NOISE IN REAR WHEN RIDING, REMOVED REAR WHEEL TO INSPECT AND REPLACED REAR TIRE, FOUND FLANGE BEARING COMING APART, CAGE DESTROYED, AND BALL BEARINGS MISSING, HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN BAD FOR SOME TIME. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10116873
23,400 miles · Apr 9, 2005
Suspension
READ DRIVE FLANGE BEARING FAILURE WAS FOUND DURING ROUTINE MAINTENENCE. BEING AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM, I HAD THE DEALER INSPECT THE BEARING. IT WAS FOUND TO BE VERY ROUGH, AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. FOR MORE INFORMATION VTXOA.COM/FORUMS/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?T=62787. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10116679
14,000 miles · Mar 5, 2005
Power Train
I OWN A 2002 HONDA VTX RETRO . I AM A MEMBER OF THE VTXOA , IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION AFTER READY WHAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE FINAL DRIVE BEARINGS OR THE FINAL DRIVE FLANGE. I RECEANTLLY INSPECTED MY FINAL DRIVE, AND MUCH TO MY DISPLEASURE DISCOVERED I AM ALSO A VICTOM OF FAILURE…
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I OWN A 2002 HONDA VTX RETRO . I AM A MEMBER OF THE VTXOA , IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION AFTER READY WHAT OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE FINAL DRIVE BEARINGS OR THE FINAL DRIVE FLANGE. I RECEANTLLY INSPECTED MY FINAL DRIVE, AND MUCH TO MY DISPLEASURE DISCOVERED I AM ALSO A VICTOM OF FAILURE. I WILL BE ORDERING NEW BEARINGS TO FIX THIS PROBLEM TEMPORALLY. PLEASE USE THIS LINK TO FUTHER INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AS THERE IS MUCH MORE INFORMATION THAN I CAN PROVIDE HERE. HTTP://WWW.VTXOA.COM/FORUMS/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?T=58952 THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS CASES OF BEARING FAILER POSTED HERE AND I SINCERLY HOPE YOU WILL INVESTIGATE WITH UPMOST SPEED AS MOTORCYCLE RIDING SEASON IS ABOUT TO START AND I WOULD BE AFRAID OF WHAT A TOTAL FAILURE AT HIGH SPEED MIGHT CAUSE. THANKS MATT A MCKINLEY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10112571
10,150 miles · Feb 28, 2005
Power TrainCrashInjury
FAILURE OF THE REAR BEARINGS IN THE FINAL DRIVE FLANGE OF MY 2002 HONDA VTX MOTORCYCLE.
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 VTX1800 MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN AUGUST 14 AND OCTOBER 4, 2001. THE SWINGARM MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY WELDED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE SWINGARM COULD BREAK WHILE RIDINGCAUSING THE RIDER TO LOSE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN CRASH.
Remedy: HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WELD AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE SWINGARM FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA MOTORCYCLE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-866-784-1870.
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE WASHER FOR THE SIDE STAND SPRING BOLT DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT HARNESS AND COULD DEFORM, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE BOLT TO FLEX AND EVENTUALLY BREAK DURING SIDE STAND OPERATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A RETRACTED SIDE STAND COULD DROP WHILE RIDING, POSSIBLY ACTIVATING THE SIDE STAND IGNITION CUT-OFF SYSTEM. IF THE IGNITION IS CUT, THE ENGINE WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED WASHER AND A NEW SPRING BOLT AND NUT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-866-784-1870.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. A TRANSMISSION CIRCLIP WAS NOT SEATED CORRECTLY AND COULD ALLOW GEARS TO LOCK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A REAR-WHEEL LOCKUP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION ON THESE MOTORCYCLES. ALL OWNERS WERE CONTACTED BY TELEPHONE AND ALL VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. THIS CAMPAIGN IS 100% COMPLETED.
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
2
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.
PE04063 · Unintended SIDE-STAND Deployment
Opened Sep 15, 2004 · Closed Jan 21, 2005
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:motorcycle:kickstand/center Stand
THIS PE WAS OPENED TO EXAMINE REPORTS OF UNINTENDED MOTORCYCLE SIDE-STAND DEPLOYMENT WHILE UNDERWAY.IF THE STAND DEPLOYS WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS BEING RIDDEN, THE SIDE-STAND INTERLOCK (DESIGNED TO PREVENT RIDING WITH THE STAND DEPLOYED) WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL.ADDITIONALLY, SUDDEN, UNINTENDED SIDE-STAND DEPLOYMENT WHILE RIDING CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL IN LEFT TURNS.SHORTLY AFTER OPENING THIS PE, HONDA ADVISED THAT IT WAS CONDUCTING A RECALL TO ADDRESS THIS CONDITION.WITH THAT RECALL (04V-564) THIS PE IS CLOSED.
2002 Honda VTX1800 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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