IllustrationREAR WHEEL FLANGE BEARING FAILURE. *TR
2003 Honda VTX1800
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 VTX1800 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
310–25K
1025–50K
050–75K
075–100K
0100–150K
0150K+
41 reports with mileage · 12 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.
- Power Train. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Wheels. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Suspension complaints
17 reportsFAILURE OF FLANGE BEARING ON 2003 HONDA VTX 1800S MOTORCYCLE
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.…
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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
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
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 FAIL…
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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
THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ON MY HONDA VTX 1800 MOTORCYCLE 2003 MODEL. MANY PEOPLE SAY THESE BEARINGS FAIL. SHOULD I BE CONCERNED? *JB
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.