IllustrationPREMATURE FAILURE IN THE DRIVEN FLANGE BEARING SET OF VTX1800S (ALL MODELS). MINE HAS NOW FAILED WITH 16,000 MILES ON THE BIKE.
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
What owners actually said
53 reportsFELT GRINDING IN REAR WHEEL WHILE RIDING MOTORCYCLE DISCOVERED FAILED BEARINGS(2) IN DRIVEFLANGE WHILE CHANGING REAR TIRE DEALER REPLACED DRIVE FLANGE UNDER WARRANTY, OLD PART WAS RETURNED TO HONDA MOTORS.
1. BEARING FAILURE WAS FOUND IN THE DRIVE FLANGE ASSEMBLY DURING REAR TIRE REPLACEMENT AT JUST UNDER 8,000 MILES ON MOTORCYCLE. 2.BEARING WAS TURNING ROUGH AND TRYING TO SIEZE UP, BUT WAS FOUND BEFORE ANY DAMAGE OR ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED. 3.HONDA ONLY SHOWS REPLACEMENT OF WHOLE DRIVE FLANGE (APPROXIMATELY $180). HOWEVER I HAVE LO…
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1. BEARING FAILURE WAS FOUND IN THE DRIVE FLANGE ASSEMBLY DURING REAR TIRE REPLACEMENT AT JUST UNDER 8,000 MILES ON MOTORCYCLE. 2.BEARING WAS TURNING ROUGH AND TRYING TO SIEZE UP, BUT WAS FOUND BEFORE ANY DAMAGE OR ACCIDENT WAS CAUSED. 3.HONDA ONLY SHOWS REPLACEMENT OF WHOLE DRIVE FLANGE (APPROXIMATELY $180). HOWEVER I HAVE LOCATED REPLACEMENT BEARINGS AND I AM IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THEM PRESSED INTO THE DRIVE FLANGE. I WILL KEEP OLD BEARINGS.
CLACK IN REAR DRIVE SHAFT
THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS ON MY HONDA VTX 1800 MOTORCYCLE 2003 MODEL. MANY PEOPLE SAY THESE BEARINGS FAIL. SHOULD I BE CONCERNED? *JB
BEARING FAILLURE ON READ DRIVE HUB ON VEHIVLE 2003 HONDA MOTORCYCLE MODEL 1800R AT 8000 MILES. BEARING IS HONDA PART NUMBER # 91052-KZ4-J21
2003 HONDA VTX1800C MOTORCYCLE REAR DRIVE UNIT BEARING FAILURE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TWO YEARS OLD WITH 13K MILES ON IT. DURING A ROUTINE REAR WHEEL REMOVAL, THE TWO RADIAL BALL BEARINGS P/N: 6304UU (20X47X20.9) (TOYO) WERE FOUND TO BE SEVERLY DAMAGED. THIS CAN RESULT IN A CATASTROPHIC REAR DRIVE FAILURE WHILE OPERATING THE MOTO…
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2003 HONDA VTX1800C MOTORCYCLE REAR DRIVE UNIT BEARING FAILURE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TWO YEARS OLD WITH 13K MILES ON IT. DURING A ROUTINE REAR WHEEL REMOVAL, THE TWO RADIAL BALL BEARINGS P/N: 6304UU (20X47X20.9) (TOYO) WERE FOUND TO BE SEVERLY DAMAGED. THIS CAN RESULT IN A CATASTROPHIC REAR DRIVE FAILURE WHILE OPERATING THE MOTOR VEHICLE WITH DEATH AND INJURY AS A RESULT.
ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED MOTORCYCLE SEVERAL TIMES AND COULD NOT FIX THE MOTORCYCLE. CURRENTLY, WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND CONSUMER HAD FIXED THE MOTORCYCLE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING MOTORCYCLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE MOTORCYCLE, AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR RIGHT BOLT THAT HOLDS THE AXLE SEPARATED. THE AXLE WAS HALF INCH OUT OF THE SWING ARM AND RESTED AGAINST IT. THE BOLT SHOULD NOT HAVE SEPARATED BECAUSE IT HAD A LOCK KNOT THAT PREVENTED IT FROM COMI…
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WHILE DRIVING MOTORCYCLE PULLED TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER PULLED OFF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE MOTORCYCLE, AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR RIGHT BOLT THAT HOLDS THE AXLE SEPARATED. THE AXLE WAS HALF INCH OUT OF THE SWING ARM AND RESTED AGAINST IT. THE BOLT SHOULD NOT HAVE SEPARATED BECAUSE IT HAD A LOCK KNOT THAT PREVENTED IT FROM COMING OFF THE AXLE. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. MR WHILE OPENING THE THROTTLE MORE THAN HALF WAY BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE TAILPIPE, THE MOTORCYCLE BACKFIRED AND CUT OFF…
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CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OVER. IT WAS DIFFICULT TO GET THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. MR WHILE OPENING THE THROTTLE MORE THAN HALF WAY BLACK SMOKE EMITTED FROM THE TAILPIPE, THE MOTORCYCLE BACKFIRED AND CUT OFF. *NM
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.