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2003 Suzuki SV1000S

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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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

26 reports with mileage · 1 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

27 reports
17,000 miles · Jun 4, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine

MOTORCYCLE WOULD NOT CHARGE BATTERY AND COMPLETELY DIED BECAUSE OF IT ONE DAY. OPENED UP MAGNETO COVER AND FOUND THE ROTOR MAGNETS HAD DISINTEGRATED. RUINED THE ROTOR AND MAGNETO AND ONLY HAD 17,000 MILES ON IT. CLEANING UP BITS OF MAGNET ALL AROUND THE CRANK AND INSIDE THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ODI #11217862

47,000 miles · Jul 30, 2012
Power TrainVehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

IN MID RIDE I WAS APPROACHING A LOW SPEED CORNER AT THE END OF A HIGH SPEED STRAIGHT AWAY. I TRIED TO PULL MY CLUTCH HANDLE IN TO BEGIN TO BRAKE AND DOWNSHIFT AND THE CLUTCH HANDLE HAD NO RESISTANCE AT ALL. COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH SYSTEM. UNABLE TO TAKE THE DRIVE PRESSURE OFF THE REAR TIRE THE BIKE LOST TRACT…

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IN MID RIDE I WAS APPROACHING A LOW SPEED CORNER AT THE END OF A HIGH SPEED STRAIGHT AWAY. I TRIED TO PULL MY CLUTCH HANDLE IN TO BEGIN TO BRAKE AND DOWNSHIFT AND THE CLUTCH HANDLE HAD NO RESISTANCE AT ALL. COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE HYDRAULIC CLUTCH SYSTEM. UNABLE TO TAKE THE DRIVE PRESSURE OFF THE REAR TIRE THE BIKE LOST TRACTION IN THE REAR AND LOWSIDED THE BIKE INTO A 6 FOOT DITCH AT AROUND 60 TO 70 MPH. I RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES THANKS TO MY GEAR BUT INJURIES NONE THE LESS. I HAVE SPOKEN TO MANY MOTORCYCLE MECHANICS AND ALL OF THEM HAVE STATED THAT HYDRO CLUTCHES ARE DEATH TRAPS. AND ALMOST ALL OF THEM SAID TO GET A CABLE CLUTCH CONVERSION KIT ASAP. NO I KNOW WHY. THIS IS A RESULT OF SUZUKI MOTORS OUTSOURCING THEIR WORK TO CHEAP LABOR AND NOT CHECKING TO MAKE SURE THEIR PARTS ARE WITHIN THE TOLERANCES THAT WERE SET FOR THAT PART. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT SUZUKI NEEDS TO SUSPEND PRODUCTION ON ALL SV1000 BIKES AND ISSUE A RECALL TO FIX ALL THE PARTS THAT HAVE BEEN POORLY MADE WITH UNSAFE RESULTS. THE FLYWHEEL ROTORS LOSE THE MAGNETS ON ALMOST EVERY 2003 SV1000 AND ITS BEGINNING TO EFFECT UP TO THE 05 MODELS. I AM ON 2 DIFFERENT FORUMS FOR THIS BIKE THAT ARE INTERNATIONAL FORUMS THE FLYWHEEL MAGNETS ARE THE SECOND MOST COMMON FAILURE FROM SUZUKI JUST BEHIND THE PISS POOR JOB ON THE CLUTCH BASKET HUB BEARING. NOW THE FUEL TANKS ARE KNOWN TO RANDOMLY BURST INTO FLAMES WHEN THE FUEL LINE LEAKS UNDER THE TANK. THIS BIKE SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM MARKET UNTIL SUZUKI CAN GET IT RIGHT. THESE BIKES ARE DEATH TRAPS WAITING TO VIBRATE LOOSE ON YOU IN MID RIDE. PERSONALLY I WOULD LIKE IT IF SUZUKI GAVE ME A NEW BIKE LIKE A GSX OR GSXR SINCE MY BIKE IS TOTALED BECAUSE THEIR STOCK EQUIPMENT FAILED TO WORK AS IT WAS DESIGNED TO DO. AND MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS NOT GOING TO COVER THE DAMAGE TO MY BIKE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10468213

10,800 miles · Oct 3, 2011
Electrical System

MY SUZUKI SV1000S HAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I FIRST NOTICED THIS PROBLEM WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START THE MOTORCYCLE IN MY GARAGE IN MAY OF 2011. I TURNED THE SWITCH AND NOTHING CAME ON. I CHECKED THE BATTERY AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH IT. MYSTERIOUSLY, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED WORKING SEVERAL DAYS LATER. THIS HAS HAPPENED…

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MY SUZUKI SV1000S HAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. I FIRST NOTICED THIS PROBLEM WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO START THE MOTORCYCLE IN MY GARAGE IN MAY OF 2011. I TURNED THE SWITCH AND NOTHING CAME ON. I CHECKED THE BATTERY AND THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH IT. MYSTERIOUSLY, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED WORKING SEVERAL DAYS LATER. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 3 TIMES. ON 09/26/2011, I WAS RIDING WITH MY 12-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER ON A BUSY 2-LANE ROAD. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL EVENING (5 PM, SUNNY, ABOUT 85 DEGREES). WE WERE APPROACHING A STOP SIGNAL (SPEED APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH). THE CLUTCH WAS ENGAGED AND I WAS LIGHTLY APPLYING FRONT AND REAR BRAKES. THE MOTORCYCLE LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER WHILE WE WERE STILL MOVING. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS, THE POWER WAS RESTORED AS MYSTERIOUSLY AS IT LEFT. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS AS THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT POSTED ONLINE. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT RESULTING IN INJURY OR THE LOSS OF LIFE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10428379

16,071 miles · Jun 8, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUZUKI SV1000S MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE MOTOR AND OVERFLOWING INTO THE CHARCOAL CANISTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE LIQUID SEPARATOR BRACKET INSIDE THE FUEL TANK AND UNDERNEATH, THE SEAMS WERE…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUZUKI SV1000S MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE MOTOR AND OVERFLOWING INTO THE CHARCOAL CANISTER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE LIQUID SEPARATOR BRACKET INSIDE THE FUEL TANK AND UNDERNEATH, THE SEAMS WERE SEPARATED. AS A RESULT, THE FUEL TANK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK WAS SENT TO THE DEALER TO BE INSPECTED WHO CONFIRMED DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE MOTORCYCLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V013000 ( FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,071 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,245.

NHTSA ODI #10405603

16,827 miles · May 14, 2010
Electrical System

TOTAL LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER DUE TO A FAULTY CONNECTION BETWEEN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO THE MAIN IGNITION RELAY. THIS RESULTS IN LOSS OF LIGHTS, INSTRUMENTS, AND IGNITION POWER. THE ENGINE STALLS AND CAN EASILY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND INJURIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10330385

12,000 miles · Nov 23, 2009
Electrical System

CONNECTOR FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH TO WIRING HARNESS OVERHEATED AND THE CONNECTOR NO LONGER HELP THE WIRES TOGETHER FOR THE IGNITION. TURN THE KEY - NO POWER AT ALL TO THE BIKE. I HAVE READ ABOUT DOZENS OF RIDERS THIS HAS HAPPENED TO, SOME HAVE HAD ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT. LUCKILY I WASN'T IN MOTION WHEN THE POWER GAVE OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10293232

6,389 miles · Jan 4, 2009
Electrical System

2003 SUZUKI SV1000, WILL NOT START, NO ELECTRIC AT ALL. MUST TAKE OFF SEAT & MOVE WIRES, THEN WILL START, IT DOES THIS EVERY TIME I TURN IT OFF. HAVE READ MANY POSTS ABOUT THE "GREEN CONNECTOR" MANY OTHERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10253725

5,800 miles · Aug 28, 2008
Electrical System

ELECTRICAL HARNESS ON MY BIKE (SV1000S 2003) WENT BAD AND NO POWER IS GOING TO ANYTHING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10240027

13,000 miles · Aug 27, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

MY SUZUKI SV 1000S 2003 # HAS A FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE WHICH CAN RESULT IN FIRE. I FOUND OUT ON THE SUZUKI WEBSITE THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. I CONTACTED SUZUKI AND THEY SAID THE RECALL IS ONLY FOR CALIFORNIA MODELS AND MY BIKE IS NOT ONE OF THOSE. I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO AN A…

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MY SUZUKI SV 1000S 2003 # HAS A FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE WHICH CAN RESULT IN FIRE. I FOUND OUT ON THE SUZUKI WEBSITE THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. I CONTACTED SUZUKI AND THEY SAID THE RECALL IS ONLY FOR CALIFORNIA MODELS AND MY BIKE IS NOT ONE OF THOSE. I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE CAUSE OF THE LEAK IS A CRACK IN THE AREA WHERE THE LIQUID/ VAPOR SEPARATOR BRACKET IS WELDED INSIDE THE TANK AND THE SOLUTION FOR THE PROBLEM WOULD BE A TANK FUEL REPLACEMENT, JUST LIKE IT SAYS ON RECALL ID# 32059 RECALL DATE JAN/18/06. MY QUESTION IS, IF THE PROBLEM ON MY BIKE IS EXACTLY THE SAME WHY MY MOTORCYCLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE SAME RECALL? THANKS ! WES MORAES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10239998

8,400 miles · Apr 19, 2008
Electrical System

2003 SV1000S LOST ALL ELECTRICAL POWER DUE TO A FAULTY GREEN IGNITION CONNECTOR LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE AIRBOX. THE GREEN CONNECTOR MELTED AT THE POSITIVE WIRE CAUSING LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER. HARD WIRED IT WITH SOLDER AND SHRINK TUBING SINCE I DON'T PLAN ON REMOVING THE IGNITION ANY TIME SOON. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10224997

Official recalls

1

06V013000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Jan 18, 2006

ON CERTAIN CALIFORNIA-SPECIFICATION MODEL MOTORCYCLES, REPEATED STRESS FROM VIBRATION CAN CAUSE A CRACK TO FORM IN THE AREA WHERE THE LIQUID/VAPOR SEPARATOR BRACKET IS WELDED INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. THIS CAN ALLOW FUEL LEAKAGE TO OCCUR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 3, 2006. CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT AMERICAN SUZUKI AT 714-572-1490.

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.