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2003 Suzuki SV1000S

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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What owners reported most

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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

Electrical System complaints

19 reports
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23,000 miles · Dec 14, 2007
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUZUKI SV1000S MOTORCYCLE. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED BOTH TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION HARNESS WAS FAULTY AND REPLACED IT TWICE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000 A…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUZUKI SV1000S MOTORCYCLE. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART AND HAD TO BE TOWED BOTH TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION HARNESS WAS FAULTY AND REPLACED IT TWICE. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 27,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000.

NHTSA ODI #10211931

14,000 miles · May 11, 2007
Electrical System

THE GREEN CONNECTOR ON THE SUZUKI SV1000S MOTORCYCLE BURNED OUT, CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE ENGINE TO DIE COMPLETELY ON A HIGH TRAFFIC STREET. PRIOR TO THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE CONNECTOR THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY DIE FOR A FEW SECONDS, AND EITHER RESUME NORMALLY IF IN TRANSIT OR DIE IF IT WAS STATIONARY. WHEN THE ENGI…

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THE GREEN CONNECTOR ON THE SUZUKI SV1000S MOTORCYCLE BURNED OUT, CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE ENGINE TO DIE COMPLETELY ON A HIGH TRAFFIC STREET. PRIOR TO THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE CONNECTOR THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY DIE FOR A FEW SECONDS, AND EITHER RESUME NORMALLY IF IN TRANSIT OR DIE IF IT WAS STATIONARY. WHEN THE ENGINE DIED ALL ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS CEASED EVEN IF THE KEY WAS IN ACCESS MODE. TURNING THE KEY SEVERAL TIMES FROM OFF TO ACCESS WOULD RESUME THE ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS. AFTER FINDING A BULLETIN BOARD THREAD ON THE MOTORCYCLE'S SYMPTOMS, THIS LEAD ME TO THE GREEN CONNECTOR"FAILURE. I DISASSEMBLED THE MOTORCYCLE AND LOCATED THE CONNECTOR. SURE ENOUGH, THE CONNECTOR WAS FRIED . REMOVED THE DAMAGED CONNECTOR AND REPLACED THEM WITH SPADE TERMINALS. SO FAR, THE MOTORCYCLE WORKED FINE.*AK CHECK THIS URL FOR MORE INFORMATION AND PHOTOS. MY POSTS ARE TOWARDS THE BOTTOM UNDER THE NAME "RXSX": HTTP://WWW.SV-PORTAL.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=20730&PAGE=17

NHTSA ODI #10190522

15,500 miles · Nov 24, 2006
Electrical System

MY BIKE WAS HAVING INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL STARTING PROBLEMS FOR APPROX. 2 MONTHS. THE DEALER FOUND A GREEN CONNECTOR IN THE WIRING HARNESS THAT HAD SHORTED OUT. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON ON SUZUKI MOTORCYCLES. MY BIKE IS A 2003 SV1000S WITH 16K MILES. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10174208

7,400 miles · Aug 28, 2006
Electrical System

MY 2003 SUZUKI SV1000S MOTORCYCLE HAD AN INTERMITTENT TOTAL POWER(ELECTRICAL) FAILURE THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE BIKE SHUTTING OFF. I TOOK THE BIKE TO A DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE WEEK OF AUGUST 13-19 IT BEGAN TO GET WORSE SO I STOPPED RIDING AND BEGAN TO RESEARCH ON MY OWN AND FOUND THE IGNITION SWITCH C…

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MY 2003 SUZUKI SV1000S MOTORCYCLE HAD AN INTERMITTENT TOTAL POWER(ELECTRICAL) FAILURE THAT WOULD RESULT IN THE BIKE SHUTTING OFF. I TOOK THE BIKE TO A DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE WEEK OF AUGUST 13-19 IT BEGAN TO GET WORSE SO I STOPPED RIDING AND BEGAN TO RESEARCH ON MY OWN AND FOUND THE IGNITION SWITCH CONNECTOR HAD FAILED AND BEGAN TO BURN THE WIRES ON THE SWITCH END. FOR RIGHT NOW THE SWITCH IS REMOVED AND NOT INSTALLED ON THE BIKE FOR FEAR OF A FIRE. THE WIRING HARNESS END HAS SOME DAMAGE BUT NOT MUCH, BUT WHEN THE CONNECTOR FAILED THE HEAT FUSED THEM TOGETHER AND GETTING THEM APART HAD VERY DIFFICULT WITHOUT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE WIRING HARNESS END. AS OF RIGHT NOW I HAVE NOT REPLACED ANY PARTS THE BIKE IS DOWN UNTIL I CAN PURCHASE A NEW SWITCH SINCE ITS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10166696

11,000 miles · Aug 7, 2006
Electrical SystemCrashInjury

MY 2003 SUZUKI SV1000S MOTORCYCLE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF CUTTING OUT WHILE IN MOTION, IN TRAFFIC, IN TURNS, RESULTING IN EVENTUAL AND COMPLETE ELECTRONIC FAILURE ON 7/8/2006. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE BIKE IN AUGUST OF 2005. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE MECHANICS (EVEN DEALER MECHANICS) CHECKING THE FUEL PUM…

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MY 2003 SUZUKI SV1000S MOTORCYCLE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF CUTTING OUT WHILE IN MOTION, IN TRAFFIC, IN TURNS, RESULTING IN EVENTUAL AND COMPLETE ELECTRONIC FAILURE ON 7/8/2006. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE BIKE IN AUGUST OF 2005. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE MECHANICS (EVEN DEALER MECHANICS) CHECKING THE FUEL PUMP, GAS TANK, AIR FILTER, FUEL FILTER, AND FUSES TO ATTEMPT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER FOUND BECAUSE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SURGING AND CUTTING OUT MADE THE BIKE BEHAVE AS THOUGH IT WAS STARVING FOR FUEL. I SUSPECT THIS CUTTING OUT ISSUE TO BE THE CAUSE OF MY CRASH WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN AT 25 MPH WHICH OCCURRED ON NOVEMBER 27, 2005, RESULTING IN MILD INJURY TO NECK/SHOULDER AND $1,000 IN DAMAGE TO THE BIKE. AFTER THE TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE ON JULY 8TH I PAID $75 TO HAVE THIS SV TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE GREEN IGNITION SWITCH WAS BURNT AND BLACKENED AND REPLACED WITH A NEW SWITCH PLUS SOME DIELECTRIC GREASE. I PAID FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR, AND AFTER A CALL TO SUZUKI OF AMERICA, THEY HAVE OFFERED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR PARTS AND LABOR IN EXCHANGE FOR MY GIVING THEM THE BURNT IGNITION SWITCH. I HAVE ACCEPTED SUZUKI'S OFFER, HOWEVER, IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT I HAVE ALREADY PAID OVER $1,500 IN BIKE REPAIRS AND MEDICAL BILLS BEFORE THIS ISSUE WAS RESOLVED. I HAVE WARNED TWO OTHER SV1000S OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED TO ME THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR BIKES CUTTING OUT AS WELL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I THINK ISSUING A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE OF TOP PRIORITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10164850

10,000 miles · Jun 21, 2006
Electrical System

2003 SUZUKI SV1000S, BIKE WAS RUNNING FINE FOR THREE YEARS. STOPPED BIKE FOR 15 MINUTES. COME BACK TO FIND NO POWER. CAUSE IS A FAULTY CONNECTOR BETWEEN IGNITION SWITCH AND MAIN WIRING HARNESS. IF CONNECTOR WOULD HAVE SHORTED WHILE IN A TURN THE BIKE COULD HAVE WENT DOWN INJURING MYSELF. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER. …

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2003 SUZUKI SV1000S, BIKE WAS RUNNING FINE FOR THREE YEARS. STOPPED BIKE FOR 15 MINUTES. COME BACK TO FIND NO POWER. CAUSE IS A FAULTY CONNECTOR BETWEEN IGNITION SWITCH AND MAIN WIRING HARNESS. IF CONNECTOR WOULD HAVE SHORTED WHILE IN A TURN THE BIKE COULD HAVE WENT DOWN INJURING MYSELF. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER. THEY ARE CHECKING TO SEE IF SUZUKI HAS CHANGED THAT CONNECTOR ON THE NEW HARNESSES. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON AT LEAST FOUR OTHER SV OWNERS. IT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE OR DEATH. THE CONNECTOR NEEDS TO BE OF HIGHER RATING TO HANDLE THE ELECTRICAL LOAD AS WELL AS THE HEAT FROM THE PLACEMENT ABOVE THE ENGINE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10160331

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2006
Electrical System

AS PER THE ADVICE OF ANOTHER PERSON, I CHECKED THE IGNITION ELECTRICAL HARNESS. IT WAS BURNT AND READY TO FAIL. SINCE THIS IS A MOTORCYCLE AN IGNITION FAILURE COULD BE DEADLY. LOSS OF POWER IN A TURN WOULD CAUSE A MOTORCYCLE TO CRASH. THE WIRING WAS REPAIRED BY BYPASSING THE HARNESS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS PEOPLE I HAVE BEEN IN…

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AS PER THE ADVICE OF ANOTHER PERSON, I CHECKED THE IGNITION ELECTRICAL HARNESS. IT WAS BURNT AND READY TO FAIL. SINCE THIS IS A MOTORCYCLE AN IGNITION FAILURE COULD BE DEADLY. LOSS OF POWER IN A TURN WOULD CAUSE A MOTORCYCLE TO CRASH. THE WIRING WAS REPAIRED BY BYPASSING THE HARNESS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS PEOPLE I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE WIRING HARNESS, INCLUDING FULL REPLACEMENT OF THE WIRING. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10157938

21,000 miles · May 10, 2006
Electrical System

THERE IS A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS ON THE IGNITION OF MY 2003 SUZUKI SV1000S MOTORCYCLE. A FEW FRIENDS FOUND THIS PROBLEM AND ONE CRASHED THE BIKE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I SIMPLY INSPECTED MY BIKE AFTER HEARING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THIS WAS THE CASE IN MY IGNITION. THE HARNESS CANNOT SUSTAIN THE CURRENT LOAD AND …

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THERE IS A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS ON THE IGNITION OF MY 2003 SUZUKI SV1000S MOTORCYCLE. A FEW FRIENDS FOUND THIS PROBLEM AND ONE CRASHED THE BIKE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I SIMPLY INSPECTED MY BIKE AFTER HEARING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THIS WAS THE CASE IN MY IGNITION. THE HARNESS CANNOT SUSTAIN THE CURRENT LOAD AND MELTS, CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE TO SHUT DOWN. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BY SUZUKI TO PREVENT ANY MORE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. FIRE IS A POSSIBILITY OR CRASHING DUE TO TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10157213

9,800 miles · Feb 21, 2006
Electrical System

IGNITION CUTOUT ON MY 2003 SUZUKI SV1000S MOTORCYCLE LEFT ME STRANDED. MY BIKE HAD TO BE TOWED AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE. THE DEALER REPORTS THAT I NEED A NEW IGNITION AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. SIMILAR INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED (HTTP://WWW.SV1000.ZYNS.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=8174&PAGE=2&HIGHLIGHT=IGNITION+CUTOUT), YET SU…

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IGNITION CUTOUT ON MY 2003 SUZUKI SV1000S MOTORCYCLE LEFT ME STRANDED. MY BIKE HAD TO BE TOWED AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE. THE DEALER REPORTS THAT I NEED A NEW IGNITION AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. SIMILAR INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED (HTTP://WWW.SV1000.ZYNS.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=8174&PAGE=2&HIGHLIGHT=IGNITION+CUTOUT), YET SUZUKI FAILS TO COVER REPLACEMENT COSTS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10150793

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.