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2003 Suzuki SV1000S

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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

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What owners reported most

All reported categories

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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

What owners actually said

27 reports
28,800 miles · Apr 12, 2008
Electrical System

FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE GREEN CONNECTOR CONNECTING THE IGNITION TO THE WIRING HARNESS HAS FAULTED, PREVENTING THE MOTORCYCLE FROM RUNNING. LET ME REPEAT, THE SECOND TIME. I HAD THE IGNITION REPLACED, AND TWO MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10224302

9,000 miles · Feb 28, 2008
Electrical System

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUZUKI SV1000S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HE DISCOVERED THAT THE GREEN POWER CONNECTOR FUSED TOGETHER, CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THE GREEN POWER CONNECTOR WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE R…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUZUKI SV1000S. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND BEGAN TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND HE DISCOVERED THAT THE GREEN POWER CONNECTOR FUSED TOGETHER, CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THE GREEN POWER CONNECTOR WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 9,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 9,000.

NHTSA ODI #10219379

28,000 miles · Feb 9, 2008
Fuel System, Gasoline

I HAVE A SUZUKI SV1000S E-33 (CA VERSION) FROM THE YEAR 2003. THIS MODEL BIKE HAD A FACTORY RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK. THE DEFECT WAS THAT DUE TO VIBRATION THE FUEL VAPOR SEPARATOR WELD INSIDE THE FUEL TANK WOULD CRACK, AND FUEL WOULD LEAK TO THE CHARCOAL CANISTER, CAUSING IT TO FLOOD AND DRIP FUEL. THIS REPRESENTS A FIRE H…

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I HAVE A SUZUKI SV1000S E-33 (CA VERSION) FROM THE YEAR 2003. THIS MODEL BIKE HAD A FACTORY RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE FUEL TANK. THE DEFECT WAS THAT DUE TO VIBRATION THE FUEL VAPOR SEPARATOR WELD INSIDE THE FUEL TANK WOULD CRACK, AND FUEL WOULD LEAK TO THE CHARCOAL CANISTER, CAUSING IT TO FLOOD AND DRIP FUEL. THIS REPRESENTS A FIRE HAZARD SINCE IT IS LOCATED RIGHT ABOVE THE EXHAUST. I TOOK MY BIKE TO A SUZUKI DEALER TO HAVE THE DEFECT CORRECTED BECAUSE OF THE RECALL. THE BIKE NOW, WITH ITS NEW, AND IN THEORY IMPROVED, FUEL TANK IS HAVING THAT EXACT PROBLEM. WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS FULL, FUEL LEAKS OUT TO THE CANISTER AND ON TO THE EXHAUST. ALSO, ENGINE RUNS VERY RICH, AND EXCESS FUEL IN THE CYLINDERS MIGHT EVEN GET THE ENGINE TO STUCK. THIS EXCESS FUEL FIND ITS WAY TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND WHEN THE ENGINE STARTS THIS TUBES GETS SO HOT THAT THEY START SMOKING AND MIGHT CAUSE THE BELLY COVER TO BURN. THERE IS ABUNDANT EVIDENCE THAT THIS IS NOT JUST AN ISOLATED FAILURE: I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH SAME BIKE AND EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE A RECALL LETTER FROM SUZUKI EXPRESSING THAT THIS WAS IN FACT A DEFECT ON THE BIKE'S DESIGN, BUT SUZUKI MAY NOT KNOW THAT IT IS STILL A DEFECT IN THE NEW VERSION OF THE FUEL TANK. I HAVE CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME TO BRING THE BIKE IN TO GET IT CHECKED. I WILL ALSO INFORM SUZUKI OF AMERICA DUE TO THE DANGER THAT THIS DEFECT REPRESENT TO ME AND ANY OTHER SUZUKI SV1000S RIDER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10217514

8,000 miles · Dec 30, 2007
Electrical System

HTTP://WWW.SV-PORTAL.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=27074 NO ELECTRICAL POWER?? GREEN CONNECTOR ISSUE! MY BIKE LOST POWER AND CANNOT BE STARTED. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT RIDING AT THE TIME THE POWER CUT OUT. I HAD TO FIND ANOTHER RIDE HOME AS THE BIKE WAS IMMOBILE. APPARENTLY THIS DOES OCCUR REGULARLY AND BOTH NHTSA AND SUZUKI A…

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HTTP://WWW.SV-PORTAL.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=27074 NO ELECTRICAL POWER?? GREEN CONNECTOR ISSUE! MY BIKE LOST POWER AND CANNOT BE STARTED. FORTUNATELY I WAS NOT RIDING AT THE TIME THE POWER CUT OUT. I HAD TO FIND ANOTHER RIDE HOME AS THE BIKE WAS IMMOBILE. APPARENTLY THIS DOES OCCUR REGULARLY AND BOTH NHTSA AND SUZUKI ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. READ THE FORUM ABOVE FOR MANY INSTANCES OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10213227

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

22,000 miles · Nov 29, 2006
Suspension

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REAR WHEEL WOBBLED. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED, WHICH WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE SPEED WAS LOWERED TO 10 MPH, AND THE SAME THING OCCURRED 2 TENTHS OF A MILE LATER. THE REAR WHEEL AND AXLE WERE THEN TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT REAR BEARING HAD BEEN …

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REAR WHEEL WOBBLED. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED, WHICH WAS NORMAL. THE VEHICLE SPEED WAS LOWERED TO 10 MPH, AND THE SAME THING OCCURRED 2 TENTHS OF A MILE LATER. THE REAR WHEEL AND AXLE WERE THEN TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT REAR BEARING HAD BEEN DESTROYED DUE TO LACK OF LUBRICATION. THE REMAINING BEARINGS WERE ALSO INSPECTED, AND WERE FOUND TO HAVE THE SAME LACK OF LUBRICATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE OWNERS MANUAL ABOUT HOW OR WHEN TO LUBRICATE THE BEARINGS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10174665

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

18,400 miles · Sep 8, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE ALL AROUND THE MOTORCYCLE. THE SMELL WAS PRESENT SINCE PURCHASING THE MOTORCYCLE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #06V013000 ON THE MOTORCYCLE REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOC…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF GASOLINE ALL AROUND THE MOTORCYCLE. THE SMELL WAS PRESENT SINCE PURCHASING THE MOTORCYCLE. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #06V013000 ON THE MOTORCYCLE REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THE PARTS WERE ON BACKORDER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED TWO SEPARATE RECALL LETTERS REGARDING THIS DEFECT IN JANUARY 2006. THE DEALERSHIP STILL HAS NOT REPLACED THE TANK, BECAUSE THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 10/11/06. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10167694

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

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.