2003 Honda Vtx1300 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Vehicle Speed Control (5) · Suspension (5) · Steering (5)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Honda Vtx1300 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (7)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Air Bags 2014-08-06 · DLR MSG - Honda · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
dealer message - on monday, june 23, 2014, american honda announced three recalls for various 2001-11 honda models. as of august 4, 2014, affected vins have been identified, and vin status inquiry has been updated.
Air Bags 2014-07-23 · DLR MSG - Stop S · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
dealer message - on monday, june 23, 2014, american honda announced three recalls for various 2001-11 honda models. as of july 23, 2014, affected vins have been identified, and service bulletins 14-040, safety recall: accord, civic, and others ? front passenger?s airbag inflator can be over-pressur
Equipment:other:labels 2008-05-31 · 08-040 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
load carrying capacity reduced label for all honda vehicles. *pe
Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel 2008-05-09 · SB-06-085 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
honda: warranty extension-vehicle warranty mileage. class action lawsuit alleging that the odometers on certain 2002-2006 honda models were overstating mileage. federal court provided final approval of settlement on 12/29/07. no models listed. *pe
Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan 2005-11-01 · 11012005 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
cooling fan ground. honda the wrench. *tt
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2004-07-01 · 07012004 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
don't straight edge it when performing periodic valve inspection. *jb
Showing the 6 most recent of 7 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2012-07-31 · Suspension · 16,000 mi“bad wobble in steering/bearing between 30 and 50 mph. when this is going on in a curve you nearly loose control it convulsive wobble grows. not hard to find numerous complaints about this condition even on these bikes right from the dealer. *tr…”
2008-06-10 · Power Train:driveline · 7,200 mi“i own a 2003 honda vtx1300s motorcycle. this bike is shaft drive. while riding through town the swing arm separated from the rear wheel do to the spot welds braking on the drive shaft side of the motorcycle. this caused the bike to twist wildly do to the rear wheel only being supported on one side of the swing arm. this bike only has 7,200 mile…”
2008-06-08 · Suspension · 270,000 mi“rear flange bearing in vtx 1300 came apart, looked at bearing while changing rear tire. replace 2004 and 2003 vtx s bearing while changing rear tire. replace bearing # 91052-kz4-j21. *tr…”
2006-08-03 · Suspension · 12,000 mi“i am the owner of a 2003 honda vt1300s. this motorcycle has a deceleration "wobble" at 35-45 mph. it is felt at the handlebars even while having both hands on them. many vtx owners i know have the same problem. i'm concerned about this issue because it really feels as if the steering head would come loose at any point and also it's dangerous when r…”
2006-07-23 · Steering · 150 mi“when ridding my motorcycle at a speed of 50 and letting off the gas, at around 45 mph i get a wobble real bad from the front end and it is really dangerous around a turn and can cause an accident. talked to many honda owners and they all have the same problem. after changing the steering bearing it is fixed, they said. *nm…”
2006-07-23 · Steering“2003 honda vtx 1`300s front frok wobble as bike slows down. the severity changes as the speed decreases. the problem has existed since i purchased the bike with 9,000 miles on it. it now has 19,000 and the wobble shows no signs of going away. *nm…”
2006-07-23 · Steering · 1,348 mi“2003 honda vtx 1300r motorcycle has front end wobble at speeds below approx. 45 mph. *nm…”
2005-11-01 · Suspension · 5,000 mi“vehicle - 2003 honda vtx s/r model problem is front end wobble at 45-35 mph when decelerating. i replaced front and rear tires at just over 9000 miles. before i replaced the front tire the wobble was getting worse. after i replaced the front tire i noticed that the wobble is gone but i can still feel a very slight side to side vibration in the ha…”
2005-09-17 · Tires:tread/Belt · 37,000 mi“the dunlop tires on my motorcycle have "c" shaped cuts in them. i am on my 2nd set of tires with this defect in my tire. i have been told the tired did not "laminate" properly. i tried to resolve this with dunlop but had no success and can not afford to replace the tires again as they are making me pay for the defective tires. *jb…”
2005-08-23 · Steering“the vtx 1300 has a severe wobble on deceleration from 45 - 40 mph that requires the rider to maintain a firm grip on the bars. i have spoken with 4 different honda dealers and they all say they have never heard of this problem. i belong to a vtx riders group and i have ridden 4 other vtx 1300 and they all have the same wobble. i have found one ride…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.