2003 Suzuki Suzuki Motorcycle problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Exterior Lighting:headlights (3) · Wheels (2) · Structure:motorcycle:kickstand/Center Stand (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Suzuki Suzuki Motorcycle 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 (1)
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.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine 2003-04-01 · 28 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
change of cam chain tension adjuster service procedure. 2003 dr-z400k3, dr-z400ek3 & dr-z400sk3 dualsport. *tt
What owners report
2005-06-13 · Wheels · 6,500 mi“front wheel bearings failed at about 6500 miles. motorcycle started lurching and i pulled over to the side and one of the front wheel bearings was almost totally destroyed. there wasn't a screeching sound or anthing to warn me that the bearings were failing prior to this. this is a known problem to owners of the suzuki af650 but suzuki has not addr…”
2005-04-15 · Suspension · 100 mi“vehicle shook uncontrollably shaking when driving at 40 mph or less. when purchasing the vehicle consumer had the tires changed at the dealership, that was the first thing suggested was was wrong with vehicle. since the tires had been changed vehicle still has the same problem.*ak…”
2005-03-24 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly · 13,600 mi“the suzuki vl1500lc intruder (lc for short) has a known problem with its fuel tank cracking right behind the front right mounting bolt. this is known to the lc community, and we assume that it is known by suzuki. the latter, however, has so far not done anything to remedy the situation. yes, they will replace the tank, but the new tank cracks in th…”
2004-11-29 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly“i have a 2003 suzuki intruder lc1500. it is 2 months out of warranty and has 5,100 miles on the odometer. recently i started smelling gas and, aware that others have had cracks in their fuel tanks through the lc forum, checked the suspect area of the tank. there was residue, i cleaned the tank and rechecked it yesterday. there was new residue a…”
2004-11-28 · Fuel System, Other:storage:tank Assembly · 9,800 mi“there is a crack in the weld along the right side of the gas tank on my 2003 suzuki vl1500lc motorcycle. i noticed it after other owners and i have started communicating among each other about this problem. *ak a common fix seems to be to use jb weld to close the crack. suzuki international will not even talk about the problem. they have rudely tr…”
2004-11-24 · Fuel System, Gasoline · 26,000 mi“a small separation of the top weld on the right side of the gas tank on my 2003 suzuki vl1500lc motorcycle. i noticed it when i was changing the exhaust system on my bike, the fix is to use jb weld to close the crack. suzuki international will not even talk to me about the problem. they stated nhtsa would have to force them to even acknowledge that…”
2004-09-21 · Exterior Lighting:headlights · 3,500 mi“consumer complained that both headlights needed to be replaced within 3,500 miles of wear. dealer notified. dealer urged consumer to bring the vehicle in to check the over load of voltages.*ak *tc…”
2004-09-14 · Exterior Lighting:headlights · 6,500 mi“motorcycle's headlights continued to blow out. consumer had to replace the bulbs three times within two months. *ak *mr…”
2004-08-17 · Electrical System · 1,000 mi“bought my 2003 suzuki intruder 1500 lc new in may of 2003. not long after had problems with the battery going dead. thought maybe it wasn't fully charged when first put in. it would be too low to start the bike sometimes after bike sat for five or six days. brought battery back to dealer for a load test and was told it was o.k.. still had same prob…”
2004-08-12 · Fuel System, Gasoline“to whom it may vconcern. last week i received a safety recall from suzuki motor. reference a 2003 suzuki, vz800k3 motorcycle, i purchased on 07/05/04 from quinsey powersport of el cajo, california. when i contacted the dealer to have the work performed on said motorcycle i was told by the manager of service to ride the bike in and 3 days it w…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.