Honda VFR800 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
25 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
17,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 to 2006 model years. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 25 complaints (32.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 18 | 72.0% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 12.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 8 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 8 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 2 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
Electrical System: 8; Electrical System:Wiring: 8; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 2; Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 14 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 14; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (14). 6 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2003: 1; 2005: 5; 2006: 4; 2007: 5; 2008: 5; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 18 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10129934 · 2005-07-25 (July 25, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED 4 SEPARATE ELECTRICAL FAILURES, IT HAS CAUSED HEADLIGHT AND ENGINE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED HONDA THEY HAVE REPAIRED THE ISSUE UNDER WARRANTY. THE GROUND WIRE HAS BURNED 3 TIMES AT DIFFERENT POINTS. THE 1ST TIME AUG 2002. FIRST TIME IT ONLY HAD 18,000 MILES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129934 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10167823 · 2006-09-11 (September 11, 2006)
HAD STARTING PROBLEMS AND WENT TO CHECK THE BATTERY. FOUND THAT THE FUSE HOLDER, A CONNECTOR AND THE SMALL WIRE BETWEEN THE TWO HAD DISCOLORED TO A BROWN. THERE WERE SIGNS OF MELTING ON THE WIRE INSULATION. THE PART HAS NOT FAILED TO DATE BUT GETS VERY HOT TO THE TOUCH WHEN THE VEHICLE ENGINE IS RUNNING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 20,054 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167823 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118171 · 2005-04-20 (April 20, 2005)
MOTORCYLE ENGINE WOULD TURN OVER, START, AND RUN STRONG, BUT WOULD DIE AFTER THE STARTER BUTTON WAS RELEASED. LOOKING OVER INTERNET DISCUSSION FORUMS THAT ARE DEDICATED TO THIS MODEL MOTORCYCLE, 2002-2005 HONDA VFR800, REVEALED A SUBSTANSIAL*AK NUMBER OF OWNERS EXPERIANCED THE SAME PROBLEM, MOST OF THE OWNERS ARE IN WET CLIMATES, EG., SEATTLE, PORTLAND, BRITISH COLUMBIA, ETC. FOLLOWING THE TROUBLE SHOOTING METHODS RECOMMENDED ONE THE DISCUSSION FORUM (REMOVED THE HEADLIGHT FUSE AND THE BIKE WOULD START AND RUN FINE UNTIL EITHER THE FUSE WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 23,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118171 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10203513 · 2007-09-20 (September 20, 2007)
INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, LOSS OF POWER, LIGHTS, INSTRUMENTS. LOSS OF POWER AND LIGHTS AT NIGHT RESULTED LOST CONTROL OF MOTORCYCLE, WHICH CAME IN CONTACT WITH REFLECTOR/BARRIER ON HIGHWAY. AT HIGHER SPEEDS THIS MAY HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 8,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10203513 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10124600 · 2005-07-08 (July 8, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, THERE IS A BUZZING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE, ONE OF THE WIRES COMING FROM THE BATTERY BECAME HOT, CAUSING IT TO MELT. THE FUEL PUMP DOES NOT WORK, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT START, VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AT HIGHER SPEEDS, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO TRIED TO FIX PROBLEM, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10124600 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
1999: 0; 2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 2; 2005: 1; 2006: 1