Honda VFR800A problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
7,155 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 to 2006 model years. Data snapshot: . 5 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:Wiring is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 6 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 83.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 33.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 16.7% |
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:Wiring | 3 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 1 |
Electrical System:Wiring: 3; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 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 (3). 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Wiring leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 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 10186139 · 2007-03-26 (March 26, 2007)
WIRING HARNESS FAILURE. GROUND WIRE AT THE BLUE MOLEX CONNECTOR ON THE LEFT SIDE OVERHEATED AND FAILED, CAUSING THE ENGINE NOT TO RUN. COULD HAVE CAUSED A CRASH IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE UNDERWAY. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY OF THESE TYPE OF INCIDENTS ON THIS MODEL OF MOTORCYCLE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186139 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10186335 · 2007-03-28 (March 28, 2007)
THE BATTERY WIRING HARNESS WAS DEFECTIVE. WIRES LEADING FROM THE POSITIVE BATTERY TERMINAL TO AND FROM THE MAIN FUSE HOLDER WERE TOO SMALL GAUGE, CAUSING THEM TO BECOME VERY HOT TO THE POINT, AND INSULATION MELTED. WIRES WERE ABLE TO CONTACT EACH OTHER AND OTHER METAL OBJECTS, CREATING A FIRE HAZARD. IN MY CASE, THE MAIN FUSE WAS COMPLETELY BYPASSED. THE MAIN FUSE SOCKET WAS TOO SMALL FOR THIS USAGE AND BECAME VERY HOT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186335 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10122638 · 2005-05-23 (May 23, 2005)
THE WIRING FOR THE OXYGEN SENSORS WERE CROSSED ON THE 2003 HONDA VFR800/A.*MR SINCE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NEW IT WOULD STALL OCCASIONALLY. IT WOULD ALSO ACCELERATE UP AND DOWN BETWEEN 4000 AND 5000 RPM'S. THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE OXYGEN SENSOR WAS CROSSED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER CLAIMED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS ISOLATED TO THE EUROPEAN VFR'S BUT THE CONSUMER HAD A US BIKE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10122638 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10220847 · 2008-03-11 (March 11, 2008)
MY GIRLFRIEND AND I RODE THE BIKE THE NEXT DAY TO DOWNTOWN OKLAHOMA CITY. WE WERE RIDING AROUND TOWN AT A SLOW SPEED (5-30 MPH) WHEN COMING UP TO A STOP LIGHT THAT WAS TURNING RED, SO I STARTED TO GEAR THE BIKE DOWN TO SECOND THEN FINALLY PULLING IN THE CLUTCH THE LAST 10 FEET OR SO. I JUST HAPPEN TO LOOK DOWN AT THE TACHOMETER AND THE RPM'S WERE BELOW IDLE, SOMEWHERE AROUND 500-800 RPMS, THEN THE BIKE JUST DIED. I HAD TO TURN THE ENGINE STOP SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION THEN BACK TO THE ON POSITION, THEN PRESSED THE START BUTTON, AND THE BIKE ST…
Owner-reported narrative. 90 miles reported. Look up ODI 10220847 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
2002: 0; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2006: 1