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U.S. public vehicle records

2003 Honda VTX1300 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

35 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

3,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 35 complaints (25.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior617.1%
Transmission and shifting12.9%
Braking behavior12.9%

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.

Steering
9
Suspension
7
Vehicle Speed Control
5
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
4
Tires
3
Suspension:Front
2
Wheels
2
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Steering9
Suspension7
Vehicle Speed Control5
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar4
Tires3
Suspension:Front2
Wheels2
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash1

Steering: 9; Suspension: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 4; Tires: 3; Suspension:Front: 2; Wheels: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
17
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00017
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 17; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 16 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.

2003
4
2004
20
2005
4
2006
4
2008
2
2012
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20034
200420
20054
20064
20082
20121

2003: 4; 2004: 20; 2005: 4; 2006: 4; 2008: 2; 2012: 1

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking behavior 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 10074525 · 2004-05-31 (May 31, 2004)

2003 HONDA VTX1300 RETRO EXHIBITS AN ABNORMAL WOBBLE IN THE STEERING/HANDLE BARS ON DECELERATION BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MILES PER HOUR. THE PROBLEM IS PERSISTANT AND HAS BEEN COMPLAINED ABOUT BY MANY OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. SEE WWW.XTXOA.COM FOR CONFIRMATION.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074525 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10074663 · 2004-11-04 (November 4, 2004)

I OWN A 2003 HONDA VTX 1300S MOTORCYCLE AND I HAVE A WOBBLE IN THE FRONT END WHEN I DECELERATE IN THE 45-40 MPH RANGE. THIS WOBBLE ALSO HAPPENS IN TURNS AND CAN GREATLY EFFECT THE STEERING THROUGH A TURN. THIS HAS BEEN A CONSTANT SITUATION SINCE I FIRST BOUGHT THE BIKE. I'VE HAD THE WHEELS CHECKED FOR TRUE AND BALANCE AND THE STEERING HEAD BEARING CHECKED A NUMBER OF TIMES FOR THE CORRECT TORQUE. ALL OF THIS HAS BEEN DONE BY LAWRENCEVILL HONDA, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. *AK *SC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10074663 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10074712 · 2004-06-03 (June 3, 2004)

1. WAS NOT INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP AT TIME OF PURCHASE, THAT THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER IS INACCURATE BY APPROX. 10%. 2. CONSTANT TRAVEL (ESP HIGHWAYS) AT SPEEDS UNSAFE FOR FLOW OF TRAFFIC HAS RESULTED IN CAR AND TRUCK DRIVERS TO TAILGATE, GET UPSET AND CUT ME OFF (SHIFTING LANES BACK AND FORTH), AND FLASHING LIGHTS AT ME FROM BEHIND (VERY UPSETTING AT NIGHT). EVERYONE KNOW THERE ARE ADDED RISKS WHEN DRIVING A MOTORCYCLE AND THE DEFECTIVE SPEEDOMETER UNNECESSARILY ADDS TO THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY. 3. I HAVE SPOKEN TO HONDA, BOTH DEALERSHIP…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10074712 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10230514 · 2008-06-10 (June 10, 2008)

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 MILES ON IT AND IS GARAGED & WELL KEPT. I WAS TRAVELING 25 MPG ON A CITY STREET AND GOT STOPPED WITHOUT ACCIDENT. IF I HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT SPEED ON A HIGHWAY OR COUNTY ROAD THERE NO DOUBT THAT I WOULD…

Owner-reported narrative. 7,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10230514 at NHTSA ↗