Suzuki KATANA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
4 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
18,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 to 2006 model years. Data snapshot: . 3 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 2 of 4 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 25.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 25.0% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 25.0% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 25.0% |
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 | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 1 |
Electrical System: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 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 | 2 |
| 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 | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 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: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
2000: 1; 2005: 1; 2008: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 863932 · 2000-06-21 (June 21, 2000)
CONSUMER COULD NOT JUST DOWNSHIFT, BUT HAD TO ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE TRANSMISSION TO COME TO A LOWER GEAR. CONSUMER SAID THIS WAS UNSAFE, ESPECIALLY IF OTHER VEHICLES WERE BEHIND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BECAUSE IT COULD BE HIT. SOMETIMES IT WORKED RIGHT, BUT SOMETIMES IT DIDN'T. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ,AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. ALSO WHEN STARTING IN GEAR, THE BIKE WOULD JUMP FORWARD. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 863932 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10129168 · 2005-07-08 (July 8, 2005)
MOTORCYCLE STALLS WHEN DRIVEN AT CONSTANT SPEEDS OVER 65 MPH. ALSO, CONSUMER ALLEGES THAT ODOMETER MALFUNCTION DISPLAYS APPROXIMATELY 20% MORE MILES TRAVELED THAN ACTUAL MILEAGE. *MR *NM *MJJ
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129168 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10214396 · 2008-01-10 (January 10, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 SUZUKI KATANA. WHILE DECELERATING FROM APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT HEAT ON HIS RIGHT CALF. HE LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE SEAT. THE CONTACT THEN APPLIED THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES, BUT THE REAR BRAKES FAILED. THE BIKE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 18,000. UPDATED 3/5/08 *CN
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214396 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10239422 · 2008-08-22 (August 22, 2008)
A LEAK HAS DEVELOPED ALONG THE SEAM OF MY 2000 SUZUKI KATANA'S FUEL TANK, THIS LEAK IS RIGHT ABOVE A SPARK PLUG AND COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO A SERIOUS FIRE. IT APPEARS THAT THE LEAK IS IDENTICAL TO THE RECALL FOR THE SUZUKI 1998-2005 VL1500'S WHICH STATES: "REPEATED STRESS AROUND THE RIGHT FRONT FUEL TANK MOUNTING POINT CAN CAUSE A HAIRLINE CRACK TO FORM DUE TO METAL FATIGUE. THIS CAN ALLOW FUEL SEEPAGE TO OCCUR. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, SEEPED FUEL CAN CAUSE A FIRE." *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10239422 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 |
|---|---|
| 1998 | 1 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 |
1998: 1; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2006: 0