Suzuki SUZUKI MOTORCYCLE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
82 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
3,050 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 to 2003 model years. Data snapshot: . 44 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Manual Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 18 of 82 complaints (22.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 15 | 18.3% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 8.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 6 | 7.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 6.1% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 4.9% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 18 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 10 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 5 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 4 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 4 |
| Tires | 3 |
Power Train:Manual Transmission: 18; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 10; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 5; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 4; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 4; Tires: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 42 |
| 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: 42; 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 (42). 38 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 2 |
| 1996 | 1 |
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 8 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 32 |
| 2004 | 21 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 |
1995: 2; 1996: 1; 2000: 6; 2001: 8; 2002: 7; 2003: 32; 2004: 21; 2005: 4; 2007: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Manual Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 15 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 6 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 10023872 · 2003-06-27 (June 27, 2003)
1. TRANSMISSION OCCASIONALLY DOES NOT SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR ON UPSHIFT. INSTEAD IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL. 2. REAR BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY WORN OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 2,600 MILES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 2,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023872 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10046132 · 2003-10-31 (October 31, 2003)
TRANSMISSION FREQUENTLY SLIPS OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT WARNING. REAR BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER HAS TO USE FOOT TO STOP THE BIKE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10046132 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050890 · 2003-12-21 (December 21, 2003)
THE TRANMISSION ON MY SUZUKI MOTORCYLCE JUMPS PUT OFF 4TH GEAR. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 1500 LC SERIES. THIS IS AFACTORY DEFECT ADN THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE EXPLAINS WHY. HTTP://24.116.28.74/~4THGEAR. *AK WHY HAS THE NHTSA NOT PUSHED FOR A FACTORY RECALL OF TEH MOTORCYCLES IN ORDER TO PREVENT A DEATH OR OTHER SERIOUS BODILY HARM TO COMSUMERS? ALSO, THE BRAKES ON THESE BIKES ARE VERY POOR AS THEY WEAR OUT ION LESS THAN 2000 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,272 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050890 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 862496 · 2000-05-24 (May 24, 2000)
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55MPH & THE BOLT TO THE BRAKE DRUM BROKE LOOSE. CONSUMER WENT TO STEP ON THE BRAKES & THE BRAKE CABLE SNAPPED. NO BRAKES & THE HUB ON THE BACK WHEEL SPUN AROUND WHICH WASN'T SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN. DEALER ORDERED THE PARTS, BUT WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 862496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022429 · 2003-06-05 (June 5, 2003)
FUEL LEAKED OUT OF THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK WHILE IN IDLE AND DRIVING. SUZUKI VZ800 2000 MOTORCYCLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022429 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10201732 · 2007-09-03 (September 3, 2007)
WHILE DRIVING MY SUZUKI 2000 VS800 MOTORCYCLE AT NIGHT, THE ENGINE QUIT RUNNING. WHILE I WAS ROLLING I TRIED TO GET IT TO RE-FIRE BY PULLING THE CHOKE. AFTER COMING TO A STOP I TRIED TO RESTART IT. I COULD SMELL FUEL FUMES. I THOUGHT I HAD FLOODED THE ENGINE. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND TRIED TO RESTART IT. IT WOULD NOT RESTART. I GOT OFF TO PUSH IT OFF THE ROAD. THEN I NOTICED A PUDDLE OF FUEL UNDER THE MOTORCYCLE. THE VOLTAGE RECTIFIER, BATTERY, EXHAUST PIPES, WERE COVERED WITH FUEL. I WAS LUCKY IT DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE. I EXPECTED …
Owner-reported narrative. 18,762 miles reported. Look up ODI 10201732 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 483396 · 1995-08-25 (August 25, 1995)
ONE OF THE BATTERY TERMINALS HAD BEEN RIPPED OUT OF THE BATTERY, CAUSING BATTERY TO DROP DOWN/DRAG ON ROAD, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 483396 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 504145 · 1996-05-06 (May 6, 1996)
BATTERY BOTTOM COVER BOLTS CAME LOOSE, FELL ONTO ROADWAY. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504145 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10126923 · 2005-06-28 (June 28, 2005)
DT: WHEN DOWN SHIFTING OR COMING TO STOP THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED, AND CONSUMER HEARD A THUMP JUST BEFORE IT DIED. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP EVEN THOUGH WAS HOLDING THE CLUTCH IN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR FIND A CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THIS COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME REGARDLESS OF THE WEATHER HOT OR COLD.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126923 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 769582 · 2002-11-11 (November 11, 2002)
ENGINE STALLS WITHOUT CAUSE. DT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 769582 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 881713 · 2001-02-28 (February 28, 2001)
WHILE TRAVELING ON SMOOTH PAVEMENT MOTORCYCLE EXHIBITED A CONDITION REFERRED TO AS "TANK SLAPPING". THIS OCCURS WHEN STEERING STABILIZER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 881713 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2003 | 0 |
1995: 0; 1996: 0; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2002: 0; 2003: 0