Suzuki VL1500 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
42 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
12,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 to 2008 model years. Data snapshot: . 29 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 42 complaints (28.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 12 | 28.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 19.0% |
| Steering behavior | 4 | 9.5% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 7.1% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 4.8% |
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 | 12 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 8 |
| Steering | 6 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Suspension | 3 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 |
| Structure:Motorcycle:Kickstand/Center Stand | 2 |
Electrical System: 12; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 8; Steering: 6; Engine: 3; Suspension: 3; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2; Structure:Motorcycle:Kickstand/Center Stand: 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 | 24 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 24; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 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 (24). 13 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 | 10 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 12 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2005: 10; 2006: 8; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 3; 2010: 2; 2011: 12; 2012: 3; 2013: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 4 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 10149829 · 2006-02-08 (February 8, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, #06V025000, ON THE VEHICLE REGARDING THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THEIR VEHICLE ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THEIR LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149829 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10275473 · 2009-07-01 (July 1, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 SUZUKI VL1500 MOTORCYCLE. WHENEVER THE CONTACT WOULD RIDE THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED, HE NOTICED THAT GASOLINE WOULD POUR DOWN THE SIDE OF HIS LEG. HE NOTICED THAT THE FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONED. A MONTH PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT SMELLED GASOLINE COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 17,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10275473 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10228409 · 2008-05-15 (May 15, 2008)
2005 SUZUKI VL 1500 WITH SAFETY RECALL FOR THE FUEL PAD. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ORDER THE PART AND LET HIM REPAIR THE PROBLEM HIMSELF. THEY ARE SAYING HE HAS TO HAVE A DEALER DO IT. HE STATES HE DOESN'T TRUST THE DEALERS. *KB THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE BATTERY DIED.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10228409 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10314924 · 2010-02-28 (February 28, 2010)
THE MOTORCYCLE (SUZUKI C 90 BOULEVARD) WOBBLES UNCONTROLLABLY ON DECELERATION, THAT CAN CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL, THIS STARTED WHEN IT HAD ONLY 1500 MILES ON IT. DEALER WOULD DO NOTHING. IT HAS ALSO HAD ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEMS THE RECTIFIER SHORTS OUT. SUZUKI REPLACED THE RECTIFIER AND STATOR. THESE PROBLEMS ARE INHERENT IN 2005 AND 2006 SUZUKI C90 BOULEVARD. IN 2007 SUZUKI REVAMPED THE STATOR AND RECTIFIER. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10314924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144337 · 2005-12-02 (December 2, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHEN THE HAND ACCELERATOR WAS DISENGAGED THE HANDLE BAR MOVED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS SEEN BY THE DEALER THREE TIMES. THE FRONT TIRE WERE BALANCED AGAIN, AND THE TORQUE ON THE STEERING WAS READJUSTED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, AND NO FURTHER CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT FEELS THE RECOMMENDED TIRE PRESSURE IS INCORRECT IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE OWNER'S MANUAL RECOMMENDS A TIRE PRESSURE OF 29 PSI FOR THE FRONT AND 36 PSI FOR THE REAR. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE TIRE RECOM…
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10144337 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10420836 · 2011-08-21 (August 21, 2011)
RE: INFERIOR STEERING HEAD BEARING ISSUE. FOR: MOTORCYCLE SUZUKI BOULEVARD C90T (VL1500T) WTF, AT 35 MPH HANDLE BAR CONSISTENTLY SHAKES VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE. FAILURE OF OEM BALL BEARINGS ARE JUNK AND CAUSES THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION. NEEDS NEW TIMKEN TAPERED ROLLER BEARINGS TO CURE THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION. THIS IS MAJOR COST TO ME TO REPAIR AND REMOVE FRONT END FOR INFERIOR CHEAP BEARINGS. THE OEM BEARINGS SUCK, AND TO REPLACE THE BEARINGS WITH SAME JUNK IS RIDICULOUS. WARRANTY IS VOIDED IF ANY OTHER BEARING IS USED, THIS IS BS. *TR…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10420836 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10537435 · 2013-08-27 (August 27, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 SUZUKI INTRUDER VL 1500 K4 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A POPPING NOISE AS IT STALLED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,500 AND THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10537435 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10419925 · 2011-08-17 (August 17, 2011)
THE SAME REGULATOR/RECTIFIER MODEL USED IN OUR C90S BIKES, IS SUBJECT TO RECALL WHEN INSTALLED IN OTHER SUZUKI MODELS, BUT NOT ON OUR C90S. WE ALL KNOW, THE C90 REGULATOR IS FAILURE PRONE, NOTABLY DUE TO ITS EXPOSURE TO EXTREME HEAT IN THE REAR GENERATOR COVER, BUT ALSO DUE TO ITS DESIGN. AS A RESULT IT CAN FAIL RESULTING IN SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE STATOR, AND STALLING OF THE BIKE ON THE HIGHWAY. THESE ARE THE EXACT SAME REASONS THE SAME REGULATOR HAS BEEN RECALLED IN VIRTUALLY EVERY OTHER MODEL IT IS USED IN. IN OTHER BIKE MODELS, THE REG…
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10419925 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10134605 · 2005-08-29 (August 29, 2005)
DT: OWNER HAS A MOTORCYLCE. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70 MPH THE BALL BEARNINGS FELL OUT OF THE FRONT WHEEL. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO HAVE ANY FRONT BRAKES. THEN, THE OWNER LEANED TO THE RIGHT AND LET THE MOTORCYCLE ROLL TO A STOP. THE FRONT WHEEL WAS WOBBLING. THERE WAS A FRONT WHEEL BEARING PROBLEM ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. IT WAS MAKING A CLICKING NOISE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 9,000 MILES. THE FRONT WHEEL BEARNINGS FELL OFF LAST WEDNESDAY. THE MOTORCYLE WAS TOWED. THE OWNER TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPAIRED IT. THE DEA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10134605 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10138545 · 2005-10-04 (October 4, 2005)
FRONT BRAKE FAILS TO STOP VEHICLE. FRONT BRAKE LEVER TRAVEL IS EXCESSIVE AND OFTEN TOUCHES THE THROTTLE GRIP WITHOUT PROVIDING ANY SIGNIFICANT DECELERATION. DEALER RECENTLY BLED BRAKES AT THE 4000 MILE SERVICE. ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT ON OCT 1, 2005 WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE WAS UNABLE TO STOP IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. HAD TO CHANGE LANES TO AVIOD A REAR END COLLISION. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WITH OTHER VS1400 SUZUKI INTRUDERS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 4,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138545 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 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 |
1998: 1; 1999: 1; 2000: 1; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 0; 2008: 0