2011 Suzuki VZR1800 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 1 complaints (100.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 1 | 100.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering | 1 |
Steering: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 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: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 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 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
2012: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering 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 10471814 · 2012-08-21 (August 21, 2012)
BOUGHT A M109R L.E. SUZUKI 2011 SAW THAT HANDLEBARS WERE OBVIOUSLY CROOKED AND ASKED THAT THEY BE SERVICED. 10 MONTHS LATER AND A CONCAVED FRONT TIRE THEY WERE "ADJUSTED."BRAND NEW TIRES WERE PUT ON AT THIS TIME AND THE STEERING WAS STILL OFF. I HAD A FALLOUT W/THE SAID DEALERSHIP &THE CONTACTED AMERICAN SUZUKI CORP. AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL OR ISSUE PERTAINING TO THE M109R.I WAS TOLD TO RIDE SIDEWAYS TO COMPENSATE FOR THE STEERING. I APPROACHED ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND POINTED OUT THEY HAD A BRAND NEW DEFECTIVE UNIT ON THEIR SHOWROOM FLOO…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10471814 at NHTSA ↗
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
1 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-11-07.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2011 | 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 1429.8%ODI 10217572 · 11,000 mi1.) ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AND MOVING INTO TRAFFIC. 2.) TRANSMISSION FAILURE. 3.) 2ND AND 3RD GEAR AND ALL THREE SHIFTER FORKS ARE BEING REPLACED. NO COVERAGE FROM SUZUKI OR 3RD PARTY EXTENDED WARRANTY (WESTERN STATES). BIKE WAS PURCHASED IN JULY OF 2006, 11K MI. AT TIME OF FAILURE. FEEL THAT THE DEALERSHIP DID WHAT THEY COULD TO GET IT COVERED. *TR | 3136.5%ODI 10186755 · 800 miTL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 APRILIA SXV450 MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD RATTLING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE POPPED OUT OF GEAR, THE CONTACT DOWN SHIFTED TO FOURTH GEAR, WHICH CAUSED THE BACK WHEEL TO LOCK. THE BACK WHEEL UNLOCKED, AND THEN LOCKED AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE A LACK OF OIL IN THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER'S CUSTOMER CARE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT IF THE DEALER DENIED THE CLAIM TH… | 440.0%ODI 10398329 · 9,860 miWHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC SHIFTED TO 2ND GEAR AND JUST AS I WAS CHANGING LANES INTO FLOW OF TRAFFIC MY MOTORCYCLE POPS ITSELF INTO NEUTRAL LOSING ALL FORWARD MOTION. I HAD TO SWERVE BACK ONTO SHOULDER TO AVOID BEING STRUCK FROM BEHIND, THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES SINCE AND SCARES THE HELL OUT OF ME. *TR | 1100.0%ODI 10398250 · 10 miBIKE CURRENTLY HAS 1100 MILES. SINCE DAY 1 SHIFTING FROM FIRST GEAR TO SECOND GEAR IS HARD AND THE TRANSMISSION MAKES A HARD AND LOUD NOISE WHEN ENGAGING. DEALER SAID THAT THIS SYMPTOM WILL WEAR OFF IN TIME WITH MORE MILES. BASED ON WHAT OTHER OWNERS DESCRIBE ABOUT THE SECOND GEAR DISENGAGING.THE SYMPTOM THAT I AM EXPERIENCING NOW IS THE BEGINNING OF THE SECOND STAGE OF PROBLEMS THAT THEY ARE HAVING WITH SECOND GEAR FAILING. I DO NOT WISH TO WAIT UNTIL THE SECOND GEAR FAILS TO MAKE A COMPLAINT, BECAUSE ON THAT DAY I MIGHT GET KILLED BY A CAR OR… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train | 1021.3%ODI 10217572 · 11,000 mi1.) ENTERING THE HIGHWAY AND MOVING INTO TRAFFIC. 2.) TRANSMISSION FAILURE. 3.) 2ND AND 3RD GEAR AND ALL THREE SHIFTER FORKS ARE BEING REPLACED. NO COVERAGE FROM SUZUKI OR 3RD PARTY EXTENDED WARRANTY (WESTERN STATES). BIKE WAS PURCHASED IN JULY OF 2006, 11K MI. AT TIME OF FAILURE. FEEL THAT THE DEALERSHIP DID WHAT THEY COULD TO GET IT COVERED. *TR | 2023.5%ODI 10225808 · 5,328 miWHILE RIDING MY SUZUKI M109 MOTORCYCLE THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT ENGAGE. AS I SQUEEZE THE CLUTCH THE BIKE JUST JERK FORWARD AND CUT OFF. THERE WAS TENSION ON THE CABLE BUT THE CLUTCH WILL NOT ENGAGE. HEAR A SPINNING SOUND COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE. THIS HAS HAPPEN TO GREAT NUMBER OF BIKES. IT APPEAR THAT THE TUBE NUT IN THE CLUTCH CAME LOOSE THIS IS A INTERNAL NUT THAT IS NOT SERVICEABLE. ITS APPARENT THAT THIS SAFETY ISSUE IS CAUSED BY THE MANUFACTURE. I OWN THIS BIKE FOR ONE YEAR AND 24 DAYS AND HAVE 5400 MILES ON IT. IF YOU LOOK AT THE M109RIDER… | 440.0%ODI 10342046 · 5,000 miTHE VEHICLE IS A MOTORCYCLE CALLED A SUZUKI VZR 1800 OR M109R. THE FAILURE INVOLVES RELEASING THE CLUTCH TO ENGAGE THE VEHICLE. WHEN RELEASING THE CLUTCH THERE IS A "SHUDDER" OR A "JERKING" BY THE CLUTCH THAT CAUSES MASSIVE VIBRATION TO THE WHOLE VEHICLE. THIS MAINLY RESULTS IN (1) LOSS GRIP OF THE HANDLE BARS (2) LOSS OF BALANCE (3) AND THE ENGINE STOPPING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. I HAVE ASKED MY RETAILER AND SUZUKI DEALER TO LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM AND THE RESPONSE IT "IT IS NORMAL" AND SUZUKI HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. HOWEVER… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 714.9%ODI 10226341 · 100 miI HAVE A SUZUKI M109 MOTORCYCLE ALSO KNOWN AS VZR1800. FOR MOST OF THE TIME I HAVE OWNED IT THE REAR BRAKE HAS SCREECHED VERY LOUD WHEN APPLIED. I HAVE READ THAT SOME OF THESE REAR ROTORS HAVE HAD SOME MOVEMENT. MINE HAS NO LATERAL MOVEMENT BUT DOES HAVE SOME MOVEMENT IN A ROTATIONAL DIRECTION FRONTWARDS AND BACKWARDS. I HAVE READ THAT MANY HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH A NEWER MODEL WHICH ALSO STOPPED THE SCREECHING SOUND. AS FAR AS I KNOW THERE IS NO RECALL YET BUT THERE SHOULD BE IN MY OPINION. I WILL BE CONTACTING SUZUKI SOON FOR SOME INFORMATION… | 1720.0%ODI 10226596 · 8,000 miCOMMON PROBLEM ON THE 2007 SUZUKI M109R. REAR ROTOR IS FALLING APART. THE RIVETS HOLDING IT TOGETHER ARE FAILING. HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE DEALER YET BECAUSE MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Driveline | 12.1%ODI 10233335 · 17,000 miMOTORCYCLE CLUTCH INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO ENGAGE WITHOUT SHAKING, SOMETIMES TOO MUCH TO START RIDING. SAFETY ISSUE, HAS HAPPENED WHEN TURNING LEFT IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE BIKE IS UNABLE TO TAKE OFF, UNTIL I TRY ONE OR TWO MORE TIMES PULLING THE CLUTCH LEVER. I'VE LEARNED NOT TO ASSUME I CAN SAFELY PROCEED THROUGH AN INTERSECTION WHILE THERE ARE OTHER VEHICLES AROUND. THIS PROBLEM WAS ORIGINALLY FIXED (MOSTLY) BY SUZUKI SOON AFTER I BOUGHT THE BIKE IN 2006, BUT WOULD OCCASIONALLY HAPPEN STILL. NOW IT IS BAD AGAIN, AND OF COURSE, THE BI… | 910.6%ODI 10232101 · 2,955 miHARSH VIBRATION OF MOTORCYCLE DRIVE LINE AND NOISE IN CLUTCH AREA THROUGH ALL GEARS AT APPROXIMATELY 2800 RPM TO 4200 RPM AND ESPECIALLY DURING INCLINE CLIMBING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS WHEN ENGINE RPM IS INCREASED TO PICKUP ADDED LOAD FROM INCLINE. THERE IS ALSO A NOISE DURING IDLE WITH CLUTCH RELEASED AND IN NEUTRAL COMING FROM CLUTCH HOUSING AREA. *TR | 110.0%ODI 10283496I OWN A 2008 SUZUKI VZR1800N OR M109R MOTORCYCLE. FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS INCLUDING TODAY THE BIKE HAS DEVELOPED A VIOLENT SHUDDER OR CHATTER WHILE DISENGAGE THE CLUTCH IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR. IT HAPPENS MOSTLY RIGHT AFTER WARM UP AND CONTINUES UP UNTIL YOU RUN IT THROUGH THE GEARS A COUPLE OF TIMES. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT SUZUKI DEALERS AND THEY HAVE BRUSHED OFF THE PROBLEM BY SAYING ITS A TRAIT OF THE MOTORCYCLE. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET BUT IT IS UNNERVING TO RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE. ON THE M109RIDERS FORUM YOU ARE HEARING … | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 510.6%ODI 10165381 · 1,691 miADJUSTED CLUTCH SEVERAL TIMES PER OWNERS MANUAL. SEEMS THE CABLE IS STRETCHING OR NUT HOLDING CLUTCH BASKET IS LOOSENING UP. CLUTCH SLIPPING WHEN THROTTLING UP IN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR. CALLING SUZUKI. *JB | 33.5%ODI 10217322 · 4,920 miCLUTCH ENGAGEMENT ISSUES WITH NEW SUZUKI M109R. *TR | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12.1%ODI 11429122Popping out of second gear. Very dangerous! And can not get out of the way of on coming traffic! Sent Suzuki a email less than a year of purchase, and was told it would cost upwards to 2000.00. This should be a recall! And is a known problem with this bike!!! I complained the first time I drove it home about second gear scraping and hard to shift, and was told there’s nothing wrong with it just needs to be broken in, was less than a thousand miles on the bike and it started popping out of second, I called and went by many times complaining. | 55.9%ODI 10461040 · 4,550 miWAS ON MY 2007 SUZUKI M109R AND SITTING AT A LIGHT I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AFTER LIGHT TURNED GREEN. AS I MADE THE TURN I WENT TO SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR AND IT WENT INTO SECOND GEAR THEN SLIPPED BACK INTO NEUTRAL CAUSING ME TO LOSE MY CONCENTRATION AND ALMOST HITTING CAR NEXT TO ME. I AM A MEMBER OF THE M109RIDER MESSAGE BOARD AND HAVE FOUND THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE HTTP://WWW.M109RIDERS.COM/FORUMS/SEARCH.PHP?SEARCHID=865572 THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO IT HAPPENS WHEN A RIDER IS STARTING TO ACCELERA… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Structure:Motorcycle:Kickstand/Center Stand | 48.5%ODI 10157733 · 600 miDT*: THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE MOTORCYCLE'S KICKSTAND WAS PUT INTO THE DOWN POSITION IT FELL OVER, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO THE GAS TANK, CLUTCH HANDLE, AND THE TURN SIGNALS. IT HAPPENED AFTER THE CONTACT LEFT THE MOTORCYCLE PARKED IN A PAVED PARKING LOT FOR JUST A FEW MOMENTS. NEITHER THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. UPDATED ON 05/30/06. AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Unknown Or Other | 12.1%ODI 10234601 · 5,000 mi2006 SUZUKI M109. NOTICED MY REAR BRAKE MAKING EXCESSIVE NOISE AND NOT REACTING IMMEDIATELY WHEN I STEPPED ON THE REAR BRAKE LEVER. IT WOULD FEEL LIKE IT WAS HESITATING BEFORE IT STARTED SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE (SCARY). I GOT NERVOUS AND TOOK THE BIKE IN TO THE DEALER. WHILE THERE, I NOTICED THAT MY REAR ROTOR WAS VERY LOOSE AND HAD APPROX 1" OF FREEPLAY. AFTER 4 OR 5 DAYS OF IT SITTING IN THEIR SHOP, THEY GOT IS REPLACED. THEY SAID THEY HAD TO DO SOME "TESTS" ON IT TO SEE IF IT WAS BAD. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SUZUKI REP HAD BEEN THERE … | 22.4%ODI 10219616 · 4,000 miI HAVE A BRAND NEW (SUZUKI M109) I TAKE CARE OF THIS BIKE LIKE A BABY ON TIME SERVICES, NO SPEEDING TRYING TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT BECAUSE ME AND MY LADY FELT IN LOVE WITH IT, AFTER 4 MONTHS OF USE AND SEVERAL TRIPS TO THE SHOP THE TRANSMISSION GOES, TAKE IT TO THE DEALER A WEEK LATER THEY TELL ME THAT THE 2ND GEAR FORK IS BENT AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A CHARGE OF $2,500 ON THE OWNER AND I SAID HOW CAN IT BE POSSIBLE WHEN IS A BRAND NEW BIKE THEY SAID THERE'S NO DEFECT ON THE PARTS THAT IT WAS THE OWNER MISHANDLING IT, I SAID NO WAY , NOT EVEN T… | 110.0%ODI 10821865 · 9,000 miTHERE IS A VIOLENT SHUDDER WHEN TAKING OFF IN FIRST GEAR WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS ON A MOTORCYCLE WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC. TALKING TO OTHER OWNERS AND MECHANIC...IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH THE CLUTCH AND SPRINGS AND APPARENTLY A PROBLEM WITH SEVERAL OF THESE BIKES. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No usable records for this analysis. | ||||
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-11 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2011: 1 complaints · 2012: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Steering |
|---|---|
| Steering | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.