Suzuki VZR1800 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
146 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
5,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 to 2023 model years. Data snapshot: . 128 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Manual Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 50 of 146 complaints (34.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 41 | 28.1% |
| Braking behavior | 25 | 17.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 3.4% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 2.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 0.7% |
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 | 50 |
| Power Train | 34 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 24 |
| Power Train:Driveline | 11 |
| Power Train:Clutch Assembly | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 |
| Engine | 4 |
| Structure:Motorcycle:Kickstand/Center Stand | 4 |
Power Train:Manual Transmission: 50; Power Train: 34; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 24; Power Train:Driveline: 11; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 8; Vehicle Speed Control: 6; Engine: 4; Structure:Motorcycle:Kickstand/Center Stand: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 124 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 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: 124; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 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 (124). 18 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 62 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 22 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 4 |
| 2021 | 3 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2006: 5; 2007: 11; 2008: 62; 2009: 10; 2010: 7; 2011: 22; 2012: 4; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 3; 2016: 3; 2017: 2; 2018: 1; 2019: 2; 2020: 4; 2021: 3; 2022: 1; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Manual Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 41 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 25 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 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 10201064 · 2007-08-28 (August 28, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI VZR1800. WHILE RIDING AT 70 MPH, THE REAR TIRE LOCKED UP WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN APPROXIMATELY 800 MILES BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED A FRACTURED CLAVICLE AS WELL AS ROAD RASHES ON BOTH ARMS AND HIS LEFT HIP. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, POWERTRAIN, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, FUEL TYPE, AND TRANSMISSION TYPE WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 18,800.
Owner-reported narrative. 18,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10201064 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10217572 · 2008-02-10 (February 10, 2008)
1.) 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
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10217572 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10184008 · 2007-03-02 (March 2, 2007)
TL*- THE CONTACT SMELLED GAS FUMES ON THE 2006 SUZUKI VZR1800 MOTORCYCLE. IT DID NOT MATTER HOW LONG HE DROVE THE VEHICLE HE STILL SMELLED THE FUMES. THE CONTACT SMELLED FUMES EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN UNUSED FOR 3 OR 4 DAYS. THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED A BRAKE SERVICE ON THE VEHICLE AT 500 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT NOTICE ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED FOR THIS PROBLEM. THERE WERE NOT ANY PARTICULAR ROAD CONDITIONS OR A PARTICULAR TIME OF THE DAY WHEN HE SMELLED…
Owner-reported narrative. 650 miles reported. Look up ODI 10184008 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10226341 · 2008-04-30 (April 30, 2008)
I 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…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226341 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10157733 · 2006-05-17 (May 17, 2006)
DT*: 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
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10157733 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10183098 · 2007-02-20 (February 20, 2007)
FUEL LEAK WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE SITS FOR A WEEK OR TWO. COMING FROM UNDER THE TANK AND LEAKING DOWN THE FRONT CYLINDER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 4,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10183098 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10263805 · 2009-03-31 (March 31, 2009)
TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. NOTICE IT WAS GETTING HARD TO PLACE INTO GEAR AND A MILE LATER THE CLUTCH WOULD NOT ENGAGE. CAN PUT IN NEUTRAL, BUT WHEN PUT IN FIRST GEAR IT WOULD JUMP WHILE HOLDING THE CLUTCH IN AND IT WOULD STALL AND NOT FUNCTION. TOOK IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY THOUGHT THE CLUTCH PLATES NEEDED REPLACING AND THOUGHT THAT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE PLATES WERE CHECKED AND IN GOOD CONDITION, AND THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WHICH COULD COST A FEW THOUSAND DOLLARS. I WENT ON SEVERAL BIKE FORUMS AND THER…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10263805 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10235085 · 2008-07-21 (July 21, 2008)
CLUTCH VIOLENTLY SHUTTERS AND MAKE THE MOTORCYCLE STALL. WHEN STOPPED AT A LIGHT THE BIKE WANTS TO TAKE OFF BY ITSELF. THIS HAPPEN ALMOST EVERYTIME. SUZUKI CLAIMS IT NEVER HAPPENS,BUT IS NOW A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT AMONG OWNERS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10235085 at NHTSA ↗
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 ↗
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 |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
2007: 1; 2008: 0; 2009: 0; 2011: 0; 2012: 0; 2023: 0