2002 Honda VFR800: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
6 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
20,054 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 6 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 83.3% |
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 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
Electrical System: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 2; Electrical System:Wiring: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 1; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal: 1; Unknown Or Other: 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 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 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: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 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 (3). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
2005: 1; 2006: 3; 2007: 1; 2008: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10129934 · 2005-07-25 (July 25, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED 4 SEPARATE ELECTRICAL FAILURES, IT HAS CAUSED HEADLIGHT AND ENGINE FAILURE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED HONDA THEY HAVE REPAIRED THE ISSUE UNDER WARRANTY. THE GROUND WIRE HAS BURNED 3 TIMES AT DIFFERENT POINTS. THE 1ST TIME AUG 2002. FIRST TIME IT ONLY HAD 18,000 MILES. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129934 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10150565 · 2006-02-17 (February 17, 2006)
30AMP MAIN FUSE HOLDER MELTING. ENGINE STOPPED ON FREEWAY. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150565 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10167823 · 2006-09-11 (September 11, 2006)
HAD STARTING PROBLEMS AND WENT TO CHECK THE BATTERY. FOUND THAT THE FUSE HOLDER, A CONNECTOR AND THE SMALL WIRE BETWEEN THE TWO HAD DISCOLORED TO A BROWN. THERE WERE SIGNS OF MELTING ON THE WIRE INSULATION. THE PART HAS NOT FAILED TO DATE BUT GETS VERY HOT TO THE TOUCH WHEN THE VEHICLE ENGINE IS RUNNING. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 20,054 miles reported. Look up ODI 10167823 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10169814 · 2006-10-03 (October 3, 2006)
MOTORCYCLE ENGINE DIED WHILE RUNNING. I DID TROUBLESHOOT TO FIND AN ELECTRICAL 30 AMP FUSE WIRE INSULATION SCORCHED AND BURNED THROUGH. COPPER CONDUCTOR HAD BECOME VERY HOT. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10169814 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10191600 · 2007-05-23 (May 23, 2007)
I OWN A 2002 HONDA VFR 800 MOTORCYCLE THAT HAS INCURRED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THAT 2 DEALERS WERE UNABLE TO REPAIR. THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS OCCURRED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND WHEN TRYING TO USE TURN SIGNALS. THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AND THE ENGINE DIED...A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. NOW THE MOTORCYCLE STILL DID THE SAME THING, JUST THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE PRACTICALLY NON FUNCTIONING ,THEY CAME ON SOMETIMES WHEN GOING OVER A BUMP BUT THE ENGINES STILL DIED WHENEVER I USE THE TURN SIGNALS. *AK ANY HELP Y…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10191600 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10234684 · 2008-07-17 (July 17, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA VFR800. THE CONTACT MAILED IN A WARRANTY CARD NOTIFYING THE HONDA MANUFACTURER THAT HE NOW OWNS THE MOTORCYCLE. THE WARRANTY INFORMATION WAS ENTERED INTO HONDA'S SYSTEM INCORRECTLY AND NOW IT STATES THAT THE MOTORCYCLE IS STOLEN. THERE IS A NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V359000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING) ON THE VEHICLE, WHICH THE DEALERS ARE REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE DUE TO THEIR ERROR. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10234684 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
05V010000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Reported: 2005-01-24 (January 24, 2005)
CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES EQUIPPED WITH COMBINED-BRAKE SYSTEMS HAVE A PROPORTIONING CONTROL VALVE (PCV) THAT MECHANICALLY PROPORTIONS BRAKE FORCE WHEN THE REAR BRAKE IS APPLIED. A SEAL IN SOME PCVS IS IMPROPERLY SHAPED, AND BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE MAY OCCUR.
Consequence: IF THE MOTORCYCLE CONTINUES TO BE USED AFTER A LEAK OCCURS, THE REAR BRAKE WOULD EVENTUALLY BECOME INOPERATIVE. A LOSS OF REAR BRAKE FORCE COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR BRAKE FORLEAKAGE. IF LEAKAGE IS CONFIRMED, THE DEALER WILL REPLACE THE PCV FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 31, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 866-784-1870.
NHTSA campaign record ↗07V359000 · Electrical System:Wiring
Reported: 2007-08-15 (August 15, 2007)
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE FRONT FAIRING SUB-HARNESS (SECTION OF THE WIRING HARNESS) TRANSFERS THE ELECTRICAL GROUNDING LOAD OF THE HEADLIGHTS, FRONT TURN SIGNALS, INSTRUMENT PANEL, AND VARIOUS RELAYS TO THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS VIA AN 18-PIN CONNECTOR. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE GROUND WIRE TERMINALS INSIDE THE CONNECTOR CAN OVERHEAT, RESULTING IN MELTING OF THE CONNECTOR AND A LOSS OF POWER TO VARIOUS CIRCUITS.
Consequence: AS A RESULT, A LOSS OF CRITICAL LIGHTING OR ENGINE POWER COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RE-DESIGNED SUB-HARNESS. IF DAMAGE IS FOUND, THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS WILL ALSO BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. AN INTERIM LETTER WAS MAILED TO OWNERS ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2007. OWNERS WERE RE-NOTIFIED ON NOVEMBER 10, 2007, TO TAKE THEIR MOTORCYCLES TO DEALERS TO HAVE THE PARTS INSTALLED. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA AT 1-866-784-1870.
NHTSA campaign record ↗