2003 Honda VFR800: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
8 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
19,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 8 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 100.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 12.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 12.5% |
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 | 4 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 1 |
Electrical System: 4; Electrical System:Wiring: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 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 | 4 |
| 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: 4; 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 (4). 2 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 | 4 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
2005: 4; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10118171 · 2005-04-20 (April 20, 2005)
MOTORCYLE ENGINE WOULD TURN OVER, START, AND RUN STRONG, BUT WOULD DIE AFTER THE STARTER BUTTON WAS RELEASED. LOOKING OVER INTERNET DISCUSSION FORUMS THAT ARE DEDICATED TO THIS MODEL MOTORCYCLE, 2002-2005 HONDA VFR800, REVEALED A SUBSTANSIAL*AK NUMBER OF OWNERS EXPERIANCED THE SAME PROBLEM, MOST OF THE OWNERS ARE IN WET CLIMATES, EG., SEATTLE, PORTLAND, BRITISH COLUMBIA, ETC. FOLLOWING THE TROUBLE SHOOTING METHODS RECOMMENDED ONE THE DISCUSSION FORUM (REMOVED THE HEADLIGHT FUSE AND THE BIKE WOULD START AND RUN FINE UNTIL EITHER THE FUSE WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 23,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10118171 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10124600 · 2005-07-08 (July 8, 2005)
DT: THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, THERE IS A BUZZING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF VEHICLE, ONE OF THE WIRES COMING FROM THE BATTERY BECAME HOT, CAUSING IT TO MELT. THE FUEL PUMP DOES NOT WORK, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT START, VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AT HIGHER SPEEDS, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHO TRIED TO FIX PROBLEM, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10124600 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125706 · 2005-06-17 (June 17, 2005)
MOTORCYCLE HEADLIGHTS INTERMEITTENTLY TURN OFF. ELECTRICAL PROBLEM ALSO RESULTING IN MOTORCYCLE TURNING OFF DURING OPERATION. REFERE TO THIS WEB SITE FOR MANY DETAILS: HTTP://WWW.VFRDISCUSSION.COM/FORUM/INDEX.PHP?SHOWTOPIC=6856&HL=MY+FIRST+ELECTRICAL+PROBLEM
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125706 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10142627 · 2005-11-14 (November 14, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BURNED. THIS CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS NOT TO WORK. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHEN HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, AND TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP, WHO HAD THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALERSHIP STATED IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE PREVIOUS OWNER'S NEGLIGENCE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10142627 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10147164 · 2006-01-07 (January 7, 2006)
REGARDING INVESTIGATION PE05047 THIS INVESTIGATION WAS CLOSED 12/20/05, BUT I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF THIS MODEL THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. MY HONDA VFR800 SHOWS SIGNS OF FAILURE DURING NORMAL USE AND THERE ARE NO "MODIFICATIONS TO THE WIRING HARNESS" AS SUGGESTED BY YOUR INVESTIGATION. THE ONLY AUXILIARY LOADS I HAVE ON MY BIKE ARE CONNECTED BY SEPARATE HARNESS DIRECTLY TO THE BATTERY AND THEREFORE BYPASS THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS. YET A CABLE, FUSE BLOCK AND A CONNECTOR ON THE FACTORY HARNESS DIRECTLY ATTACHED TO TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10147164 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10195932 · 2007-07-10 (July 10, 2007)
2003 HONDA VFR MOTORCYCLE SHUT OFF WHILE OPERATING AT APPROX. 30 MPH / 3500 RPM. SAFELY PULLED OFF ROAD AND PARKED. HEADLIGHTS & DASHBOARD LIGHTS DIM, BUZZING SOUND FROM DASHBOARD. BIKE RESTARTED ONLY WHEN HEADLIGHT FUSE WAS REMOVED. BIKE CURRENTLY AT HONDA DEALER FOR REPAIRS. EXTENSIVE DISCUSSION OF THIS PROBLEM, SOLUTION, AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DESIGN FLAWS IN NUMEROUS 6TH GENERATION (2002 - 2007) VFRS AVAILABLE AT "HTTP://WWW.VFRDISCUSSION.COM/FORUM/INDEX.PHP?SHOWFORUM=2" (1ST THREAD). SOLUTIONS INCLUDE ADDITIONAL ELECTRICAL GROUNDS, HE…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10195932 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10201965 · 2007-09-05 (September 5, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 HONDA VFR800. WHILE RIDING 70 MPH, THE HEADLIGHT SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE FRONT FAIRING SUB-HARNESS TRANSFERRED THE ELECTRICAL GROUNDING LOAD OF THE HEADLIGHT TO OTHER COMPONENTS AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V359000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING) WAS REFERENCED. THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 27,239.
Owner-reported narrative. 27,239 miles reported. Look up ODI 10201965 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10509240 · 2013-04-23 (April 23, 2013)
MY ISSUE WAS FIRST DISCOVERED IN 2012 WHEN I COULD NOT START MY MOTORCYCLE; MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS AN OLD BATTERY. UPON RESEARCHING ON VFRDISCUSSION.COM I WAS EXPOSED TO NUMEROUS VFR OWNERS WITH STARTING ISSUES THAT WAS RELATED TO THE ELECTRICAL AND CHARGING ISSUES, A KNOWN ISSUE WITH MY 2003 MODEL YEAR. FROM THE INFORMATION GATHERED I STARTED TO INVESTIGATE MY MOTORCYCLE TO SEE IF THE ISSUE IS INDEED TRUE. I DID A SERIES OF SUGGESTED ELECTRICAL TESTING WITH A MULTIMETER AND THE RESULTS PROVE NEGATIVE. I PROCEEDED TO REMOVE THE PLASTIC COVERING T…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10509240 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 ↗