2003 Honda VTX1300: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
35 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
3,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 35 complaints (25.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 6 | 17.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.9% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 2.9% |
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 | 9 |
| Suspension | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 4 |
| Tires | 3 |
| Suspension:Front | 2 |
| Wheels | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 1 |
Steering: 9; Suspension: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 5; Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 4; Tires: 3; Suspension:Front: 2; Wheels: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 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 | 17 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 17; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 16 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 20 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
2003: 4; 2004: 20; 2005: 4; 2006: 4; 2008: 2; 2012: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Braking 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10012317 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)
THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT END OF HIS MOTORCYCLE. HE STATED THAT THE MOTOR CYCLE POPS WHEN IT GOES OVER ANY BUMPS OR POT HOLES. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THIS IS NORMAL FOR HIS BIKE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012317 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10033661 · 2003-08-07 (August 7, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A VIBRATION ON THE FRONT END OF THE MOTORCYCLE DUE TO FLAT SPOT IN THE TIRE. *MR THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE FRONT RIM HAD TO BE STRAIGHTENED. THE CONSUMER STATED THIS WAS A RESULT OF PAGE 202 IN THE OWNERS MANUAL. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10033661 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039910 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)
CONSUMER CALLED ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A MOTORCYCLE. WHILE TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT 24 MPH, THE REAR TIRE FISH-TAILED. THE DRIVER ALMOST LOST CONTROL AND GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. HE REALIZED ALL THE OIL OF THE BIKE WAS SPLASHED ALL OVER THE PAVEMENT. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND HAD THE BIKE FIXED BUT CONSUMER DOES NOT FEEL THAT THE MOTORCYCLE IS SAFE. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039910 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045501 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)
MY SPEEDOMETER IS OFF 10% AS PER THE HONDA REPAIR MAN USING A GPS TO EVALUATE THE DISCREPANCY.
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045501 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066390 · 2004-04-18 (April 18, 2004)
RUSTING WHEELS ON 2003 HONDA VTX 1300S. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10066390 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074522 · 2004-05-31 (May 31, 2004)
EXCESSIVE FRONT END WOBBLE. AT SPEEDS AROUND 40 MPH, THE FRONT END WOBBLES EXCESSIVELY, MANY HONDA VTX RIDERS HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALERS. HOWEVER, ITS ALWAYS THE SAME ANSWERS, "NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS, OR HONDA RECOMMENDS THAT YOU NOT LET GO OF THE HANDLE BARS. I REPLACE MY TIRE AT 8500 MILES AND HAD THE RIMS CHECKED. STILL SAME PROBLEM... CHECK OUR WEB SITE HTTP://WWW.VTXOA.COM/FORUMS/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?T=16810&HIGHLIGHT=WOBBLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10074522 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074525 · 2004-05-31 (May 31, 2004)
2003 HONDA VTX1300 RETRO EXHIBITS AN ABNORMAL WOBBLE IN THE STEERING/HANDLE BARS ON DECELERATION BETWEEN 40 AND 50 MILES PER HOUR. THE PROBLEM IS PERSISTANT AND HAS BEEN COMPLAINED ABOUT BY MANY OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE WITH NO RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. SEE WWW.XTXOA.COM FOR CONFIRMATION.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074525 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074573 · 2004-06-01 (June 1, 2004)
HAVE FRONT END WOBBLE ON HONDA VTX 1300 03 AT 40MPH VERY UNSAFE HONDA SAYS THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS AND DONT SEAM TO WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074573 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.