2004 Honda VTX1300: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
78 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
4,860 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 52 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 78 complaints (30.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 12 | 15.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Steering | 24 |
| Suspension | 13 |
| Suspension:Front | 10 |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 9 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Power Train:Driveline | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
Steering: 24; Suspension: 13; Suspension:Front: 10; Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar: 9; Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Electrical System: 3; Power Train:Driveline: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 49 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 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: 49; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 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 (49). 26 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 | 2 |
| 2004 | 25 |
| 2005 | 18 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2003: 2; 2004: 25; 2005: 18; 2006: 11; 2007: 1; 2008: 5; 2009: 3; 2010: 1; 2011: 6; 2012: 1; 2014: 1; 2016: 1; 2018: 1; 2020: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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 10031777 · 2003-10-12 (October 12, 2003)
THE FRONT END HAS NO SUSPENSION. WHILE DRIVING THE MOTORCYCLE HIT A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND THE PASSENGER WAS ALMOST THROWN OFF. THE DEALER STATED ON 7/28/2003 THERE WAS NO PROBLEM (HONDA VTX1300S 2004). *PH *PH *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031777 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10045528 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)
I AM EXPERIENCING A WOBBLE WITH MY HONDO VTX 1300. BETWEEN 45 AND 40MPH ON DECELERATION THE BIKE HAS A SIGNIFICANT WOBBLE I FEEL IS UNSAFE. I KNOW MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME MODEL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT IS A HANDLING SAFETY ISSUE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,203 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045528 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052367 · 2004-01-04 (January 4, 2004)
2004 HONDA CRF-50 DIRT BIKE, RIGHT FRONT FORK SHAFT IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO SAFELY SUPPORT THE WEIGHT OF THE BIKE DUEING NORMAL OPERATION. THE SLIGHTEST IMPACT SUCH AS FALLING OVER WHILE MOVING AT SPEEDS FOUND AT LESS THAN FULL THRODDLE IN FIRST GEAR, SUCH AS A BEGINNER WOULD USE, WILL CAUSE THE FRONT FORK SHAFTS TO BEND RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A POTENTIAL HARMFUL CONDITION.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10052367 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10053825 · 2004-01-12 (January 12, 2004)
AFTER STARTING THE MOTORCYCLE, AND DRIVING FOR 5 MINUTES MOTORCYCLE OVERHEATED. DEALERSHIPS MECHANIC WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 195 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053825 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068130 · 2004-04-30 (April 30, 2004)
MY NEW HONDA SHADOW SABRE MOTORCYCLE SPEEDOMETER READS 10% HIGHER THAN ACTUAL SPEED OF VEHICLE. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068130 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073267 · 2004-05-27 (May 27, 2004)
2004 HONDA ST 1300 MOTORCYLE. AT HIGHER SPEEDS, BIKE HAS A UNCONTROLLABLE WABBLE. MULTIPLE REPORTS TO HONDA GO UNANSWERED. SIMILIAR RECALL UNDERWAY IN EUROPE FOR SAME PROBLEM. *MR
Owner-reported narrative. 50 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073267 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074565 · 2004-12-07 (December 7, 2004)
STEERING PROBLEM - STEERING WHEEL/HANDLEBARS: FRONT HANDLEBARS WOBBLE TO THE POINT OF BEING UNCONTROLABLE AT BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH. THIS HAPPENED RECENTLY WHILE EXITING A HIGHWAY AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND END UP GOING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. IT IS USUALLY NOT AS NOTICABLE WHEN YOU HOLD ON TO THE HANDLEBAR TIGHTLY WITH BOTH HANDS, BUT WHEN YOU HOLD IT WITH ONE HAND, OR IF YOU SHOULD HAVE AN OCCASION TO LET GO ALL-TOGETHER SUCH AS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, YOU MAY DEFINITELY HAVE AN ACCIDENT IF TRAVELING …
Owner-reported narrative. 250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074565 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074696 · 2004-06-02 (June 2, 2004)
1-PROBLEM EXISTED SINCE DAY ONE 2-SPEEDOMETER OVER STATES SPEED BY 8%, RESULTING IN DRIVERS FOLLOWING TAILGATING, FLASHING HIGH BEAMS, AND INDUCING ROAD RAGE 3-PURCHASED GPS WHICH REPORTS SPEED ACCURATELY FOR $400. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074696 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.