2002 Honda VTX1800: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
63 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
15,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 48 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Rear is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 63 complaints (14.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 5 | 7.9% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 4.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 3.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.6% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.6% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Suspension:Rear | 9 |
| Structure:Motorcycle:Kickstand/Center Stand | 7 |
| Wheels | 6 |
| Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Power Train:Axle Assembly | 4 |
| Power Train:Driveline:Center Support Bearing | 3 |
| Tires | 3 |
Suspension:Rear: 9; Structure:Motorcycle:Kickstand/Center Stand: 7; Wheels: 6; Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Power Train:Axle Assembly: 4; Power Train:Driveline:Center Support Bearing: 3; Tires: 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 | 33 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 33; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 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 (33). 15 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 10 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2002: 7; 2003: 4; 2004: 10; 2005: 13; 2006: 10; 2007: 2; 2008: 6; 2009: 1; 2010: 2; 2011: 3; 2013: 1; 2015: 2; 2017: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension:Rear leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 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 10005648 · 2003-02-10 (February 10, 2003)
EVERY 600 MILES THE PLUGS FOUL. BIKE WONT EVEN START. DEALER HAS OTHER VTX'S WITH SAME PROBLEM. DOESNT NO HOW TO FIX PROBLEM. HE STATED THAT HONDA INC. HAS BEEN NO HELP.
Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005648 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10005702 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
WITHIN THE FIRST 500 MILES AFTER PURCHASING THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW, THE SPARK PLUGS WERE DETERMINED TO BE FOULED FROM CARBON. A DETERIORATION IN PERFORMANCE WAS NOTED, ALONG WITH A SMELL OF GASOLINE FROM BEHIND THE VEHICLE AS IF IT WERE RUNNING RICH. THE VEHICLE ALSO BACKFIRES ON DECELLERATION. WHILE MY VEHICLE CONTINUES TO BE USABLE, OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED A NEED FOR COMPLETE ENGINE REBUILDING TO FIX CAM TIMING INACCURACIES, SCUFFED CYLINDER BORES FROM INCORRECTLY SEATING RINGS (CAUSING OIL BURNING AND CARBON FOULING OF THE COMBUSTION C…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005702 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011378 · 2003-03-11 (March 11, 2003)
THE TIRES WERE COMPLETELY CRACKED, THE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM OCCURRED BECAUSE THE CONSUMER DID NOT RIDE THE BIKE ENOUGH.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. 2,803 miles reported. Look up ODI 10011378 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025701 · 2003-07-09 (July 9, 2003)
DECOMPRESSION LOBE ON THE FRONT CYCLINDER HAS FAILED ON MY 2002 VTX1800R. DECOMPRESSION LOBE IS STUCK IN OPEN POSTIION AND CAUSED SPARK PLUGS TO FOUL QUITE REGULARLY (EVERY 5K MILES). HAVE HAD PEOPLE TELL ME THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR MOTORCYCLES AND HONDA WOULD NOT REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. MY WARRANTY WAS ONLY OUT 2 WEEKS BEFORE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED. ONLY FIX FIX PROBLEM IS CAM REPLACEMENTM WHICH RUNS ABOUT $350. I CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA DIRECTLY AND THEY DENIED ANY KNOWLEDGE OF HAVING THIS PROBLEM IN ANY OTHER MOTORCYCLES, DESPITE…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025701 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052259 · 2004-01-02 (January 2, 2004)
WHILE DECELERATING THERE IS A POPPING NOISE IN THE REAR CYLINDER. MECHANIC SAYS OIL IS GETTING INTO THE ENGINE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10052259 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054862 · 2004-01-25 (January 25, 2004)
ON A HONDA VTX 1800C MOTORCYCLE, THE SPRING HOOK BROKE THAT HOLDS THE SPRING TO KEEP THE KICKSTAND IN PLACE. AS A RESULT, THE KICKSTAND FALLS TO THE GROUND WHICH TURNS OFF THE ENGINE. THIS HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC, RESULTING IN THE ENGINE STOPPING AND THE MOTORCYCLE COMING TO A STOP UNEXPECTEDLY. AUTOMOBILES BEHIND ME ALMOST RAN INTO THE REAR END OF THE MOTORCYCLE. HONDA MOTORCYCLES IS AWARE OF THIS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE THAT OCCURS WITH THE KICKSTAND SPRING HOOK. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 13,772 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054862 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088108 · 2004-08-17 (August 17, 2004)
THE SIDE STAND SPRING MOUNT ON 2002, HONDA VTX, 1800 C FELL OFF ALONG WITH THE SPRINGS AS CONSUMER WAS GETTING OFF THE MOTORCYCLE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM HAD IT HAPPENED IN TRAFFIC AS THE ENGINE WOULD STALL AS THE STAND CAME DOWN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088108 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088146 · 2004-08-18 (August 18, 2004)
SIDESTAND ROD ON MOTORCYCLE BROKE DURING NORMAL OPERATION CAUSING THE TENSION SPRING TO FALL OFF, LEAVING THE SIDESTAND IN A STATE WHERE IT WOULD NOT STAY IN THE RAISED POSITION. I REPLACED THE SPRING ROD WITH AN IDENTICAL PART. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 6,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088146 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
01V134000 · Power Train:Manual Transmission
Reported: 2001-05-09 (May 9, 2001)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. A TRANSMISSION CIRCLIP WAS NOT SEATED CORRECTLY AND COULD ALLOW GEARS TO LOCK.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A REAR-WHEEL LOCKUP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION ON THESE MOTORCYCLES. ALL OWNERS WERE CONTACTED BY TELEPHONE AND ALL VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. THIS CAMPAIGN IS 100% COMPLETED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗04V564000 · Structure:Motorcycle:Kickstand/Center Stand
Reported: 2004-11-30 (November 30, 2004)
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE WASHER FOR THE SIDE STAND SPRING BOLT DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT HARNESS AND COULD DEFORM, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE BOLT TO FLEX AND EVENTUALLY BREAK DURING SIDE STAND OPERATION.
Consequence: A RETRACTED SIDE STAND COULD DROP WHILE RIDING, POSSIBLY ACTIVATING THE SIDE STAND IGNITION CUT-OFF SYSTEM. IF THE IGNITION IS CUT, THE ENGINE WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED WASHER AND A NEW SPRING BOLT AND NUT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-866-784-1870.
NHTSA campaign record ↗09V362000 · Structure:Frame And Members
Reported: 2009-09-17 (September 17, 2009)
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 VTX1800 MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN AUGUST 14 AND OCTOBER 4, 2001. THE SWINGARM MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY WELDED.
Consequence: THE SWINGARM COULD BREAK WHILE RIDINGCAUSING THE RIDER TO LOSE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN CRASH.
Remedy: HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WELD AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE SWINGARM FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA MOTORCYCLE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-866-784-1870.
NHTSA campaign record ↗