2005 Suzuki VL800: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
9 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
8,560 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 9 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 33.3% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 22.2% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 11.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 11.1% |
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 | 3 |
| Wheels:Hub | 2 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 1 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 1 |
| Suspension:Rear | 1 |
Electrical System: 3; Wheels:Hub: 2; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 1; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 1; Engine: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Structure:Frame And Members: 1; Suspension:Rear: 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 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 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 (9). 0 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2006: 4; 2007: 2; 2008: 2; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 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 10150003 · 2006-02-10 (February 10, 2006)
MY 2005 SUZUKI C50 MOTORCYCLE HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS IN THE FRONT AND REAR HUBS OF THE WHEELS. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS LESS THAN 500 MILES ON IT AND IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. IN NOTIFYING SUZUKI OF THE PROBLEMS THEY CONVEYED TO ME THAT THIS IS NOT A DEFECT AND WHERE NOT LIABLE. BUT MY NEIGHBOR'S WIFE HAS THE SAME STYLE BIKE AND HERS HAS THE SAME CRACKS ON BOTH HUBS. I HAVE NOT WRECKED THE BIKE ,I'VE BARELY RIDDEN IT IN THE PAST SIX MONTHS. I'VE HEARD FROM A DIFFERENT BIKE DEALER THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS AND SUZUKI KNOWS…
Owner-reported narrative. 477 miles reported. Look up ODI 10150003 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10154190 · 2006-03-30 (March 30, 2006)
A GENUINE SUZUKI TACHOMETER CAUSES THE SUZUKI C50 BOULEVARD MOTORCYCLE TO STALL AND QUIT AFTER 20-30 MINUTES OF NORMAL OPERATION. THE TACHOMETER PART NUMBER IS 990A0-72001. SUZUKI IS AWARE OF THIS BUT HAS NOT ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE. THREE DEALERS WERE INVOLVED IN FIXING THIS PROBLEM OVER A PERIOD OF MONTHS. THE FIRST DEALER COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, THE SECOND DEALER FIRST INSISTED THAT THE MUFFLERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED (FOR WHICH THEY CHARGED ME) AFTER VERIFYING THIS FIX WITH SUZUKI. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND THE DEALER FI…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,560 miles reported. Look up ODI 10154190 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163615 · 2006-07-27 (July 27, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH MAKING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY THE LEFT REAR PASSENGER PEG DETACHED RELEASING THE PASSENGER; A 12 YEAR OLD CHILD. THE PASSENGER WAS SECURED BY THE CONTACT WHILE TRAVELING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERS WHO DETERMINED THAT THE FRAME AND BRAKE LINE WAS RUSTED DUE TO EXPOSURE TO AIR. THE DEALER ALSO EXPRESSED THAT THE BROKEN FRAME COULD HAVE BEEN PART OF A MANUFACTURER RECALL AND NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER SCHEDULED A INVESTIGATOR TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,050 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163615 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10163668 · 2006-07-27 (July 27, 2006)
MY 2005 SUZUKI C50 MOTORCYCLE HAS DEVELOPED CRACKS IN THE FRONT AND REAR HUBS OF THE WHEELS. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS LESS THAN 2000 MILES ON IT. I FOUND THE CRACKS AFTER LEARNING ABOUT THEM ON THE INTERNET. THESE CRACKS APPEAR TO BE VERY COMMON WITH THIS BIKE. SUZUKI SHOULD INVESTIGATE AND EITHER REPLACE THE RIMS OR NOTIFY THE OWNERS IF THIS IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE CONCERNED WITH. I WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE RIDING MY BIKE WITHOUT FEAR OF A WHEEL BREAKING APART. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 1,253 miles reported. Look up ODI 10163668 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10187047 · 2007-04-04 (April 4, 2007)
RIDING MY 2005 SUZUKI BOULEVARD S50 MOTORCYCLE (LESS THAN 10,000 MILES) TO WORK THIS MORNING WHEN THE ODOMETER AND SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. THE CONSEQUENCES WAS THAT I HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING HOW FAST I WAS GOING IN MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. SUZUKI CLAIMS IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM, BUT THE BIKE IS NOT USED EXCEPT FOR TRANSPORTATION TO WORK AND BACK AND SHOULD NOT HAVE PROBLEMS IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10187047 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10191401 · 2007-05-21 (May 21, 2007)
THE REAR HUB ON THE SUZUKI C50 WAS FULL OF CRACKS,ESPECIALLY AROUND THE SPOKE HOLES. THEY WERE GETTING WORSE. IF THE HUB DISINTEGRATED IT WOULD KILL ME AND MY WIFE. THIS WAS NOT A ISOLATED INCIDENT,THE WEB WAS FULL OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. I HOPE SOMEONE DID NOT HAVE TO GET KILLED FROM THIS DEFECT TO HAVE THEM RECALL IT. THE MOTORCYCLE HAD ONLY 1500 MILES ON IT , AND WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I COUNTED 30 SEVERE CRACKS IN THE LEFT SIDE HUB AROUND THE SPOKE HOLES. SO NOW WE COULD NOT RIDE IT BECAUSE THE HUB WILL…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10191401 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10221322 · 2008-03-15 (March 15, 2008)
I HAVE 2 2005 SUZUKI C50 BOULEVARDS MOTORCYCLES. I ADDED A LIGHT BAR MADE BY SUZUKI. IT ATTACHES ELECTRICALLY TO A PLUG PROVIDED BY SUZUKI INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT CAN. WHEN USED, IT OVERLOADS THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING HEAT, MELTING PLASTIC INSIDE. THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM ON THE 2004'S (VL800 VULSIA) WHICH RUN OFF A CARBURETOR. THE 2005'S ARE FUEL INJECTED, AND REQUIRE A FUEL PUMP. I BELIEVE THE IGNITION SWITCH IS THE SAME ON BOTH. THOSE THAT HAVE THE LIGHT BAR ON THE 2004'S AND EARLIER DO NOT REPORT THIS PROBLEM. THOSE WITH 2005 AND UP, DO REPORT…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10221322 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10249325 · 2008-11-19 (November 19, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 SUZUKI VL800. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED AND WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER AT THE COST OF $800. ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, HE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V566000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH) AND IMMEDIATELY SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS REPEATEDLY INFORMED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO COMPLETE THE REPAIR. HE IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10249325 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
05V566000 · Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Reported: 2005-12-21 (December 21, 2005)
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY ROUTED AT THE TIME OF PRODUCTION. IF THE WIRING HARNESS IS NOT ROUTED PROPERLY, IT CAN RUB AGAINST THE CLUTCH CABLE/THROTTLE CABLE.
Consequence: CONTINUED RUBBING MAY EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A SHORT CIRCUIT WHICH MAY CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL OR THE LIGHTS TO GO OUT. THIS WILL INCREASE THE CHANCE OF A CRASH RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RE-ROUTE THE IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS AND REPLACE THE LOCK SET INCLUDING THE IGNITION SWITCH ALONG WITH THE CLUTCH CABLE/THROTTLE CABLE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 6, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 714-572-1490.
NHTSA campaign record ↗