2008 Suzuki VL800: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
7,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 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 2 of 3 complaints (66.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 1 | 33.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 33.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 33.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
Electrical System: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 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 | 2 |
| 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: 2; 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 (2). 1 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 |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2011: 2; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues 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 10394049 · 2011-04-02 (April 2, 2011)
SUZUKI SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN (RECTIFIER ASSEMBLIES) I TOOK MY MOTORCYCLE IN TO THE DEALER FOR THIS SAFETY RECALL ASSUMING THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF IT QUICKLY. THE BIKE HAS NOW BEEN IN THEIR SHOP GOING ON THREE WEEKS WAITING FOR THE RECALL PART TO BE REPLACED. SUZUKI IS BEING VERY SLOW TO PROVIDE THEIR DEALERS WITH THIS PART. THEY(THE DEALER) HAVE NO IDEA WHEN THEY WILL GET THE PARTS. THIS IN TURN MEANS THAT I DO NOT HAVE USE OF MY BIKE. SUZUKI NEEDS TO MAKE THESE RECALL PARTS AVAILABLE TO THEIR DEALS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10394049 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10407575 · 2011-06-20 (June 20, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI BOULEVARD M109R VL800 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS LOW ON FUEL, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL SPORADICALLY. THE FUEL TANK WAS NOT EMPTY AND THE VEHICLE WOULD OFTEN FAIL TO RESTART UNLESS THE FUEL TANK WAS FULL TO CAPACITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10407575 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10864377 · 2016-05-11 (May 11, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 SUZUKI VL800TK8. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS INDICATED IN A RECALL FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME FAILURES LISTED IN THE RECALL. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000. ..UPDATED 06/08/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE BATTERY WOULD DIE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THE BATTERY…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10864377 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.
11V108000 · Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Reported: 2011-02-23 (February 23, 2011)
SUZUKI IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 2007 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2009, EQUIPPED WITH REGULATOR/RECTIFIER ASSEMBLIES, SUZUKI PART NUMBERS 32800-41F11, 32800-15H10, 32800-05H11, 32800-41G10, 32800-15H00, 32800-18H00, 32800-05G10, 32800-10G10, 32800-05H20, OR 32800-06G01. SOME REGULATOR/RECTIFIER ASSEMBLIES WERE PRODUCED WITH INSUFFICIENT ADHESION BETWEEN THE POWER MODULE (CIRCUIT BOARD) AND THE RECTIFIER CASE THAT CONTAINS A HEAT SINK TO DISSIPATE HEAT. DUE TO INSUFFICIENT ADHESION, HEAT GENERATED ON THE POWER MODULE CIRCUIT BOARD CAN CAUSE THE CIRCUIT BOARD TO DEFORM, AND LIFT OF THE CASE.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAUSES EXCESSIVE HEAT ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD AND UNCONTROLLED ELECTRIC CURRENT OUTPUT, WHICH CAN RESULT IN INSUFFICIENT CHARGING CURRENT BEING PROVIDED TO THE MOTORCYCLE BATTERY. THIS CAN CAUSE DISCHARGE OF THE BATTERY AND CAN LEAD TO ENGINE STALLING AND/OR A NO-START CONDITION. ENGINE STALLING WHILE RIDING CAN INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: SUZUKI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND SUZUKI DISTRIBUTORS WILL REPLACE THE REGULATOR/RECTIFIER WITH AN IMPROVED PART FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 2, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 1-714-572-1490.
NHTSA campaign record ↗