Auto Recall Watch
U.S. public vehicle records

Suzuki KATANA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

4 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

18,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1998 to 2006 model years. Data updated: . 3 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 4 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Transmission and shifting125.0%
Engine operation125.0%
Braking behavior125.0%
Fuel system concerns125.0%

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.

Electrical System
2
Fuel System, Gasoline
1
Power Train:Manual Transmission
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System2
Fuel System, Gasoline1
Power Train:Manual Transmission1

Electrical System: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
2
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
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 2; 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: 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.

2000
1
2005
1
2008
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20001
20051
20082

2000: 1; 2005: 1; 2008: 2

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 863932 · 2000-06-21 (June 21, 2000)

CONSUMER COULD NOT JUST DOWNSHIFT, BUT HAD TO ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE TRANSMISSION TO COME TO A LOWER GEAR. CONSUMER SAID THIS WAS UNSAFE, ESPECIALLY IF OTHER VEHICLES WERE BEHIND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BECAUSE IT COULD BE HIT. SOMETIMES IT WORKED RIGHT, BUT SOMETIMES IT DIDN'T. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ,AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. ALSO WHEN STARTING IN GEAR, THE BIKE WOULD JUMP FORWARD. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 863932 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10129168 · 2005-07-08 (July 8, 2005)

MOTORCYCLE STALLS WHEN DRIVEN AT CONSTANT SPEEDS OVER 65 MPH. ALSO, CONSUMER ALLEGES THAT ODOMETER MALFUNCTION DISPLAYS APPROXIMATELY 20% MORE MILES TRAVELED THAN ACTUAL MILEAGE. *MR *NM *MJJ

Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129168 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10214396 · 2008-01-10 (January 10, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 SUZUKI KATANA. WHILE DECELERATING FROM APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT HEAT ON HIS RIGHT CALF. HE LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE SEAT. THE CONTACT THEN APPLIED THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES, BUT THE REAR BRAKES FAILED. THE BIKE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 18,000. UPDATED 3/5/08 *CN

Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10214396 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10239422 · 2008-08-22 (August 22, 2008)

A LEAK HAS DEVELOPED ALONG THE SEAM OF MY 2000 SUZUKI KATANA'S FUEL TANK, THIS LEAK IS RIGHT ABOVE A SPARK PLUG AND COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO A SERIOUS FIRE. IT APPEARS THAT THE LEAK IS IDENTICAL TO THE RECALL FOR THE SUZUKI 1998-2005 VL1500'S WHICH STATES: "REPEATED STRESS AROUND THE RIGHT FRONT FUEL TANK MOUNTING POINT CAN CAUSE A HAIRLINE CRACK TO FORM DUE TO METAL FATIGUE. THIS CAN ALLOW FUEL SEEPAGE TO OCCUR. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, SEEPED FUEL CAN CAUSE A FIRE." *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10239422 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1998
1
1999
0
2000
0
2001
0
2006
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19981
19990
20000
20010
20060

1998: 1; 1999: 0; 2000: 0; 2001: 0; 2006: 0

Year-by-year records

Suzuki KATANA model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
199801Not available
199910-1
2000100
2001100
200610Not available
Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

4 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

75.0%Usable mileage3 / 4 records
100.0%Valid incident date4 / 4 records
100.0%Valid filing date4 / 4 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates4 / 4 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

Component complaint heatmap
Component19981999200020012006
Electrical System
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

1100.0%
ODI 10129168 · 6,000 mi

MOTORCYCLE STALLS WHEN DRIVEN AT CONSTANT SPEEDS OVER 65 MPH. ALSO, CONSUMER ALLEGES THAT ODOMETER MALFUNCTION DISPLAYS APPROXIMATELY 20% MORE MILES TRAVELED THAN ACTUAL MILEAGE. *MR *NM *MJJ

Look up ODI 10129168 at NHTSA ↗

1100.0%
ODI 10214396 · 18,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 SUZUKI KATANA. WHILE DECELERATING FROM APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT HEAT ON HIS RIGHT CALF. HE LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE SEAT. THE CONTACT THEN APPLIED THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES, BUT THE REAR BRAKES FAILED. THE BIKE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 18,000. UPDATED 3/5/08 *CN

Look up ODI 10214396 at NHTSA ↗

Fuel System, Gasoline
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

1100.0%
ODI 10239422 · 31,000 mi

A LEAK HAS DEVELOPED ALONG THE SEAM OF MY 2000 SUZUKI KATANA'S FUEL TANK, THIS LEAK IS RIGHT ABOVE A SPARK PLUG AND COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO A SERIOUS FIRE. IT APPEARS THAT THE LEAK IS IDENTICAL TO THE RECALL FOR THE SUZUKI 1998-2005 VL1500'S WHICH STATES: "REPEATED STRESS AROUND THE RIGHT FRONT FUEL TANK MOUNTING POINT CAN CAUSE A HAIRLINE CRACK TO FORM DUE TO METAL FATIGUE. THIS CAN ALLOW FUEL SEEPAGE TO OCCUR. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, SEEPED FUEL CAN CAUSE A FIRE." *TR

Look up ODI 10239422 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Power Train:Manual Transmission
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

1100.0%
ODI 863932

CONSUMER COULD NOT JUST DOWNSHIFT, BUT HAD TO ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE TRANSMISSION TO COME TO A LOWER GEAR. CONSUMER SAID THIS WAS UNSAFE, ESPECIALLY IF OTHER VEHICLES WERE BEHIND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BECAUSE IT COULD BE HIT. SOMETIMES IT WORKED RIGHT, BUT SOMETIMES IT DIDN'T. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ,AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL. ALSO WHEN STARTING IN GEAR, THE BIKE WOULD JUMP FORWARD. *AK

Look up ODI 863932 at NHTSA ↗

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

00.0%

No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
ComponentMileage range (25th–75th percentile)MedianUsable recordsExamples
Electrical SystemToo few reports for a range12,000 mi2 (sparse)
ODI 10129168 · 6,000 mi

MOTORCYCLE STALLS WHEN DRIVEN AT CONSTANT SPEEDS OVER 65 MPH. ALSO, CONSUMER ALLEGES THAT ODOMETER MALFUNCTION DISPLAYS APPROXIMATELY 20% MORE MILES TRAVELED THAN ACTUAL MILEAGE. *MR *NM *MJJ

Look up ODI 10129168 at NHTSA ↗

ODI 10214396 · 18,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 SUZUKI KATANA. WHILE DECELERATING FROM APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT HEAT ON HIS RIGHT CALF. HE LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE SEAT. THE CONTACT THEN APPLIED THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES, BUT THE REAR BRAKES FAILED. THE BIKE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 18,000. UPDATED 3/5/08 *CN

Look up ODI 10214396 at NHTSA ↗

Fuel System, GasolineToo few reports for a range31,000 mi1 (sparse)
ODI 10239422 · 31,000 mi

A LEAK HAS DEVELOPED ALONG THE SEAM OF MY 2000 SUZUKI KATANA'S FUEL TANK, THIS LEAK IS RIGHT ABOVE A SPARK PLUG AND COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO A SERIOUS FIRE. IT APPEARS THAT THE LEAK IS IDENTICAL TO THE RECALL FOR THE SUZUKI 1998-2005 VL1500'S WHICH STATES: "REPEATED STRESS AROUND THE RIGHT FRONT FUEL TANK MOUNTING POINT CAN CAUSE A HAIRLINE CRACK TO FORM DUE TO METAL FATIGUE. THIS CAN ALLOW FUEL SEEPAGE TO OCCUR. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, SEEPED FUEL CAN CAUSE A FIRE." *TR

Look up ODI 10239422 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

1 reports2024-112026-10

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
MonthComplaintsCampaigns announcedExamples
2024-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2024-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-100None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-10 (partial)0None

No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Age 0Age 1Age 21 reports

2001: 0 complaints · 2006: 1 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model yearThrough age 0Through age 1Through age 2
2001000
2006011
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
YearIncident dates usedFiling date fallbacksExcluded dates
2001001
2006100

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
ComponentElectrical SystemFuel System, GasolinePower Train:Manual Transmission
Electrical System—00
Fuel System, Gasoline0—0
Power Train:Manual Transmission00—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

2 patterns with matching reports.

Brake response concerns

1 mentions · 25.0% of complaints

Median mileage: 18,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10214396 · 18,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 2006 SUZUKI KATANA. WHILE DECELERATING FROM APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT FELT HEAT ON HIS RIGHT CALF. HE LOOKED DOWN AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE SEAT. THE CONTACT THEN APPLIED THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKES, BUT THE REAR BRAKES FAILED. THE BIKE SUSTAINED MAJOR DAMAGE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE NUMBER OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 18,000. UPDATED 3/5/08 *CN

Look up ODI 10214396 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule\b(brake fail\w*|brakes fail\w*|brake pedal|braking distance|unintended braking|phantom braking)\b

Stalling or loss of power

1 mentions · 25.0% of complaints

Median mileage: 6,000 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10129168 · 6,000 mi

MOTORCYCLE STALLS WHEN DRIVEN AT CONSTANT SPEEDS OVER 65 MPH. ALSO, CONSUMER ALLEGES THAT ODOMETER MALFUNCTION DISPLAYS APPROXIMATELY 20% MORE MILES TRAVELED THAN ACTUAL MILEAGE. *MR *NM *MJJ

Look up ODI 10129168 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule\b(stall\w*|loss of power|lost power|engine shut\w* off)\b