U.S. public vehicle records

2003 Suzuki SUZUKI MOTORCYCLE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

24 owner complaints analyzed

0 distinct recall campaigns

3,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data updated: 2026-09-30 (September 30, 2026). 13 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Exterior Lighting:Headlights is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 24 complaints (12.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Transmission and shifting	3	12.5%
Fuel system concerns	3	12.5%
Engine operation	1	4.2%
Braking behavior	1	4.2%
Electrical and battery issues	1	4.2%

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.

Exterior Lighting:Headlights

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine

Fuel System, Gasoline

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Power Train:Manual Transmission

Structure:Motorcycle:Kickstand/Center Stand

Wheels

Electrical System

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Exterior Lighting:Headlights	3
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	2
Fuel System, Gasoline	2
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	2
Power Train:Manual Transmission	2
Structure:Motorcycle:Kickstand/Center Stand	2
Wheels	2
Electrical System	1

Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 2; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 2; Structure:Motorcycle:Kickstand/Center Stand: 2; Wheels: 2; Electrical System: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 12; 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 (12). 11 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.

2003

2004

2005

2003: 11; 2004: 10; 2005: 3

Pattern summary

Exterior Lighting:Headlights leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 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.

Complaint evidence

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

Owner report 10042546 · 2003-10-08 (October 8, 2003)

VEHICLE CAME EQUIPPED WITH BOTH AUTOMATIC AND STANDARD TRANSMISSIONS. WHILE IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MODE THE TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, RESULTING IN THE REAR TIRES LOCKING UP. WHEN THIS OCCURRED VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT IF VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT A FASTER SPEED. CORRECT MODEL NAME BIRDMAN, 650, 2003,NOT IN ARTEMIS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042546 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10043263 · 2003-10-20 (October 20, 2003)

UNABLE TO GET TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AFTER A LONG OR HARD RUN. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 4,885 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043263 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10100474 · 2004-11-24 (November 24, 2004)

A SMALL SEPARATION OF THE TOP WELD ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GAS TANK ON MY 2003 SUZUKI VL1500LC MOTORCYCLE. I NOTICED IT WHEN I WAS CHANGING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM ON MY BIKE, THE FIX IS TO USE JB WELD TO CLOSE THE CRACK. SUZUKI INTERNATIONAL WILL NOT EVEN TALK TO ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY STATED NHTSA WOULD HAVE TO FORCE THEM TO EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS TANK. *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100474 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10100667 · 2004-11-28 (November 28, 2004)

THERE IS A CRACK IN THE WELD ALONG THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GAS TANK ON MY 2003 SUZUKI VL1500LC MOTORCYCLE. I NOTICED IT AFTER OTHER OWNERS AND I HAVE STARTED COMMUNICATING AMONG EACH OTHER ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *AK A COMMON FIX SEEMS TO BE TO USE JB WELD TO CLOSE THE CRACK. SUZUKI INTERNATIONAL WILL NOT EVEN TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE RUDELY TREATED MANY WHO HAVE CONTACTED THEM REGARDING THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. MANY DEALERS HAVE REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AND IT IS A WIDELYY KNOW ISSUE AMONG CURRENT OWNERS OF THE MOTORCYCLE.

Owner-reported narrative. 9,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10100667 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10032160 · 2003-08-05 (August 5, 2003)

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10032160 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10025695 · 2003-07-09 (July 9, 2003)

THIS INVOLVES AN ATV QUAD, ARTIC CAT 500. THE VEHICLE IS REGISTED AND INSURED. THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ON A STATE MAINTAINED ROAD NORTH OF FLORENCE AND SOUTH OF BOX CANYON IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA. AT ABOUT 30 MILES AN HOUR, BRAKES WERE APPLIED WHEN TURNING LEFT AND DOWNHILL. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CONTROL IN THE TURN, AND ROLLED OVER THE DRIVER, ME.IT WASN'T UNITL RECENTLY THAT I FOUND THE VEHILCE ONLY HAD THREE DISC BRAKES CALIPERS . TWO IN FRONT AND ONE ON THE RIGHT REAR. HAVING ONE BRAKE IN THE REAR ACTS AS A TURNING BRAKE TO THE RIGHT CAUSIN…

Owner-reported narrative. 120 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025695 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10087048 · 2004-08-17 (August 17, 2004)

BOUGHT MY 2003 SUZUKI INTRUDER 1500 LC NEW IN MAY OF 2003. NOT LONG AFTER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BATTERY GOING DEAD. THOUGHT MAYBE IT WASN'T FULLY CHARGED WHEN FIRST PUT IN. IT WOULD BE TOO LOW TO START THE BIKE SOMETIMES AFTER BIKE SAT FOR FIVE OR SIX DAYS. BROUGHT BATTERY BACK TO DEALER FOR A LOAD TEST AND WAS TOLD IT WAS O.K.. STILL HAD SAME PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD TO BRING BIKE IN. THEY SAID VOLTAGE REGULATOR WAS BAD AND REPLACED IT. ONE WEEK LATER SAME PROBLEM, BUT NOW WARRANTY EXPIRED. WENT BACK AND THEY SAID BATTERY WAS NOW FAULTY AND GAVE M…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10087048 at NHTSA ↗

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

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

Data completeness

24 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.

54.2%Usable mileage13 / 24 records

91.7%Valid incident date22 / 24 records

100.0%Valid filing date24 / 24 records

91.7%Ordered incident and filing dates22 / 24 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.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003
Power Train:Manual Transmission	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	125.0% ODI 10050890 · 3,272 mi THE TRANMISSION ON MY SUZUKI MOTORCYLCE JUMPS PUT OFF 4TH GEAR. THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 1500 LC SERIES. THIS IS AFACTORY DEFECT ADN THE FOLLOWING WEB PAGE EXPLAINS WHY. HTTP://24.116.28.74/~4THGEAR. *AK WHY HAS THE NHTSA NOT PUSHED FOR A FACTORY RECALL OF TEH MOTORCYCLES IN ORDER TO PREVENT A DEATH OR OTHER SERIOUS BODILY HARM TO COMSUMERS? ALSO, THE BRAKES ON THESE BIKES ARE VERY POOR AS THEY WEAR OUT ION LESS THAN 2000 MILES. Look up ODI 10050890 at NHTSA ↗	233.3% ODI 10023872 · 2,600 mi 1. TRANSMISSION OCCASIONALLY DOES NOT SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR ON UPSHIFT. INSTEAD IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL. 2. REAR BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY WORN OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 2,600 MILES. *JB Look up ODI 10023872 at NHTSA ↗	850.0% ODI 10014312 · 3,000 mi SEVERAL OWNERS OF THE SUZUKI 1500LC MOTORCYCLE, INCLUDING MYSELF, HAVE EXPERIENCED A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION THAT SLIPS OUT OF GEAR INTO A NEUTRAL POSITION. SUZUKI HAS YET TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM OR ISSUE A RECALL. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS FLAW THAT WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. *NLM Look up ODI 10014312 at NHTSA ↗	125.0% ODI 10028692 · 7,100 mi TRANSMISSION JUMPING OUT OF 5TH GEAR. *AK Look up ODI 10028692 at NHTSA ↗	416.7% ODI 10023832 · 120 mi FALSE NEUTRAL WHEN SHIFTING. *AK Look up ODI 10023832 at NHTSA ↗	28.3% ODI 10043263 · 4,885 mi UNABLE TO GET TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AFTER A LONG OR HARD RUN. *LA Look up ODI 10043263 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	212.5% ODI 720224 OIL BAFFLE WAS REPORTED TO BE A BAD DESIGN, NHTSA SHOULD ALREADY KNOW ABOUT RECALL, PLEASE UPDATE DATABASE. *AK Look up ODI 720224 at NHTSA ↗	125.0% ODI 10009195 · 1 mi DEFECTIVE PISTON/RINGS-ENGINE SMOKES, USES EXCESSIVE OIL. TS DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS*761439 Look up ODI 10009195 at NHTSA ↗	520.8% ODI 10009196 · 600 mi (SUZUKI GS650 2002) THIS COMPLAINT CONCERNS THE ENGINES OF MOST 2001/2002 SUZUKI BANDIT 1200 MOTORCYCLES. HUNDREDS OF OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED SMOKING AND HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION SINCE BUYING THIS MOTORCYCLE. THEY CERTAINLY CANNOT PASS EPA EMISSIONS STANDARDS IF THEY SMOKE. TS DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS*761433 Look up ODI 10009196 at NHTSA ↗	28.3% ODI 10023016 · 250 mi ENGINE FAILURE WITH NEW MOTORCYCLE. *NLM Look up ODI 10023016 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	120.0% ODI 542021 SMOKE COMING FROM LOOSE EXHAUST NEAR RIGHT FOOT PETAL. Look up ODI 542021 at NHTSA ↗	120.0% ODI 519126 CLUTCH ASSEMBLY SLIPS. IN ADDITION, ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL/STUMBLE. ALSO WATER PUMP LEAK/OIL LEAK. *AK Look up ODI 519126 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	116.7% ODI 546048 VEHICLE HAS HAD CONTINUED ENGINE PROBLEMS SINCE PURCHASE, REPAIR ATTEMPT LED TO ADDITION ENGINE FAILURES. MJS (ATTORNEY FOR CONSUMER). Look up ODI 546048 at NHTSA ↗	16.3% ODI 742512 I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT SUZUKI HAS PROVIDED NO NOTIFICATION OR REPAIR. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK Look up ODI 742512 at NHTSA ↗	125.0% ODI 741212 I OWN A 2001 SUZUKI MARAUDER 800CC MOTORCYCLE. I CURRENTLY HAVE 888 MILES ON IT. IN THE SHORT TIME I HAVE OWNED IT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED WHERE I LOSE ALL POWER TO THE MOTORCYCLE. NO LIGHTS, NO IGNITION, NO POWER, NO NOTHING. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME THREE TIMES WHILE RIDING IT. ONCE I WAS TRAVELING 65 MILES PER HOUR AND THE OTHER TIMES IT HAPPENED AS I WAS TAKING OFF FROM A DEAD STOP. IT SEEMS TO HAPPEN ONLY AFTER I TURN ON MY HI-BEAMS AND THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. THE ALAMO CYCLE-PLEX (WHERE I BOUGHT THE BIKE) HAS BEEN UNABLE TO… Look up ODI 741212 at NHTSA ↗	312.5% ODI 10005717 · 1,000 mi FAILURE OF SUZUKI MOTORCYCLE TO REPLACE DEFECTIVE PISTONS IN 2001-2002 SUZUKI BANDIT MOTORCYCLES (GSF 1200). THEY ISSUED A TSB SAYING THEY WOULD DO SO IF THE MOTORCYCLE BURNED MORE THAN 1 QUART IN 600 (NOT A MISPRINT) MILES. THAT'S ALMOST A GALLON BETWEEN OIL CHANGES RELEASED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE. PLEASE SEE SUZUKI TSB #129. I BELIEVE THAT AT THAT RATE OF CONSUMPTION ENGINE SEIZURE AT SPEED COULD BECOME AN ISSUE RESULTING IN INJURY AND DEATH TO THE RIDER. SEE RELATED INFORMATION AT: HTTP://WWW.MAXIMUM-SUZUKI.COM/IBF/INDEX.PHP?S=95E46471B8A… Look up ODI 10005717 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.
Exterior Lighting:Headlights	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	28.3% ODI 10047741 POOR FRONT LIGHTING WHICH DETERIORATES OVER TIME AND MILES ON 2002 SUZUKI GSF1200S (BANDIT). *AK Look up ODI 10047741 at NHTSA ↗	312.5% ODI 10058183 I HAVE A 2003 SUZUKI GSF1200S BANDIT. AND MY LIGHTING HAS DEGRADED SIGNIFIGANTLY AND HAS A BLACK RESIDUE LOCATED AT THE LENS OPSTUCTING THE LIGHT WITH THIS FILM. THIS MOTORCYCLE HAS CONDENSER STYLE LIGHTS AND THE OUTPUT IS SEVERLY REDUCED MAKING IT HARD TO SEE AT NIGHT.*AK Look up ODI 10058183 at NHTSA ↗
Fuel System, Gasoline	233.3% ODI 504145 BATTERY BOTTOM COVER BOLTS CAME LOOSE, FELL ONTO ROADWAY. *SD Look up ODI 504145 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	120.0% ODI 10093628 · 28,000 mi NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 98V133000. VEHICLE REPAIR WAS IMPLEMENTED UPON YOUR RECALL IN 1998. NO EVIDENCE OF GASKET FAILURE EXISTED AT THAT TIME. RECENTLY THIS IMPROVED GASKET FAILED, RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKING TO THE EXTENT THAT A PUDDLE WAS EVIDENT. AS OF THIS TIME, SUZUKI HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE DELIVERY OF A REPLACEMENT GASKET.*AK Look up ODI 10093628 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.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	28.3% ODI 10086703 TO WHOM IT MAY VCONCERN. LAST WEEK I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL FROM SUZUKI MOTOR. REFERENCE A 2003 SUZUKI, VZ800K3 MOTORCYCLE, I PURCHASED ON 07/05/04 FROM QUINSEY POWERSPORT OF EL CAJO, CALIFORNIA. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALER TO HAVE THE WORK PERFORMED ON SAID MOTORCYCLE I WAS TOLD BY THE MANAGER OF SERVICE TO RIDE THE BIKE IN AND 3 DAYS IT WILL BE READY. HOW COULD A RIDE IN A BIKE THAT THE MANUFACTURER STATES " DO NOT RIDE YOUR CALIFORNIA MODEL". I HAVE CALLED PEOPLE AT THE DEALER AND AT THE MANUFACTURER WITHOUT GETTING A STRAY ANSWER Y… Look up ODI 10086703 at NHTSA ↗
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	120.0% ODI 534805 GAS TANK LEAK. Look up ODI 534805 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	16.3% ODI 10022429 FUEL LEAKED OUT OF THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK WHILE IN IDLE AND DRIVING. SUZUKI VZ800 2000 MOTORCYCLE. *JB Look up ODI 10022429 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	14.2% ODI 10090455 · 6,500 mi I HAVE A 2002 SUZUKI INTRUDER 1500,MOTORCYCLE, I RECENTLY SMELLED GAS COMING FROM THE BIKE, I THEN DISCOVERED A CRACK IN THE FUEL TANK ITSELF,I AM ON A 1500 INTRUDER FORUM AND THERE ARE APROX. 20 OR SO OTHERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED HAVE THE SAME CRACK IN THE SAME PLACE ON THE TANK, THIS IS A MAJOR DEFECT THAT THE SUZUKI CORP CHOOSES TO IGNORE. OTHERS ON OUR FORUM HAVE CONTACTED THEM AND WITH NO LUCK, THERE ARE A FEW THAT HAD THEM REPLACED THAT WERE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, MINE IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT THIS DOES SEEM LIKE A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN. MYS… Look up ODI 10090455 at NHTSA ↗	28.3% ODI 10100718 I HAVE A 2003 SUZUKI INTRUDER LC1500. IT IS 2 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAS 5,100 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. RECENTLY I STARTED SMELLING GAS AND, AWARE THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD CRACKS IN THEIR FUEL TANKS THROUGH THE LC FORUM, CHECKED THE SUSPECT AREA OF THE TANK. THERE WAS RESIDUE, I CLEANED THE TANK AND RECHECKED IT YESTERDAY. THERE WAS NEW RESIDUE AND THE CRACK IS VISIBLE.*AK Look up ODI 10100718 at NHTSA ↗
Power Train:Clutch Assembly	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	120.0% ODI 519126 CLUTCH ASSEMBLY SLIPS. IN ADDITION, ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILS, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL/STUMBLE. ALSO WATER PUMP LEAK/OIL LEAK. *AK Look up ODI 519126 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.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	312.5% ODI 10021173 · 19,808 mi VEHICLE EXHIBITS EXTREME NOISE AND VIBRATION FROM CLUTCH AREA. VISUAL INSPECTION SHOWS CLUCTH BASKET ASSEMBLY TO BE EXTREMELY SLOPPY IN FIT. OTHER OWNERS (REFERENCE: HTTP://AUTOS.GROUPS.YAHOO.COM/GROUP/VSTROM2/DATABASE?METHOD=REPORTROWS&TBL=4) REPORT CLUTCH BASKET REPLACEMENT UNDER WARRANTY RESOLVES SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. BUT MANUFACTURER IS REPLACING PROBLEM PART WITH IDENTICAL UNIT. I BELIEVE THEY NEED TO BE 'URGED' TO REDESIGN PART PROPERLY, AND RETROFIT ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES.*AK Look up ODI 10021173 at NHTSA ↗	14.2% ODI 10015103 THE MOTORCYCLE HAD A DEFECTIVE CLUTCH. "SUZUKI MODEL# AN650 YEAR 2003". *JB Look up ODI 10015103 at NHTSA ↗
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	125.0% ODI 828324 BRAKES PADS PREMATURELY WEAR OUT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER CANNOT IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK Look up ODI 828324 at NHTSA ↗	116.7% ODI 10023872 · 2,600 mi 1. TRANSMISSION OCCASIONALLY DOES NOT SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR ON UPSHIFT. INSTEAD IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL. 2. REAR BRAKES WERE COMPLETELY WORN OUT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 2,600 MILES. *JB Look up ODI 10023872 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	14.2% ODI 10065406 · 2,800 mi FRONT BRAKE PADS WORE OUT AT 2800 MILES. ALSO, HEAD GASKETS LEAKED OIL. AK PROBLEM STILL EXISTS WITH THE HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL. REAR SHOCKS STICKING ON MOTORCYCLE AND WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. LA Look up ODI 10065406 at NHTSA ↗	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
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
Exterior Lighting:Headlights	Too few reports for a range	5,000 mi	2 (sparse)	ODI 10088030 · 6,500 mi MOTORCYCLE'S HEADLIGHTS CONTINUED TO BLOW OUT. CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE THE BULBS THREE TIMES WITHIN TWO MONTHS. AK MR Look up ODI 10088030 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10089840 · 3,500 mi CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT BOTH HEADLIGHTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN 3,500 MILES OF WEAR. DEALER NOTIFIED. DEALER URGED CONSUMER TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO CHECK THE OVER LOAD OF VOLTAGES.AK TC Look up ODI 10089840 at NHTSA ↗
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	Too few reports for a range	250 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10023016 · 250 mi ENGINE FAILURE WITH NEW MOTORCYCLE. *NLM Look up ODI 10023016 at NHTSA ↗
Fuel System, Gasoline	Too few reports for a range	26,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10100474 · 26,000 mi A SMALL SEPARATION OF THE TOP WELD ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GAS TANK ON MY 2003 SUZUKI VL1500LC MOTORCYCLE. I NOTICED IT WHEN I WAS CHANGING THE EXHAUST SYSTEM ON MY BIKE, THE FIX IS TO USE JB WELD TO CLOSE THE CRACK. SUZUKI INTERNATIONAL WILL NOT EVEN TALK TO ME ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THEY STATED NHTSA WOULD HAVE TO FORCE THEM TO EVEN ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS TANK. *NM Look up ODI 10100474 at NHTSA ↗
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	Too few reports for a range	13,600 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10114686 · 13,600 mi THE SUZUKI VL1500LC INTRUDER (LC FOR SHORT) HAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH ITS FUEL TANK CRACKING RIGHT BEHIND THE FRONT RIGHT MOUNTING BOLT. THIS IS KNOWN TO THE LC COMMUNITY, AND WE ASSUME THAT IT IS KNOWN BY SUZUKI. THE LATTER, HOWEVER, HAS SO FAR NOT DONE ANYTHING TO REMEDY THE SITUATION. YES, THEY WILL REPLACE THE TANK, BUT THE NEW TANK CRACKS IN THE SAME PLACE, SO THAT IS NOT A 'GOOD' FIX. THE TANK ON MY BIKE HAS DEVELOPED THE SAME CRACK, AFTER LESS THAN 14,000 MILES. THE GAS IS ROUTED TO DRIP IN AN AREA VERY NEAR THE EXHAUST PIPES. (ON A BIKE… Look up ODI 10114686 at NHTSA ↗
Power Train:Manual Transmission	Too few reports for a range	4,885 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10043263 · 4,885 mi UNABLE TO GET TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AFTER A LONG OR HARD RUN. *LA Look up ODI 10043263 at NHTSA ↗
Wheels	Too few reports for a range	6,500 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10125162 · 6,500 mi FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AT ABOUT 6500 MILES. MOTORCYCLE STARTED LURCHING AND I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND ONE OF THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WAS ALMOST TOTALLY DESTROYED. THERE WASN'T A SCREECHING SOUND OR ANTHING TO WARN ME THAT THE BEARINGS WERE FAILING PRIOR TO THIS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO OWNERS OF THE SUZUKI AF650 BUT SUZUKI HAS NOT ADDRESSED IT. SUZUKI DID REPLACE THE BEARING. INITIALLY THEY TOLD ME TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE IT WAS A BEARING THAT'S CONSIDERED A "WEAR ITEM." LATER THE DEALER REIMBURSED ME FOR THE COST OF THE BEARING AND … Look up ODI 10125162 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System	Too few reports for a range	1,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10087048 · 1,000 mi BOUGHT MY 2003 SUZUKI INTRUDER 1500 LC NEW IN MAY OF 2003. NOT LONG AFTER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BATTERY GOING DEAD. THOUGHT MAYBE IT WASN'T FULLY CHARGED WHEN FIRST PUT IN. IT WOULD BE TOO LOW TO START THE BIKE SOMETIMES AFTER BIKE SAT FOR FIVE OR SIX DAYS. BROUGHT BATTERY BACK TO DEALER FOR A LOAD TEST AND WAS TOLD IT WAS O.K.. STILL HAD SAME PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD TO BRING BIKE IN. THEY SAID VOLTAGE REGULATOR WAS BAD AND REPLACED IT. ONE WEEK LATER SAME PROBLEM, BUT NOW WARRANTY EXPIRED. WENT BACK AND THEY SAID BATTERY WAS NOW FAULTY AND GAVE M… Look up ODI 10087048 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

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

ComponentPeriod

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
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09 (partial)	None	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.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

2002: 23 complaints · 2003: 24 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
2002	4	17	23
2003	13	22	24

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
2002	21	2	1
2003	22	2	0

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
Component	Exterior Lighting:Headlights	Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	Fuel System, Gasoline	Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	Power Train:Manual Transmission	Structure:Motorcycle:Kickstand/Center Stand	Wheels	Electrical System
Exterior Lighting:Headlights	—	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine	0	—	0	0	0	0	0	0
Fuel System, Gasoline	0	0	—	0	0	0	0	0
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly	0	0	0	—	0	0	0	0
Power Train:Manual Transmission	0	0	0	0	—	0	0	0
Structure:Motorcycle:Kickstand/Center Stand	0	0	0	0	0	—	0	0
Wheels	0	0	0	0	0	0	—	0
Electrical System	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	—

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.

Search patterns

3 patterns with matching reports.

Fuel smell or leak mentions

1 mentions · 4.2% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 10100718

I HAVE A 2003 SUZUKI INTRUDER LC1500. IT IS 2 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY AND HAS 5,100 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. RECENTLY I STARTED SMELLING GAS AND, AWARE THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD CRACKS IN THEIR FUEL TANKS THROUGH THE LC FORUM, CHECKED THE SUSPECT AREA OF THE TANK. THERE WAS RESIDUE, I CLEANED THE TANK AND RECHECKED IT YESTERDAY. THERE WAS NEW RESIDUE AND THE CRACK IS VISIBLE.*AK

Look up ODI 10100718 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(fuel leak\w*|gas leak\w*|gas(?:oline)? smell|smell\w* (?:of )?(?:fuel|gas))\b

Hard or delayed shifting

1 mentions · 4.2% of complaints

Median mileage: 6,500 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10125162 · 6,500 mi

FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED AT ABOUT 6500 MILES. MOTORCYCLE STARTED LURCHING AND I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND ONE OF THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS WAS ALMOST TOTALLY DESTROYED. THERE WASN'T A SCREECHING SOUND OR ANTHING TO WARN ME THAT THE BEARINGS WERE FAILING PRIOR TO THIS. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM TO OWNERS OF THE SUZUKI AF650 BUT SUZUKI HAS NOT ADDRESSED IT. SUZUKI DID REPLACE THE BEARING. INITIALLY THEY TOLD ME TO PAY FOR IT BECAUSE IT WAS A BEARING THAT'S CONSIDERED A "WEAR ITEM." LATER THE DEALER REIMBURSED ME FOR THE COST OF THE BEARING AND …

Look up ODI 10125162 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

Stalling or loss of power

1 mentions · 4.2% of complaints

Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).

ODI 10032160

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE STALLS AT LOW SPEEDS. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

Look up ODI 10032160 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

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