2003 Suzuki VL800: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
4,723 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data updated: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 3 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Wheels | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Exterior Lighting: 1; Wheels: 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 |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
2006: 1; 2008: 1; 2011: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. 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 10159033 · 2006-06-05 (June 5, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE LIGHT BAR ON THE MOTORCYCLE THAT HOLDS THE DRIVING AND BLINKER LIGHTS FRACTURED AND WAS REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, THE BAR FRACTURED AGAIN. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY.
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159033 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10247157 · 2008-10-29 (October 29, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUZUKI VL800. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE AND PARKED THE MOTORCYCLE. HE NOTICED THE SPOKES IN THE REAR WHEELS WERE BROKEN. DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SPOKES WERE BROKEN DUE TO POOR MAINTENANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT WAS DRIVEN OCCASIONALLY THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THREE YEARS, ONLY ADDING 1,859 MILES. IN OCTOBER OF 2008, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, IT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE HAD A FLAT TIRE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 3,445 miles reported. Look up ODI 10247157 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10405747 · 2011-06-09 (June 9, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUZUKI VALUSIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE SPEED INCREASED TO 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPUTTER. THE CARBURETOR WAS CLEANED, ADJUSTED THE VALVES AND PLACED A NEW EMISSION SYSTEM, BUT NOT OF THE REPAIRS CORRECTED THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED IT COULD BE THE GASOLINE PUMP FAILING, BUT IT WAS NOT REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,000.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10405747 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
3 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
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 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10404752 · 4,692 miDRIVING DOWN ROAD DOING ABOUT 25 MPH MOTORCYCLE STALLED WOULD NOT START AGAIN. CHECKED IGNITION FUSE AND FOUND IT TO BE BLOWN. REPLACED WITH NEW 15 AMP FUSE. TRIED TO START THE BIKE AGAIN AND THE FUSE BLEW RIGHT AWAY. INSPECTED WIRING HARNESS AND FOUND A BUNCH OF BURNT WIRES. IGNITION SWITCH WAS HOT TO THE TOUCH. I ONLY HAVE 4694 MILES ON THE BIKE. THIS CAN CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT DO TO THE BIKE STALLING OUT IN TRAFFIC. | 333.3%ODI 10154190 · 8,560 miA 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… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 150.0%ODI 10195956 · 1,000 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 SUZUKI VL800. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN VIBRATING UNDER THE CONTACT'S FEET, SEAT, AND HANDS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WERE THE SPARK PLUGS. THE CONTACT RODE THE VEHICLE AND THE VIBRATIONS WERE STILL PRESENT. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE ELSEWHERE BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, POWERTRAIN, AND # OF CYLINDERS WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 1,000. | 266.7%ODI 10394049SUZUKI 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 | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Wheels:Hub | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 222.2%ODI 10150003 · 477 miMY 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… | 114.3%ODI 10182707 · 588 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006/SUZUKI/VL800. THE MOTORCYCLE HAD STRESS MARKS AND DEEP CRACKS IN THE WHEELS:CAP/COVER/HUB AREA. THE REPRESENTATIVE AT THE DEALER AGREED THAT THEY WERE EXCESSIVE, AND ALSO STATED THAT FUTURE DESIGN CHANGES WERE BEING MADE. THE REPRESENTATIVE SHOWED HER A MOTORCYCLE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN THAT DISPLAYED THE SAME STRESS MARKS AND CRACKS. THE REPRESENTATIVE LATER STATED THE DEEP CRACKS AND MARKS WERE SUPERFICIAL WHILE SPEAKING WITH A SUZUKI REPRESENTATIVE. THE SUZUKI MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER STATED THEY CO… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 228.6%ODI 10142591 · 46 mi2006 SUZUKI MOTORCYCLE MODEL C50T FAILURE TO START, LEAVING RIDER DISABLED ON THE HIGHWAY, ALL FUSES WHERE CHECK ACCORDING T OWNERS MANUAL, SUZUKI FAILED TO PROVIDE DEALER WITH TECHNICAL. DEALER CANNOT RESOLVE START PROBLEM. *JB | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Exterior Lighting | 133.3%ODI 10159033 · 6,000 miDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE LIGHT BAR ON THE MOTORCYCLE THAT HOLDS THE DRIVING AND BLINKER LIGHTS FRACTURED AND WAS REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, THE BAR FRACTURED AGAIN. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1%ODI 11233221 · 10,600 miBIKE LOST ALL POWER, NO LIGHTS NOTHING AND WON'T START. | 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. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 10226066 · 3,200 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI VL800/C. WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FULL OR NOT AND THE VEHICLE IS LEANING TO EITHER SIDE, FUEL LEAKS OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN THAT MANNER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,200. UPDATED 05/19/08 *BF THERE FILLER NECK FAILED THE DAY AFTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE BIKE. GAS WASLEAING FROM THE FILLER CAP. UPDATED | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 133.3%ODI 10407575 · 3,000 miTL*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. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 228.6%ODI 10226066 · 3,200 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 SUZUKI VL800/C. WHEN THE GAS TANK IS FULL OR NOT AND THE VEHICLE IS LEANING TO EITHER SIDE, FUEL LEAKS OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN THAT MANNER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,200. UPDATED 05/19/08 *BF THERE FILLER NECK FAILED THE DAY AFTER THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE BIKE. GAS WASLEAING FROM THE FILLER CAP. UPDATED | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Power Train | 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. | 250.0%ODI 10537186 · 16,240 miCOMING AROUND A CORNER UP A HILL I APPLIED THROTTLE TO GO UP HILL. A LARGE CLUNK OCCURRED AND I LOST ALL FORWARD ABILITY. NOT HAVING POWER I BARELY MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ALMOST GETTING HIT. I SWERVED TO AVOID A CAR AND WENT DOWN. NOTHING OTHER THAN MINOR SCRAPES AS A RESULT. UPON DETERMINING THE PROBLEM TO BE THE FINAL DRIVE I REMOVED THE PART AND FOUND IT WAS NEVER LUBED DURING ASSEMBLY. THIS CAUSED THE SHAFT TO RUST CAUSING THE FAILURE. THERE IS NO WAY TO APPLY GREASE TO THE PART WITHOUT ENTERING THE NON MAINTENANCE AREA OF TH… | 0UnavailableNo examples available for this selection. |
| Suspension:Rear | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 111.1%ODI 10191401 · 1,500 miTHE 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… | 114.3%ODI 10205136 · 8,000 miSUZUKI MOTORCYCLE 10-3-2007. ON SEPT. 29, 2007 I CONTACTED BRANDON WITH TWIN COUNTY MOTORSPORTS IN ROCKY MOUNT, NC CONCERNING THE REAR WHEEL HUB ON MY 2006 C-50 SUZUKI MOTORCYCLE. IT HAS SEVERAL CRACKS IN IT MOSTLY SPIDERWEBBED WITH ONE MORE OUTSTANDING THAN THE OTHERS. I WAS TOLD THEY WOULD CONTACT SUZKI AND TRY TO GET ME A NEW REAR WHEEL. I MIGHT ADD THAT THE BIKE IS UNDER WARRANTY AND HAS LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON IT AT PRESENT. . I CALLED THEM ON TUESDAY OCT. 2ND SINCE I HAD NOT HEARD FROM THEM, BRANDON THE SALES MANAGER TOLD ME HE HA… | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 0UnavailableNo 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 | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | Too few reports for a range | 6,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10159033 · 6,000 miDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE LIGHT BAR ON THE MOTORCYCLE THAT HOLDS THE DRIVING AND BLINKER LIGHTS FRACTURED AND WAS REPLACED. AFTERWARDS, THE BAR FRACTURED AGAIN. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. |
| Wheels | Too few reports for a range | 3,445 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10247157 · 3,445 miTL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUZUKI VL800. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A NOISE AND PARKED THE MOTORCYCLE. HE NOTICED THE SPOKES IN THE REAR WHEELS WERE BROKEN. DAYS LATER, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE SPOKES WERE BROKEN DUE TO POOR MAINTENANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT WAS DRIVEN OCCASIONALLY THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THREE YEARS, ONLY ADDING 1,859 MILES. IN OCTOBER OF 2008, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, IT FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE HAD A FLAT TIRE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO … |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
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
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | 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.
2009: 2 complaints · 2010: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 | 0 | 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 | Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | Exterior Lighting | Wheels |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | — | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 0 | — | 0 |
| Wheels | 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.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.