Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 7 of 10 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
10 reports
35 miles · Jun 14, 2007
Structure
MOTORCYCLE HONDA RC51 2002 MOTORCYCLE BATTERY LEAKS CORROSIVE FLUID WHICH IS CHANNELED ONTO THE SWINGARM OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE SWINGARM WHICH IS A VITAL STRUCTURAL ELEMENT OF THE BIKE. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER FOR RESOLUTION OF THE MATTER, HOWEVER, HONDA FELT THAT THIS WAS ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE AND REFUSED T…
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MOTORCYCLE HONDA RC51 2002 MOTORCYCLE BATTERY LEAKS CORROSIVE FLUID WHICH IS CHANNELED ONTO THE SWINGARM OF THE VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE SWINGARM WHICH IS A VITAL STRUCTURAL ELEMENT OF THE BIKE. I CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER FOR RESOLUTION OF THE MATTER, HOWEVER, HONDA FELT THAT THIS WAS ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE AND REFUSED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10193385
9,200 miles · Jul 9, 2004
Structure
MOTORCYCLE'S MODEL NUMBER XR650L FRAME DEVELOPED A CRACK. DEALER REPLACED THE FRAME. HOWEVER, REAR TIRES WOBBLED WHEN DRIVING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10081616
1,000 miles · Jun 5, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
HAVE 2002 HONDA MOTORCYCLE ST1100, 10,000 MILES, RETAINING BOLT ON RIGHT FRONT CALIPER BROKE, ALMOST KILLED SELF. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10074846
Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2004
Fuel System, Other
I HAVE A 2002 HONDA SHADOW VLX MOTORCYCLE. I STARTED IT, WAS SITTING ON IT, IT HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND MOTOR WAS HOT AND PIPES WERE HOT -- GASOLINE STARTING GUSHING DOWN INTO THE V-ENGINE BELOW THE SEAT. UNDER RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES COULD HAVE IGNITED/BLOWN. THE GAS ON/OFF SWITCH BOLT HAD COME LOOSE (WHICH IS O…
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I HAVE A 2002 HONDA SHADOW VLX MOTORCYCLE. I STARTED IT, WAS SITTING ON IT, IT HAD BEEN RUNNING FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND MOTOR WAS HOT AND PIPES WERE HOT -- GASOLINE STARTING GUSHING DOWN INTO THE V-ENGINE BELOW THE SEAT. UNDER RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES COULD HAVE IGNITED/BLOWN. THE GAS ON/OFF SWITCH BOLT HAD COME LOOSE (WHICH IS ON A ROD THAT GOES UNDER THE SEAT) ALLOWING GAS TO FLOW ONTO THE MOTOR. WAS QUITE SCARY. WANTED IT TO BE DOCUMENTED IN CASE THERE WAS AN EXPLOSITION UNDER THE SAME CIRCUMSTANCES -- SOMEWHAT OF A DESIGN DEFECT IF A BOLT BECOMES LOOSE ALLOWING GAS TO FLOW. I'M GLAD I WASN'T DOING 60 MILES AN HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY OR IN AN ENCLOSED AREA, ETC. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10064341
10,700 miles · Oct 30, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineStructureFire
2003 HONDA VFR INTERCEPTOR (MOTORCYCLE) CAUGHT ON FIRE APPROXIMATELY 4-5 MILES INTO RIDE. THE FIRE WAS ON THE RIGHT SIDE ONLY, AT THE MUFFLER AND REAR PLASTIC COWLING. APPROXIMATELY 1-1.5 MILES PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING "ROUGH" OR "BOGGED DOWN" WITH REDUCED POWER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10045066
Mileage unknown · Oct 24, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
HONDA CB900F (919) MOTORCYCLE. UNUSUAL EXHAUST SMELL (SMELLS OVERLY RICH) AT IDLE AND WHILE MOVING. THE TURBULENCE CAUSED BY THE MOVING RIDER CAUSES THE EXHAUST TO SURROUND THE RIDER AND PASSENGER. ON 9/14/03 (AND OTHER TIMES), I HAVE GONE ON RIDES AND HAVE COME HOME FEELING ILL, SIMILAR TO CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. MY WIFE…
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HONDA CB900F (919) MOTORCYCLE. UNUSUAL EXHAUST SMELL (SMELLS OVERLY RICH) AT IDLE AND WHILE MOVING. THE TURBULENCE CAUSED BY THE MOVING RIDER CAUSES THE EXHAUST TO SURROUND THE RIDER AND PASSENGER. ON 9/14/03 (AND OTHER TIMES), I HAVE GONE ON RIDES AND HAVE COME HOME FEELING ILL, SIMILAR TO CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. MY WIFE HAS THE SAME SYMPTOMS EVERY TIME SHE RIDES WITH ME. THROUGH AN INTERNET BULLETIN BOARD I AM AWARE OF A CHANGE MADE BY HONDA TO A WOMAN'S MOTORCYCLE IN THE UK. THIS CHANGE FIXED HER COMPLAINTS OF SEVERE EXHAUST SMELL. THE CHANGE WAS TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND ECM. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10043492
1 miles · Oct 13, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
2002 HONDA MOTORCYCLE MODEL 919 SERIOUS EXHAUST GAS ISSUE. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10041715
2,500 miles · Sep 9, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingInjury
I BOUGHT A HONDA 2002 919 (CB900F) A FEW MONTHS AGO AND HAVE HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE WITH EXHAUST FUMES. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE SITTING STILL OR RIDING SLOW,FAST, OR STOP AND GO. MY CLOTHS AND BODY SMELLS LIKE EXHAUST AFTER EVERY RIDE AND WHEN STOPPED IN OR OUT OFF TRAFFIC I CAN SMELL THE FUMES IN MY HELMET. WHEN MY WIFE RIDE…
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I BOUGHT A HONDA 2002 919 (CB900F) A FEW MONTHS AGO AND HAVE HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE WITH EXHAUST FUMES. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOU ARE SITTING STILL OR RIDING SLOW,FAST, OR STOP AND GO. MY CLOTHS AND BODY SMELLS LIKE EXHAUST AFTER EVERY RIDE AND WHEN STOPPED IN OR OUT OFF TRAFFIC I CAN SMELL THE FUMES IN MY HELMET. WHEN MY WIFE RIDES WITH ME SHE GETS A REALLY BAD HEADACHE AND FEELS SICK AND SLEEPY AFTER THE RIDE. TO ME THAT IS A SIGN OF CARBON MONOXCIDE POISONING. IT SEEMS LIKE OTHER RIDDERS HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM WITH AFTER MARKET EXHAUSTS, BUT WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT THE MANUFACTURER COULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. MY EXHAUST IS STILL STOCK BUT AM CURRENTLY LOOKING FOR OTHER EXHAUST. PLEASE HELP!!!!*AK
NHTSA ODI #10037525
13,300 miles · Aug 13, 2003
Tires
PURCHASED SET OF DEFECT METZELER/PIRELLI MOTORCYCLE TIRES FOR HONDA GL1800 GOLD WING MOTORCYCLE. TIRES HAVE A LOW SPEED WOBBLE AND PRODUCE VIBRATION. TIRES COULD LEAD TO MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT WHILE CORNERING/LEANING. TALKED TO JEFF SELBERT CUSTOMER SERVICE REP FOR PIRELLI. HE ACKNOWLEDGED THEY HAVE LOGGED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FR…
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PURCHASED SET OF DEFECT METZELER/PIRELLI MOTORCYCLE TIRES FOR HONDA GL1800 GOLD WING MOTORCYCLE. TIRES HAVE A LOW SPEED WOBBLE AND PRODUCE VIBRATION. TIRES COULD LEAD TO MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT WHILE CORNERING/LEANING. TALKED TO JEFF SELBERT CUSTOMER SERVICE REP FOR PIRELLI. HE ACKNOWLEDGED THEY HAVE LOGGED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER RIDERS WHO HAVE PUCHASED THESE TIRES. EACH TIME I CALL, I RECEIVE A RUN-A-ROUND. PIRELLI REFUSES TO PROVIDE NEW TIRES OR A REFUND. TIRES HAVE LESS THAT 200 MILES ON THEM. PIRELLI CUSTOMER SERVICE CAN BE CONTACTED AT 706-368-5826. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10032715
Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE MOTORCYCLE OVERHEATED AT A SLOW SPEED AND AT A MODERATE TEMPERATURE. SCC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10008676
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2002 Honda Honda Motorcycle Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year