Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
490–25K
225–50K
150–75K
075–100K
0100–150K
0150K+
52 reports with mileage · 26 unknown
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.
Steering. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
78 reports
600 miles · Jan 16, 2008
SteeringSuspension
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA VTX1300. WHILE DRIVING 40-70, THE HANDLE BAR WOULD SHAKE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRES CAUSED THE FAILURE. THEY REPLACED THE TIRES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA VTX1300. WHILE DRIVING 40-70, THE HANDLE BAR WOULD SHAKE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRES CAUSED THE FAILURE. THEY REPLACED THE TIRES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 600. UPDATED 04/29/08. *LJ UPDATED 04/29/08 *TR
NHTSA ODI #10215140
Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2007
Suspension
TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 2004 HONDA MOTORCYCLE BTX 1300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE'S FRONT END VIBRATED. WHEN SLOWING TRHE MOTORCYCLE DOWN FROM 50 - 40 MPH IT BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN DOING THIS SAMETHING SINCE HE PURCHASED IT 2 YEARS AGO. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12500.…
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TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 2004 HONDA MOTORCYCLE BTX 1300. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE'S FRONT END VIBRATED. WHEN SLOWING TRHE MOTORCYCLE DOWN FROM 50 - 40 MPH IT BEGAN TO VIBRATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN DOING THIS SAMETHING SINCE HE PURCHASED IT 2 YEARS AGO. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 12500. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10183646
31,000 miles · Nov 6, 2006
Power Train
REAR FLANGE BEARING IN FINAL DRIVE ON 2004 HONDA VTX 1300 MOTORCYCLE. THIS BEARING BASICALLY CAME APART IN THE REAR END, AND WAS DISCOVERED BY A LOCAL TIRE SELLER. IF I HAD CONTINUED TO RIDE, IT COULD HAVE LOCKED UP THE REAR END, RESULTING IN A VERY BAD ACCIDENT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10172681
4,420 miles · Oct 8, 2006
SteeringSuspension
2004 HONDA VTX1300C FRONT END WOBBLE AT 50 MPH. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10170240
50 miles · Sep 9, 2006
Steering
FRONT END WOBBLE VTX 1300. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10167746
Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2006
Steering
I HAVE A COMPLAINT ON THE STEERING OF MY MOTORCYCLE 2004 VTX 1300 S. IT WOBBLES AT A 40-45 MPH SPEED. IT WASN'T NOTICEABLE BETWEEN MY FIRST 1,000 MILES. AFTER THAT IT HAS BEEN VERY NOTICEABLE AND DURING MY EVERY DAY COMMUTE LOTS OF LIGHTS, STOP AND GO, IT IS A CONSTANT ISSUE. I SIGNED UP ON A MOTORCYCLE FORUM IN THE INTERNET AND…
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I HAVE A COMPLAINT ON THE STEERING OF MY MOTORCYCLE 2004 VTX 1300 S. IT WOBBLES AT A 40-45 MPH SPEED. IT WASN'T NOTICEABLE BETWEEN MY FIRST 1,000 MILES. AFTER THAT IT HAS BEEN VERY NOTICEABLE AND DURING MY EVERY DAY COMMUTE LOTS OF LIGHTS, STOP AND GO, IT IS A CONSTANT ISSUE. I SIGNED UP ON A MOTORCYCLE FORUM IN THE INTERNET AND I WILL SAY THAT 85-90% OF THIS MOTORCYCLE OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCE THE SAME WOBBLE. SOME HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE BEARINGS WITH THE HIGHER CC SISTER MOTORCYCLE FROM HONDA THE 1800CC. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE DEALERSHIP DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE BECAUSE HONDA DOES NOT WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE. I GUESS WE NEED TO HAVE A FATALITY BEFORE THEY DO. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10164359
5,300 miles · Aug 3, 2006
Steering
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HANDLE BAR WOBBLED WHILE TRAVELING 47 MPH. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #10164351
6,200 miles · Aug 2, 2006
Steering
THE HONDA VTX 1300 HAS A FRONT END STEERING WOBBLE UPON DECELERATION, 45-30 WHICH CAN BE FIXED WITH TAPERED BEARINGS THAT ARE USED IN THE VTX 1800. HONDA REFUSES TO ADMIT TO THE PROBLEM. MY FRONT END SHAKES A LOT BECAUSE OF THIS. I ONLY HAVE 7,000 MILES ON THE BIKE ,AND THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I DO …
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THE HONDA VTX 1300 HAS A FRONT END STEERING WOBBLE UPON DECELERATION, 45-30 WHICH CAN BE FIXED WITH TAPERED BEARINGS THAT ARE USED IN THE VTX 1800. HONDA REFUSES TO ADMIT TO THE PROBLEM. MY FRONT END SHAKES A LOT BECAUSE OF THIS. I ONLY HAVE 7,000 MILES ON THE BIKE ,AND THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. I DO NOT TAKE MY HANDS OFF OF THE BARS AND IT STILL SHAKES, AND IT IS GETTING WORSE EVERY DAY. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS PROBLEM. IT IS A DESIGN FLAW BY HONDA AND THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO RECALL AND FIX THIS PROBLEM....PLEASE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10164209
1,000 miles · Jul 29, 2006
Steering
MY MOTORCYCLE HAS A VERY DANGEROUS WOBBLE ON DECELERATION FROM 45-35 MPH I HAD TO REPLACE WITH AFTER MARKET PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10163884
Mileage unknown · Jul 24, 2006
Steering
NO LEAD UP. A FRONT END DECELERATION WOBBLE DEVELOPED IN MY HONDA VTX 1300S AFTER ABOUT 5000 MILES. IT MAKES CORNERING DIFFICULT. I HAVE READ THAT A DIFFERENT STYLE OF STEERING HEAD BEARING SOLVES THE PROBLEM. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10163263
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.
2004 Honda VTX1300 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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