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2003 Suzuki SV1000S

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

26 reports with mileage · 1 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.

  • Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. 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.

3 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

27 reports
11,000 miles · Aug 7, 2006
Electrical SystemCrashInjury

MY 2003 SUZUKI SV1000S MOTORCYCLE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF CUTTING OUT WHILE IN MOTION, IN TRAFFIC, IN TURNS, RESULTING IN EVENTUAL AND COMPLETE ELECTRONIC FAILURE ON 7/8/2006. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE BIKE IN AUGUST OF 2005. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE MECHANICS (EVEN DEALER MECHANICS) CHECKING THE FUEL PUM…

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MY 2003 SUZUKI SV1000S MOTORCYCLE HAS A LONG HISTORY OF CUTTING OUT WHILE IN MOTION, IN TRAFFIC, IN TURNS, RESULTING IN EVENTUAL AND COMPLETE ELECTRONIC FAILURE ON 7/8/2006. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE BIKE IN AUGUST OF 2005. I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE MECHANICS (EVEN DEALER MECHANICS) CHECKING THE FUEL PUMP, GAS TANK, AIR FILTER, FUEL FILTER, AND FUSES TO ATTEMPT TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER FOUND BECAUSE THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SURGING AND CUTTING OUT MADE THE BIKE BEHAVE AS THOUGH IT WAS STARVING FOR FUEL. I SUSPECT THIS CUTTING OUT ISSUE TO BE THE CAUSE OF MY CRASH WHILE MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN AT 25 MPH WHICH OCCURRED ON NOVEMBER 27, 2005, RESULTING IN MILD INJURY TO NECK/SHOULDER AND $1,000 IN DAMAGE TO THE BIKE. AFTER THE TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE ON JULY 8TH I PAID $75 TO HAVE THIS SV TOWED TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE GREEN IGNITION SWITCH WAS BURNT AND BLACKENED AND REPLACED WITH A NEW SWITCH PLUS SOME DIELECTRIC GREASE. I PAID FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR, AND AFTER A CALL TO SUZUKI OF AMERICA, THEY HAVE OFFERED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR PARTS AND LABOR IN EXCHANGE FOR MY GIVING THEM THE BURNT IGNITION SWITCH. I HAVE ACCEPTED SUZUKI'S OFFER, HOWEVER, IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT I HAVE ALREADY PAID OVER $1,500 IN BIKE REPAIRS AND MEDICAL BILLS BEFORE THIS ISSUE WAS RESOLVED. I HAVE WARNED TWO OTHER SV1000S OWNERS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED TO ME THAT THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR BIKES CUTTING OUT AS WELL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND I THINK ISSUING A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE OF TOP PRIORITY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10164850

56,000 miles · Jun 22, 2006
Fuel System, Gasoline

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE MOTORCYCLE FUELTANK STARTED LEAKING. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO AFTER 90 DAYS HAS NOT REPLACED THE FUEL TANK ACCORDING TO THE RECALL INSTRUCTIONS.

NHTSA ODI #10160482

10,000 miles · Jun 21, 2006
Electrical System

2003 SUZUKI SV1000S, BIKE WAS RUNNING FINE FOR THREE YEARS. STOPPED BIKE FOR 15 MINUTES. COME BACK TO FIND NO POWER. CAUSE IS A FAULTY CONNECTOR BETWEEN IGNITION SWITCH AND MAIN WIRING HARNESS. IF CONNECTOR WOULD HAVE SHORTED WHILE IN A TURN THE BIKE COULD HAVE WENT DOWN INJURING MYSELF. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER. …

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2003 SUZUKI SV1000S, BIKE WAS RUNNING FINE FOR THREE YEARS. STOPPED BIKE FOR 15 MINUTES. COME BACK TO FIND NO POWER. CAUSE IS A FAULTY CONNECTOR BETWEEN IGNITION SWITCH AND MAIN WIRING HARNESS. IF CONNECTOR WOULD HAVE SHORTED WHILE IN A TURN THE BIKE COULD HAVE WENT DOWN INJURING MYSELF. I HAVE CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER. THEY ARE CHECKING TO SEE IF SUZUKI HAS CHANGED THAT CONNECTOR ON THE NEW HARNESSES. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON AT LEAST FOUR OTHER SV OWNERS. IT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS DAMAGE OR DEATH. THE CONNECTOR NEEDS TO BE OF HIGHER RATING TO HANDLE THE ELECTRICAL LOAD AS WELL AS THE HEAT FROM THE PLACEMENT ABOVE THE ENGINE. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10160331

3,500 miles · Jun 6, 2006
Fuel System, GasolineCrashInjury

ON THE 2003 SUZUKI SV1000S MODELS. THE FUEL ROD INTERNAL TO THE FUEL TANK CAN BREAK AND CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO OPEN & CLOSE RAPIDLY & UNCONTROLLABLY, IN TURN, CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE TO FALL WHILE LEANING, STALL IN TRAFFIC, SUDDENLY LEAP FORWARD FROM A STOP UPON RELEASING THE CLUTCH OR AT LOW SPEEDS IT CAN SHOOT UPWARD INTO A WHEE…

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ON THE 2003 SUZUKI SV1000S MODELS. THE FUEL ROD INTERNAL TO THE FUEL TANK CAN BREAK AND CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO OPEN & CLOSE RAPIDLY & UNCONTROLLABLY, IN TURN, CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE TO FALL WHILE LEANING, STALL IN TRAFFIC, SUDDENLY LEAP FORWARD FROM A STOP UPON RELEASING THE CLUTCH OR AT LOW SPEEDS IT CAN SHOOT UPWARD INTO A WHEELIE WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF FLIPPING THE MOTORCYCLE. IT CAN ALSO CAUSE FUEL TO LEAK OUT OF THE REAR CANISTERS ON TO THE TIRE & GROUND THUS CAUSING A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD AND/OR A REAR TIRE SLIP HAZARD. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10159121

Mileage unknown · May 20, 2006
Electrical System

AS PER THE ADVICE OF ANOTHER PERSON, I CHECKED THE IGNITION ELECTRICAL HARNESS. IT WAS BURNT AND READY TO FAIL. SINCE THIS IS A MOTORCYCLE AN IGNITION FAILURE COULD BE DEADLY. LOSS OF POWER IN A TURN WOULD CAUSE A MOTORCYCLE TO CRASH. THE WIRING WAS REPAIRED BY BYPASSING THE HARNESS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS PEOPLE I HAVE BEEN IN…

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AS PER THE ADVICE OF ANOTHER PERSON, I CHECKED THE IGNITION ELECTRICAL HARNESS. IT WAS BURNT AND READY TO FAIL. SINCE THIS IS A MOTORCYCLE AN IGNITION FAILURE COULD BE DEADLY. LOSS OF POWER IN A TURN WOULD CAUSE A MOTORCYCLE TO CRASH. THE WIRING WAS REPAIRED BY BYPASSING THE HARNESS. THERE ARE NUMEROUS PEOPLE I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE WIRING HARNESS, INCLUDING FULL REPLACEMENT OF THE WIRING. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10157938

21,000 miles · May 10, 2006
Electrical System

THERE IS A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS ON THE IGNITION OF MY 2003 SUZUKI SV1000S MOTORCYCLE. A FEW FRIENDS FOUND THIS PROBLEM AND ONE CRASHED THE BIKE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I SIMPLY INSPECTED MY BIKE AFTER HEARING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THIS WAS THE CASE IN MY IGNITION. THE HARNESS CANNOT SUSTAIN THE CURRENT LOAD AND …

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THERE IS A FAULTY WIRING HARNESS ON THE IGNITION OF MY 2003 SUZUKI SV1000S MOTORCYCLE. A FEW FRIENDS FOUND THIS PROBLEM AND ONE CRASHED THE BIKE BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I SIMPLY INSPECTED MY BIKE AFTER HEARING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THIS WAS THE CASE IN MY IGNITION. THE HARNESS CANNOT SUSTAIN THE CURRENT LOAD AND MELTS, CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE TO SHUT DOWN. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BY SUZUKI TO PREVENT ANY MORE DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. FIRE IS A POSSIBILITY OR CRASHING DUE TO TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10157213

9,800 miles · Feb 21, 2006
Electrical System

IGNITION CUTOUT ON MY 2003 SUZUKI SV1000S MOTORCYCLE LEFT ME STRANDED. MY BIKE HAD TO BE TOWED AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE. THE DEALER REPORTS THAT I NEED A NEW IGNITION AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. SIMILAR INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED (HTTP://WWW.SV1000.ZYNS.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=8174&PAGE=2&HIGHLIGHT=IGNITION+CUTOUT), YET SU…

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IGNITION CUTOUT ON MY 2003 SUZUKI SV1000S MOTORCYCLE LEFT ME STRANDED. MY BIKE HAD TO BE TOWED AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE. THE DEALER REPORTS THAT I NEED A NEW IGNITION AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. SIMILAR INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED (HTTP://WWW.SV1000.ZYNS.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?T=8174&PAGE=2&HIGHLIGHT=IGNITION+CUTOUT), YET SUZUKI FAILS TO COVER REPLACEMENT COSTS. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10150793

Official recalls

1

06V013000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

Jan 18, 2006

ON CERTAIN CALIFORNIA-SPECIFICATION MODEL MOTORCYCLES, REPEATED STRESS FROM VIBRATION CAN CAUSE A CRACK TO FORM IN THE AREA WHERE THE LIQUID/VAPOR SEPARATOR BRACKET IS WELDED INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. THIS CAN ALLOW FUEL LEAKAGE TO OCCUR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 3, 2006. CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT AMERICAN SUZUKI AT 714-572-1490.

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.