The 2002 Honda Vtx1800 has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 13,624 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 66 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the suspension. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
STRUCTURE09V3620002009-09-17688 affected
Defect
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 VTX1800 MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN AUGUST 14 AND OCTOBER 4, 2001. THE SWINGARM MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY WELDED.
Consequence
THE SWINGARM COULD BREAK WHILE RIDINGCAUSING THE RIDER TO LOSE CONTROL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN CRASH.
Remedy
HONDA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WELD AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE SWINGARM FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 25, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT HONDA MOTORCYCLE CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-866-784-1870.
STRUCTURE04V5640002004-11-3012,866 affected
Defect
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE WASHER FOR THE SIDE STAND SPRING BOLT DOES NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT HARNESS AND COULD DEFORM, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE BOLT TO FLEX AND EVENTUALLY BREAK DURING SIDE STAND OPERATION.
Consequence
A RETRACTED SIDE STAND COULD DROP WHILE RIDING, POSSIBLY ACTIVATING THE SIDE STAND IGNITION CUT-OFF SYSTEM. IF THE IGNITION IS CUT, THE ENGINE WILL STALL WITHOUT WARNING, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN IMPROVED WASHER AND A NEW SPRING BOLT AND NUT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 30, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT HONDA AT 1-866-784-1870.
POWER TRAIN01V1340002001-05-0970 affected
Defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. A TRANSMISSION CIRCLIP WAS NOT SEATED CORRECTLY AND COULD ALLOW GEARS TO LOCK.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A REAR-WHEEL LOCKUP, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION ON THESE MOTORCYCLES. ALL OWNERS WERE CONTACTED BY TELEPHONE AND ALL VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. THIS CAMPAIGN IS 100% COMPLETED.
Complaints by component
SUSPENSION:REAR
9
STRUCTURE:MOTORCYCLE:KICKSTAND/CENTER STAND
7
WHEELS
6
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
4
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
4
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:CENTER SUPPORT BEARING
3
1crashes1injuries
TIRES
3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
2
Total complaints66
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Bearing failure in the final driven flange assembly,”
“Tl* the contact owned a 2002 honda vtx1800. While driving approximately 25 mph, the brakes seized without warning. As a result, the contact crashed into a wall and was thrown off the vehicle. The passenger sustained a fractured arm, a head injury, and a knee injury. The driver sustained a road…”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2002 honda vtx 1800. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle stalled. After inspecting the vehicle, the contact noticed that the crank shaft had fractured. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis. The mechanic stated…”
“I have replaced the final drive flange bearings 3 times now. I heard that there were some issues with this flange. First time I replaced it, I replaced the whole flange. The second and third time I replaced the bearings only. On the third time I replaced the wheel dampener inside the rear wheel. I…”
“Rear wheel final drive bearing failure. Was found when replacing the rear tire. Looking at options for the repair now.”
“Found while replacing rear tire,inside bearing coming apart. *tr”
“Removed rear wheel to perform maintenance and check rear wheel flange bearings as advised by many other owners discussions on vtxoa.com, who've experienced this identical problem. The bearings were in very rough shape and needed to be replaced. This appears to be attributed to incorrectly…”
“Two faulty flange bearings in less than 18,000 miles. Failure noted during tire changes in both instances. Both replaced at owner's cost @ over 190 dollars each instance. *tr”
Defect investigations
InvestigationAQ12001 Opened 2012-05-14 · closed 2013-05-13
Southern Honda Powersports
NHTSA opened Audit Query (AQ) 12-001 to determine whether Southern Honda Powersports (Southern Honda) of Chattanooga, Tennessee, had complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, as amended, 49 U.S.C. Chapter 301 (Safety Act) and its implementing regulations. The Safety Act…
InvestigationPE04063 Opened 2004-09-15 · closed 2005-01-21
UNINTENDED SIDE-STAND DEPLOYMENT
THIS PE WAS OPENED TO EXAMINE REPORTS OF UNINTENDED MOTORCYCLE SIDE-STAND DEPLOYMENT WHILE UNDERWAY.IF THE STAND DEPLOYS WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS BEING RIDDEN, THE SIDE-STAND INTERLOCK (DESIGNED TO PREVENT RIDING WITH THE STAND DEPLOYED) WILL CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL.ADDITIONALLY, SUDDEN, UNINTENDED SIDE-STAND…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2002 Honda Vtx1800 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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