2003 Honda VFR800 Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other VFR800 years
- Not enough data 1st of 6 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Honda VFR800. That is the most of any VFR800 model year in the database (6 years). The most reported problem area is electrical system (8 complaints, 100%), typically at around 19,750 miles. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 2 defect investigations involving it.
- 8owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 2NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2003 Honda VFR800 problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 8 | 100% | 19,750 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 13% | 50,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 13% | 16,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2003 Honda VFR800 recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Electrical system:wiring
Problem: On certain motorcycles, the front fairing sub-harness (section of the wiring harness) transfers the electrical grounding load of the headlights, front turn signals, instrument panel, and various relays to the main wiring harness via an 18-pin connector. Under certain conditions, the ground wire terminals inside the connector can overheat, resulting in melting of the connector and a loss of power to various circuits.
Risk: As a result, a loss of critical lighting or engine power could occur without warning, which could cause a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a re-designed sub-harness. If damage is found, the main wiring harness will also be replaced free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on september 26, 2007. Owners were re-notified on november 10, 2007, to take their motorcycles to dealers to have the parts installed. Owners may contact honda at 1-866-784-1870.
Service brakes, hydraulic
Problem: Certain motorcycles equipped with combined-brake systems have a proportioning control valve (pcv) that mechanically proportions brake force when the rear brake is applied. A seal in some pcvs is improperly shaped, and brake fluid leakage may occur.
Risk: If the motorcycle continues to be used after a leak occurs, the rear brake would eventually become inoperative. A loss of rear brake force could increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the rear brake forleakage. If leakage is confirmed, the dealer will replace the pcv free of charge. The recall began on january 31, 2005. Owners may contact honda at 866-784-1870.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Southern Honda Powersports (AQ12001) — opened May 14, 2012, closed May 13, 2013.
- Stalling & sudden headlight outage (PE05047) — opened Sep 2, 2005, closed Dec 20, 2005, led to recall 07V359000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
My issue was first discovered in 2012 when i could not start my motorcycle; my first thought was an old battery. Upon researching on vfrdiscussion.com i was exposed to numerous vfr owners with starting issues that was related to the electrical and charging issues, a known issue with my 2003 model…
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 honda vfr800. While riding 70 mph, the headlight shut off without warning. The contact believed that the front fairing sub-harness transferred the electrical grounding load of the headlight to other components and caused the failure. Nhtsa campaign id number 07v359000…
2003 honda vfr motorcycle shut off while operating at approx. 30 mph / 3500 rpm. Safely pulled off road and parked. Headlights & dashboard lights dim, buzzing sound from dashboard. Bike restarted only when headlight fuse was removed. Bike currently at honda dealer for repairs. Extensive discussion…
Regarding investigation pe05047 this investigation was closed 12/20/05, but i have read many complaints from owners of this model that are having the same problem. My honda vfr800 shows signs of failure during normal use and there are no "modifications to the wiring harness" as suggested by your…
Dt: the contact stated the electrical system burned. This caused the headlights not to work. The contact noticed the problem when he purchased the vehicle, and took it to a local dealership, who had the electrical system replaced under warranty. The dealership stated it was because of the previous…
Other Honda VFR800 years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 VFR800 | 3 | 1 |
| 2005 VFR800 | 3 | 1 |
| 2004 VFR800 | 3 | 2 |
| 2003 | 8 | 2 |
| 2002 VFR800 | 6 | 2 |
| 1999 VFR800 | 2 | 0 |
See all Honda VFR800 problems by year, every Honda model, or the Honda VIN decoder.
Similar Honda models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Honda VFR800?
Owners most often report electrical system, exterior lighting, fuel system, gasoline problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 8 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Honda VFR800?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2003 Honda VFR800 a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other VFR800 model years, the 2003 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.