Tl*the contact owns a 2002 honda vfr800. The contact mailed in a warranty card notifying the honda manufacturer that he now owns the motorcycle. The warranty information was entered into honda's system incorrectly and now it states that the motorcycle is stolen. There is a the federal safety agency campaign id number 07v359000 (electrical system:wiring) on the vehicle, which the dealers are refusing to acknowledge due to their error. There had been no failure to date.
The worst 2002 Honda VFR800 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Electrical5
- Engine1
- Lights1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Electrical5
- Engine1
- Lights1
Recalls 2
Electrical system: wiring
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 07V359000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 05V010000 · Recall details
See all 2 recalls for the 2002 Honda VFR800
Defect investigations
Southern Honda Powersports
the federal safety agency 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 requires, among other things, that a motor vehicle or equipment manufacturer notify its dealers of defects related to motor vehicle safety and non-compliances with federal motor vehicle safety standards.In turn, a dealer may not sell and deliver a new vehicle subject to a recall unless the recall remedy has been performed.(see 49 U.S.C. 30120(i); 49 C.F.R. 573.11)the federal safety agency issued an information request to Southern Honda on May 14, 2012 to which they responded on July 6, 2012.the federal safety agency?s inquiry led it to believe that Southern Honda had failed to complete the requirements of five recalls that required inspections and/or repairs of motorcycles prior to their sale or delivery.the federal safety agency believes that 329 motorcycles affected by recalls had not been inspected and/or repaired prior to their sale and delivery between 2007 and 2012.The agency is unaware of any deaths or injuries involving these vehicles.the federal safety agency concluded that it had a potential civil penalty claim against Southern Honda for violations of the Safety Act.Southern Honda denied any violations of the Safety Act.In order to settle this matter, Southern Honda agreed to pay a civil penalty in the amount of $125,000, to be paid in five annual installments.This AQ is closed.
AQ12001
Stalling & sudden headlight outage
Odi opened this investigation after receiving three complaints concerning alleged engine stalling and/or sudden headlight outages while underway.odi also found numerous postings on a web-based chat board related to the subject vehicle and these allegations.frequently, the posting referenced the blue connector joining the main harness and the headlight sub-harness.odi has inspected subject motorcycles and its peers and met with their owners, discussed this matter with subject motorcycle dealers and independent service personnel, and reviewed honda's response to our information request.based on the information gathered to date, the evidence suggests that most failures have developed slowly over time with the operator notingdifficulty starting the motorcycle,and a smell of melting insulation, (no fires are reported).in the majority of reports, the problem is noted while starting the motorcycle.many reports state the engine stalled when the starter button was initially released. For the headlight problem, many of the circuit overload reports were due to the installation of aftermarket electrical equipment.currently, no defect trend has been identified warranting further expenditure of agency resources at this time.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the agency that no safety related defect exists.odi will continue to monitor this issue closely and should circumstances change, odi will take appropriate action.
PE05047
Technical service bulletins for the 2002 Honda VFR800 5
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
What 2002 Honda VFR800 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I own a 2002 honda vfr 800 motorcycle that has incurred electrical problems that 2 dealers were unable to repair. The electrical problems occurred while I was driving on the highway at highway speeds, and when trying to use turn signals. The headlights went out and the engine died...a very dangerous situation. Now the motorcycle still did the same thing, just that the headlights were practically non functioning ,they came on sometimes when going over a bump but the engines still died whenever I use the turn signals. *ak any help you may provide would be greatly appreciated, the more research I do on the internet reveals that this particular bike has had an abnormal amount of electrical problems, many resulting in dangerous perhaps deadly consequences.
Motorcycle engine died while running. I did troubleshoot to find an electrical 30 amp fuse wire insulation scorched and burned through. Copper conductor had become very hot.
Had starting problems and went to check the battery. Found that the fuse holder, a connector and the small wire between the two had discolored to a brown. There were signs of melting on the wire insulation. The part has not failed to date but gets very hot to the touch when the vehicle engine is running.
30amp main fuse holder melting. Engine stopped on freeway.
Dt: the consumer experienced 4 separate electrical failures, it has caused headlight and engine failure. The consumer contacted honda they have repaired the issue under warranty. The ground wire has burned 3 times at different points. The 1st time aug 2002. First time it only had 18,000 miles.
Compare the 2002 Honda VFR800
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Questions about the 2002 Honda VFR800
Is the 2002 Honda VFR800 reliable?
Owners have filed 6 complaints about the 2002 Honda VFR800, 2.0 times a typical VFR800 model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2002 Honda VFR800?
Electrical system, with 5 complaints, typically around 20,054 miles. Next is engine (1).
How many recalls does the 2002 Honda VFR800 have?
2 recalls, covering electrical system and service brakes, hydraulic.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Honda VFR800 electrical?
Yes, 1 recall: 07V359000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
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