NHTSA complaint: 2004 HONDA VTX1300 — STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR
STEERING PROBLEM - STEERING WHEEL/HANDLEBARS: FRONT HANDLEBARS WOBBLE TO THE POINT OF BEING UNCONTROLABLE AT BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 35 TO 45 MPH. THIS HAPPENED RECENTLY WHILE EXITING A HIGHWAY AND ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND END UP GOING OFF OF THE HIGHWAY. IT IS USUALLY NOT AS NOTICABLE WHEN YOU HOLD ON TO THE HANDLEBAR TIGHTLY WITH BOTH HANDS, BUT WHEN YOU HOLD IT WITH ONE HAND, OR IF YOU SHOULD HAVE AN OCCASION TO LET GO ALL-TOGETHER SUCH AS IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION, YOU MAY DEFINITELY HAVE AN ACCIDENT IF TRAVELING AT SPEED OF 35 TO 45 MILES PER HOUR, DUE TO THIS OBVIOUS AND COMMON DEFECT IN THIS POPULAR MOTORCYCLE. NUMEROUS OTHER PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THE SAME FAILURE AS I HAVE EXPERIENCED, WITH AT LEAST ONE HAVING CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THE MANUFACTURER IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT IN THE STANDARD STATE OF DENIAL. I HAVE TRIED AT THE SUGGESTION DIFFERENT AIR PRESSURES IN THE FRONT TIRES TO NO AVAIL. I HAVE ALSO RECENTLY BEEN ABLE TO NARROW THE SPEED DOWN TO MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR RIGHT AROUND 40 MPH.*AK THE CONSUMER WAS GOING AROUND A CORNER AT 45 MPH AND HAD AN ACCIDENT INTO A BARROW PIT. AFTER THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED IT STILL HAD PROBLEMS. THE CONSUMER PURCHASED ANOTHER MOTORCYLE THE SAME AS THE FIRST AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TC
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation