2004 Honda VFR800

Defect. 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.

Defect. 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.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA VFR800. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V359000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, WIRING). WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55-60 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SHUT OFF. WHEN HE EXITED THE FREEWAY, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN WORKING AGAIN. WHEN HE MERGED BACK ONTO THE FREEWAY, EVERYTHING WORKED NORMALLY, EXCEPT THE SPEEDOMETER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER CONTINUOUSLY FLUCTUATED ON AND OFF. HE DOES NOT WANT TO RIDE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE HE DOES NOT WANT TO GET A SPEEDING TICKET. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12,550. UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF AFTER THE WIRING HARNESS WAS REPLACED, THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE DASH LIGHTS AND SPEEDOMETER. UPDATED 08/01/08. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 HONDA VFR800. WHILE RIDING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUTS OFF AND STALLS RANDOMLY. THE CONTACT HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET ANY OF THE HONDA DEALERS TO REPAIR OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY INFORMED HIM TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE HONDA DEALER, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 7,000. UPDATED 4/2/08 *CN UPDATED 04/02/08 *TR

INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, LOSS OF POWER, LIGHTS, INSTRUMENTS. LOSS OF POWER AND LIGHTS AT NIGHT RESULTED LOST CONTROL OF MOTORCYCLE, WHICH CAME IN CONTACT WITH REFLECTOR/BARRIER ON HIGHWAY. AT HIGHER SPEEDS THIS MAY HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY. *JB