2013 Victory Vision

Defect. Polaris is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Victory motorcycles manufactured from January 3, 2012, through August 15, 2012. A torqueing procedure may have been missed on some throttle cable retention nuts. On certain motorcycles, the throttle cable retention nuts for either the pull or push throttle cable may have not been torqued correctly.

Risk. If the torqueing is missed and the retention nuts are loose, the retention nuts closest to the throttle body can become dislodged and interfere with the throttle function, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Victory will notify owners and dealers will correctly torque the fasteners free of charge. The safety recall began on October 4, 2012. Owners may contact Victory consumer service department by calling 1-888-704-5290.

THE REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER HAS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED TWICE IN THE 5 YEARS THAT I HAVE OWNED THIS MOTORCYCLE. EACH TIME IT FAILED IT CAUSED A LOSS IN THE ABILITY TO STOP THE BIKE WHILE RIDING. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED THE BIKE FROM THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY VICTORY BRAND MOTORCYCLES. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER AT MY DEALERSHIP THAT THE PART CAN'T BE REPAIRED BUT MUST BE REPLACED, BUT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS, WHILE THEY WORK AS THEY SHOULD, ARE NO BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL PARTS AND THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE SAME PROBLEM WILL NOT OCCUR AGAIN IN THE FUTURE.

THE VICTORY VISION HAS A TWO PIECE PLASTIC FRONT FENDER WHICH IS HELD TOGETHER WITH PLASTIC FASTENERS AND MOUNTED DIRECTLY TO THE METAL FORKS WITH METAL SCREWS. VIBRATIONS FRACTURED THE REAR PORTION OF THE PLASTIC FENDER AT THE POINT WHERE IT CONTACTS THE METAL FORKS, THIS CAUSED THE REAR PORTION OF THE FENDER TO FAIL, DISLODGE ITSELF AND BECOME WEDGED BETWEEN THE FORKS AND THE MAIN BODY OF THE MOTORCYCLE AFFECTING STEERING. FORTUNATELY THE SPEED WAS LOW AND THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, HOWEVER, IF THIS INCIDENT HAD OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEED OR DURING CORNERING THE RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. PLEASE CONSIDER ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE WITH THE MANUFACTURE AS I HAVE AND THEY REFUSE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AND FEEL IT IS NOT A DEFECT OR A SAFETY ISSUE.

WHILE SLOWING THE MOTORCYCLE NORMALLY IN PREPARATION FOR STOPPING AT A STOP LIGHT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND REV-MATCHING THE ENGINE NORMALLY, THE ENGINE STALLED REQUIRING EVASIVE ACTION TO AVOID COLLISION WITH OTHER VEHICLES AND BRING THE MOTORCYCLE TO A SAFE STOP. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT RESTART IMMEDIATELY AND REQUIRED 3 ATTEMPTS TO RESTART. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON NO LESS THAN FOUR OCCASIONS. MANUFACTURER SAYS THE MOTORCYCLE ENGINE IS DESIGNED TO STALL IN THIS MANNER. THE TIMING AND ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION (EFI) ARE PURPOSELY DESIGNED TO MALFUNCTION AND READ REV-MATCHING ON DOWNSHIFT AS OVER SUPPLYING FUEL AND SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF TO "AVOID DAMAGE". NOTE THAT IN EVERY INSTANCE OF THIS HAPPENING THE REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE (RPMS) WERE BETWEEN 800 TO 1600RPMS MAXIMUM (WELL WITHIN THE MAXIMUM OF 5200RPMS) AND THERE WAS NO REAL OR IMAGINED POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER'S RESPONSE IS 1. IT IS THE OPERATORS RESPONSIBILITY TO ENGAGE IN NON-STANDARD OPERATION TO ENSURE THE ENGINE DOES NOT STALL. 2. THIS STALLING MALFUNCTION CAN BE CORRECTED BY PURCHASING AND HAVING INSTALLED AN ADDITIONAL AFTERMARKET EFI UNIT AND AN ADJUSTABLE IDLE CONTROL VALE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM - CLEARLY ADMITTING THEIR EQUIPMENT IS FAULTY (AND ULTIMATELY DANGEROUS) BY DESIGN. *TR

ON ROUTINE INSPECTION FOUND A 1 TO 2 INCH CRACK IN THE PLASTIC PORTION OF THE FRONT FENDER. I HAVE BEEN WATCHING FOR THIS PROBLEM AFTER READING DIFFERENT VICTORY INTERNET SITES. THIS PROBLEM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO LOCK UP THE FRONT WHEEL. *TR

2013 VICTORY VISION. THE FRONT REAR SECTION OF THE FENDER (PLASTIC) CRACKS WHERE IT ATTACHES TO THE FRONT FORKS. THIS IS A WIDELY KNOWN ISSUE THAT HAS HAPPENED TO 100;S IF NOT 1,000S OF VICTORY VISIONS. POLARIS REFUSES TO REPAIR OR REPLACE, AND SUGGESTS THAT IT IS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. THIS IS A HUGE SAFELY ISSUE THAT MUST BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

FRONT LOWER FENDER IS FAILING. THIS IS THE ONE THAT SNAPS OFF AND LOCKS UP THE STEERING, YOU HAVE OTHER REPORTS ON THIS. INSPECTED FOR FIRST TIME AND LEFT SIDE OF FENDER IS SEPARATING FROM THE MOUNT POINT. THIS VEHICLE HAS ONLY BEEN ON THE ROAD ~5 MONTHS. PURCHASED NEW ON 08/13. BACK WHEN I WAS IN THE CAR BUSINESS, A STEERING LOCKUP CONDITION GOT RECALLED REAL QUICK. I GUESS THAT'S NOT TRUE FOR MOTORCYCLES. *TR

VICTORY VISION MOTORCYCLES OF ALL YEARS HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING SEPARATION OF THE REAR PORTION OF THE TWO PIECE FRONT FENDER ASSEMBLY. FENDER. I HAVE PERSONALLY SEEN THE CRACKS AND REPAIRS BY THE OWNERS AFTER A HARROWING EXPERIENCE OF HAVING THE FENDER COME LOOSE AND JAMMING THE STEERING. I OWN A 2013 VISION AND DO WANT TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEM. GIVEN THE NATURE OF THE DEFECT I AM SURPRISED THAT NO-ONE HAS BEEN KILLED BY THIS YET. I DON'T WANT IT TO HAPPEN TO ME. SINCE I KNOW IT HAS BEEN REPORTED BY MANY WHO EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE NTSB HAS REACHED A CONCLUSION OR DISCUSSED THE ISSUE WITH POLARIS/VICTORY? *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 VICTORY VISION TOURING MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE ENGINE FUSE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 620.

THE REAR PORTION OF THE PLASTIC FRONT FENDER HAS CRACKED WHERE THE MOUNTING BOLTS ATTACH IT TO THE FRONT FORKS. I CAUGHT IT BEFORE IT BROKE LOOSE FROM THE BIKE. IF IT COMES LOOSE IT WILL WEDGE ITSELF BETWEEN THE FRONT WHEEL AND THE FRONT OF THE MOTORCYCLE MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO MY 2011 VICTORY VISION AS WELL AS TO MANY OTHER OWNERS. VICTORY SIMPLY REPLACES THE FENDER WITH A UNIT OF THE SAME DESIGN. THIS DESIGN NEEDS TO BE UPDATED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT BADLY. *TR