The 2005 Suzuki Vl800 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 23,839 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY ROUTED AT THE TIME OF PRODUCTION. IF THE WIRING HARNESS IS NOT ROUTED PROPERLY, IT CAN RUB AGAINST THE CLUTCH CABLE/THROTTLE CABLE.
Consequence
CONTINUED RUBBING MAY EVENTUALLY LEAD TO A SHORT CIRCUIT WHICH MAY CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL OR THE LIGHTS TO GO OUT. THIS WILL INCREASE THE CHANCE OF A CRASH RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL RE-ROUTE THE IGNITION SWITCH WIRING HARNESS AND REPLACE THE LOCK SET INCLUDING THE IGNITION SWITCH ALONG WITH THE CLUTCH CABLE/THROTTLE CABLE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 6, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SUZUKI AT 714-572-1490.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
3
1crashes1fires
WHEELS:HUB
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
1
ENGINE
1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
1
SUSPENSION:REAR
1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1
Total complaints12
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Bike lost all power, no lights nothing and won't start.”
“Bike lost all power, no lights nothing and won't start.”
“Bike lost all power, no lights nothing and won't start.”
“Tl*the contact owns a 2005 suzuki vl800. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start. The wiring harness melted and was replaced by the dealer at the cost of $800. One year prior to the failure, he received recall notice for nhtsa campaign id number 05v566000 (electrical…”
“I have 2 2005 suzuki c50 boulevards motorcycles. I added a light bar made by suzuki. It attaches electrically to a plug provided by suzuki inside the headlight can. When used, it overloads the ignition switch, causing heat, melting plastic inside. This is not a problem on the 2004's (vl800 vulsia)…”
“I have 2 2005 suzuki c50 boulevards motorcycles. I added a light bar made by suzuki. It attaches electrically to a plug provided by suzuki inside the headlight can. When used, it overloads the ignition switch, causing heat, melting plastic inside. This is not a problem on the 2004's (vl800 vulsia)…”
“The rear hub on the suzuki c50 was full of cracks,especially around the spoke holes. They were getting worse. If the hub disintegrated it would kill me and my wife. This was not a isolated incident,the web was full of people with the same complaint. I hope someone did not have to get killed from…”
“Riding my 2005 suzuki boulevard s50 motorcycle (less than 10,000 miles) to work this morning when the odometer and speedometer quit working. The consequences was that I had no way of knowing how fast I was going in morning rush hour traffic. Suzuki claims it is not their problem, but the bike is…”
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2005 Suzuki Vl800 as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.