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2003 Honda RVT1000R

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 1 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

1 reports
1,500 miles · Oct 12, 2005
Fuel System, GasolineCrashFire

DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT HIS CHILD OWNED A 2003 HONDA RC 51 1000R THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND EXPLODED WHILE BEING RIDDEN. THE OWNER WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 55 TO 65. THE DRIVER WAS KILLED IN THE ACCIDENT. THE OWNER WAS TWENTY YEARS OF AGE. THERE ARE WITNESSES THAT HAVE STATED THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING DOWN ASPHALT, STRAIGHT …

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DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT HIS CHILD OWNED A 2003 HONDA RC 51 1000R THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE AND EXPLODED WHILE BEING RIDDEN. THE OWNER WAS TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 55 TO 65. THE DRIVER WAS KILLED IN THE ACCIDENT. THE OWNER WAS TWENTY YEARS OF AGE. THERE ARE WITNESSES THAT HAVE STATED THE DRIVER WAS TRAVELING DOWN ASPHALT, STRAIGHT ROAD WHEN HE LOOKED LIKE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS OUT OF CONTROL. THERE WAS A PUFF OF SMOKE AND THEN THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE BIKE AND HIT A CULVERT AND WAS FOUND UNCONSCIOUS. THE FATHER OF THE DRIVER STATES THAT THE DRIVER DIED WHILE IN THE HOSPITAL DUE TO BLUNT TRAUMA AND INTERNAL INJURIES. AT THIS POINT THE INVESTIGATORS HAVE FOUND NO HARD EVIDENCE OF THE COMPONENT, BUT THE FUEL SYSTEM LOOKS SUSPICIOUS. THE FATHER OF THE DRIVER HAS FOUND ONLINE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF FUEL SYSTEMS LEAKING AND LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THE FATHER HAS CONTACTED HONDA AND THEY GAVE NO EXPLANATION AS TO WHAT THE CAUSE COULD HAVE BEEN. THE FATHER DOES HAVE PICTURES OF THE WRECKAGE. THE FATHER HAS IN HIS POSSESSION PICTURES OF THE BIKE RIGHT AFTER THE WRECK HAPPENED BEFORE ANYONE HAD TOUCHED THE BIKE. THE FATHER DOES HAVE ALMOST TWO HUNDRED PICTURES FROM THE HONDA INVESTIGATION. AT THIS POINT, THE BIKE IS AVAILABLE TO VIEW, UNTIL THE INSURANCE COMPANY RELEASES IT. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10138775

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.