Illustration (AI-generated) of a 2014 Honda VFR800 / VFR1200F, not a photo of a specific motorcycle. Free to use under CC BY 4.0: credit The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Download and credit text
Honda VFR800 / VFR1200F.
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, 2002 to 2017 models.
48owner complaints
5recalls
4%involved a crash, fire or injury
18,200typical miles at complaint
Honda VFR800 / VFR1200F years to avoid. The model years with the most complaints filed with NHTSA.
200312 complaints
11 of 12 describe an electrical failure (wiring, fuses or charging) that killed the lights or the engine.
Recall 07V359000 (electrical system): 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…
Recall 05V010000 (service brakes, hydraulic): Certain motorcycles equipped with combined-brake systems have a proportioning control valve (pcv) that mechanically proportions brake force when the rear brake is applied.
201012 complaints
3 of 12 describe the new VFR1200F surging, stumbling or losing power.
6 mention a brake light that stops working.
Recall 24V864000 (fuel system, gasoline): The fuel pump impellers may have been improperly molded, which can cause them to deform and result in fuel pump failure.
Recall 15V821000 (power train): Manufacturing or assembly errors may result in the affected motorcycles having driveshaft universal joint bearings that may prematurely wear which can cause the universal joint to separate or break.
20029 complaints
9 of 9 describe an electrical failure (wiring, fuses or charging) that killed the lights or the engine.
Recall 07V359000 (electrical system): 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…
Recall 05V010000 (service brakes, hydraulic): Certain motorcycles equipped with combined-brake systems have a proportioning control valve (pcv) that mechanically proportions brake force when the rear brake is applied.
After 2010, no model year drew more than 2.
Fewest complaints on file: 2007 (1), 2012 (2), 2017 (2). Few complaints is not a clean bill of health, just fewer owners filing.
What each year's complaints describe comes from reading their text. These are counts, not rates: there are no sales figures per motorcycle model year. A complaint is not proof of a defect.
Popular years get more complaints just because more were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect them. There are no U.S. sales figures by motorcycle model year, so these are counts, not rates.
What owners complain about. Share of complaints.
electrical73%
engine21%
brakes17%
fuel system12%
lights8%
Recalls 5
Fuel System, Gasoline 2024
The fuel pump impellers may have been improperly molded, which can cause them to deform and result in fuel pump failure.
Power Train 2015
Manufacturing or assembly errors may result in the affected motorcycles having driveshaft universal joint bearings that may prematurely wear which can cause the universal joint to separate or break.
Electrical System 2007
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…
Show all 5
Equipment 06V270000
On certain passenger vehicles and motorcycles, the owner's manuals contain incorrect contact information for the national highway traffic safety administration's (NHTSA) vehicle safety hotline.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 05V010000
Certain motorcycles equipped with combined-brake systems have a proportioning control valve (pcv) that mechanically proportions brake force when the rear brake is applied.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. Check a specific bike's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Specs The maker's claimed figures for a representative year. ~ means approximate.
Honda VFR800 / VFR1200F
2000–2017
~105 hpClaimed crank figure
Engine
782 cc liquid-cooled 90-degree V4 with VTEC (VFR1200F: 1,237 cc V4)Honda V4 family
Torque
~55 lb-ftclaimed
Weight
538 lbwet or curb, as the maker quotes it
Seat height
31.9 in
Price new
~$12,499 (2014)base U.S. MSRP before destination, approximate
From the makers' U.S. spec sheets (the EU sheet for horsepower where the U.S. one leaves it out), checked against a sample on Nov 11; years and versions differ.
Filed as: VFR800, VFR1200F, VFR800A, VFR800FI, VFR1200X. Source: NHTSA owner complaints (model years 2000-2026) and recalls. Every motorcycle