Own a 02-05 VFR? Important Safety Recall From Honda

[Viffer Vern]

I just got a letter in the mail from Honda regarding an electrical ground problem.   Long story short there is a possibility that a large blue connector in the wiring harness can overheat and melt if the ground connections are corroded.  This connector links the instrumentation and headlights to the main wiring harness and is located under the left side fairing.  For very detailed info go to the VFRD website and see the safety recall thread on the main page.

It appears that this is a serious problem. In my letter Honda recommends not riding the bike until it has been fixed by a dealer because of the possibility losing power to the headlights and engine without warning.  Also, according to what I've read on the VFRD site, Honda has issued a stop sell order on VFR's to the dealers.  I'm not sure if it involves new units or just 02-05 units that a dealer may have in used inventory.

If you are running accessories through your electrical system you are likely to have a problem eventually. If you don't receive a letter in the next week or so you might contact American Honda to make sure they have your info.

Good luck to us all in getting this resolved.

[Jes_VFR]

yeah, it was supposedly only on the 02-05 vfr's.
I say supposedly because honda also claimed that the Regulator/rectifier issues where cured with the 1998 vfr's, but they still have the problems.

This one is a pretty serious design flaw, All the loads at the front of the bike ground through a single wire that passes through the blue connector. The best fix is really easy.
Find the ground wire in the blue connector on the front harness side (the wiring that connects the headlights and all that stuff) and splice a wire to it. Run the other end of the wire to a solid bolt on frame and attach it there with a ring terminal.

End of grounding issue.

[keepergale]

I got my safety recall notice yesterday also.

[Tyrroneous]

Mine came in the mail today.  

I'm not sure I'm going to bother taking mine in.  I've done some electrical mods and don't really want anybody else messing with it as everything is working properly now.

[Viffer Vern]

I pulled mine apart to inspect the connector and the fuse.  So far everything looks fine with no signs of overheating.  As an extra precaution I removed the heated grips from the bike's wiring harness.  I talked to my dealer and he told me that he is waiting to hear from Honda on how to proceed.  I expect it to be another month or so before we know what to do next.  In the meantime, I'm going to keep on riding and keep an eye on the blue connector and the 30a fuse.

[Sean]

Mine's been having issues.  Neutral light flashing on and off when the bike is neutral and stalls once the light starts flashing and the bike is hot.  It's been going on about 3 months but definitely getting worse.  

I called Honda in Seattle and asked them about when I could get my bike in for repairs and they told me they didn't have parts and had no idea when they'd get them.

Wed I picked up a gsxr 750 and the vfr is parked until Honda gets around to getting the parts out to dealers.  I'll probably sell it once it's fixed.  2 days on the gixxer and I don't miss the vfr a bit.

[Zerosum]

Why is it that Honda has been unable to get it's $hit together regarding the VFR's electrical system?  They've had, what, over 15 years?  

[Sean]

I heard from the dealer.  He said he'd call me next week and set up a date for repairs so the parts are coming.  I haven't decided whether I'll keep it once it's fixed or find something else to park next to the gixxer.  I can't afford to have one bike in the garage with ferry prices what they are these days.  Last time my bike was in the shop for a month it cost me 600 bucks to put the car on the ferry and thats' alot like 3 new bike payments.

Honda has a history of electrical problems over a whole range of models.  The 02 was recalled for the stator so this is the second electrical recall on this model and i know they've had a reg/rect problem on the 600's for a long time.

[Viffer Vern]

My dealer is ready to do the repairs when I'm ready to set an appointment.  I'm not having a problem with mine so I'm gong to wait until the dealer has done a few bikes before sending mine in.  According to the dealer, Honda is only paying for 1.5 labor hrs for this repair so I don't want to my bike to be the guinea pig.

[FJRmgm]

I just got a letter in the mail from Honda regarding an electrical ground problem.   Long story short there is a possibility that a large blue connector in the wiring harness can overheat and melt if the ground connections are corroded.  This connector links the instrumentation and headlights to the main wiring harness and is located under the left side fairing.  For very detailed info go to the VFRD website and see the safety recall thread on the main page.

Don't ignore this recall - just got a call from a friend with an '05 VFR and right before Christmas he was at work and tried to start the bike and it wouldn't - it fried his wiring harness so now it is at the dealer waiting for the complete wiring harness to come in.

In October he had told me about getting the recall and joked about how it probably wouldn't happen to his bike.

The joke happened..

[Viffer Vern]

I just got a letter in the mail from Honda regarding an electrical ground problem.   Long story short there is a possibility that a large blue connector in the wiring harness can overheat and melt if the ground connections are corroded.  This connector links the instrumentation and headlights to the main wiring harness and is located under the left side fairing.  For very detailed info go to the VFRD website and see the safety recall thread on the main page.

Don't ignore this recall - just got a call from a friend with an '05 VFR and right before Christmas he was at work and tried to start the bike and it wouldn't - it fried his wiring harness so now it is at the dealer waiting for the complete wiring harness to come in.

In October he had told me about getting the recall and joked about how it probably wouldn't happen to his bike.

The joke happened..

Go Figure....

I just had my new wiring harness updated and there was no apparent damage to the original harness.  And I'm running lot's of farkels.