AI Damage2005 Honda Crf450x: common problems
Owners of the 2005 Honda Crf450x filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- Powertrain: 3 complaints (100% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 3 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 3 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
I mainly use my bike on the off-road setting, but occasionally road it down the highway. It so happen that on the evening of the 27th of august I was traveling down the highway for about six miles when my motorcycles started to make a clicking noise somewhere in the engine area.
Internet forums such as thumpertalk have pages of documented other failures of the exact same description under the 450x "transmission failure" thread. The conclusion of those who are mechanically knowledgeable and the owner's in australia is that you have to run a quart of transmission oil to lubricate these gears.
On dec 17th I receive the license plate for my motorcycle honda crf450x in order to complete the dual sport kit and be road legal. On this same day I had changed both the transmission oil and engine oil according to the honda manual. This was the 2nd change in 175 miles since it was new.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 17,150 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 47% most complained about).
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Honda Crf450x?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (33%), transmission slipping (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2005 Honda Crf450x?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2005 Honda Crf450x from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2005 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.