AI Damage1998 Honda Vtr1000f: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Honda Vtr1000f filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
What fails most often
- Engine and cooling: 5 complaints (100% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 5 | 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.
The cam chain tensioner skipped at around 35000 miles on my 1998 honda superhawk. There is much discussion on this topic at superhawkforum.com. My engine was destroyed.
Second failure of camchain tensioner with engine breakdown occurred at 25720 miles. This was also reported to honda with honda again denying that a camchain problem exists. Dt
This cam chain tensioner problem is popular among vtr1000f owners, particularly 1999 models and earlier. Failure of the tensioner could cause catastrophic failure of engine at speed, causing lockup of rear wheel and probable accident with injury. Dt
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 14,282 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Vtr1000f has 3 complaints (2 years in the data). This year has 5, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Honda Vtr1000f?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling. Total complaints: 5.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 Honda Vtr1000f?
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 1998 Honda Vtr1000f 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 1998 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.