AI Damage2003 Suzuki Burgman 650: common problems
Owners of the 2003 Suzuki Burgman 650 filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and engine. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 60% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 20% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel/propulsion system 20% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 20% of all complaints
- 5 Tires 20% of all complaints
- 6 Vehicle speed control 20% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 3 complaints (60% of all).
- Engine: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Suspension: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Tires: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 5 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 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 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.
Cvt bolt and pulley grinds; which may cause belt to break. If rider is at a high speed, this could cause a threatening accident. Suzukiburgman usa forem suggests this is a huge issue with 2003-2013 suzuki burgman 650's.
I had a transmission failure because of a sudden slowdown in speed from 65 mph and slower, I was almost hit from behind by a car. I could hear the tires screeching behind me. A dangerous situation as this one, could lead to death or serious injury to anyone because of a malfunction in the motorcycle.
This has to do with american suzuki motorcycle. I have written a letter to the president of america suzuki motorcycle mac kato. This is a cvt transmission safety issue to me. I have 2003 an 650 burgman. I was riding the bike and all of a sudden I had engine power but wasn't going anywhere.
Dt*: the contact stated the rear tire on the vehicle had abnormal wear. The contact noticed the tire had worn through to the cord on the left side. The tire has not been seen by a mechanic, it was removed from the vehicle.
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 14,283 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Burgman 650 has 4 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 5, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Suzuki Burgman 650?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, engine, fuel/propulsion system. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (20%), transmission slipping (20%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2003 Suzuki Burgman 650?
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 2003 Suzuki Burgman 650 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 2003 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 2026-11-06.