Honda Crf1000a Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Honda Crf1000a options? We analyzed 10 model years (2017–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.
- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Honda Crf1000a has 17 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls across model years 2017–2026. The most reported issue area is FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM. 2018 drew the most complaints; 2017 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Honda
- Model
- Crf1000a
- Model years analyzed
- 2017–2026 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 17
- Safety recall campaigns
- 2
- Crash-related complaints
- 1
- Fire-related complaints
- 0
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2018 (13 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2017 (4 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Good
By model year
Honda Crf1000a: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
NCAP crash test ratings for this model are not yet loaded or this vehicle was not tested in the years analyzed. NHTSA tests a subset of new vehicles each year. Check nhtsa.gov/ratings directly for the latest results.
What the complaint data suggests
GoodThe HONDA CRF1000A has 17 NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. 1 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 17 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 2 federal recall campaigns
- 1 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
2 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
STRUCTURE:MOTORCYCLE:KICKSTAND/CENTER STAND
STRUCTURE:MOTORCYCLE:KICKSTAND/CENTER STAND
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2017–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 17 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
17 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
MOTORCYCLE LOSES POWER INTERMITTENTLY WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, SPUTTERS AND STALLS. DEALERSHIP STATES THERE ARE NO ISSUES AND THAT THERE IS NO FUEL CONTAMINATION WITHIN THE FUEL TANK. THE MOTORCYCLE CANNOT BE TRUSTED DURING PASSING MANEUVERS AS INTERMITTENTLY IT WILL SPUTTER AND STALL OR NOT HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO COMPLETE THE PASS. WHEN SLOWING DOWN AFTER THIS OCCURRS THE MOTORCYCLE OFTEN CANNOT GET ABOVE 2,000RPM OTHERWISE IT WILL BEGIN TO SPUTTER AND THE MOTOR WILL NOT RUN UNDER LOAD WITHOUT STALLING. TYPICALLY, TURNING THE MOTORCYCLE OFF AND LETTING IT SIT WILL ALLOW THE MOTORCYCLE TO RESTART AND RIDE REGULARLY FOR A WHILE BEFORE THIS OCCURRS AGAIN. THE DEALERSHIP STATES THEY CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
MOTORCYCLE ENGINE DIED WHILE RIDING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. BIKE SLOWED DOWN QUICKLY AND I HAD TO MOVE OVER TO THE SHOULDER QUICKLY. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I COULD START THE BIKE AGAIN BUT THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES ON MY WAY HOME. I FOUND THAT THE FUEL PUMP IN TANK IS STARVING, RESULTING IN STALLING OF THE MOTORCYCLE. PRE FILTER AND FILTER IN THE TANK FUEL DELIVERY MODULE ARE CLOGGED WITH GREY FLAKES. FLAKES SEEM TO BE CORROSION OR COATING OF TANK WELDS. I CLEANED THE TANK AND INSTALLED A NEW PRE-FILTER AND COVERED THE ENTIRE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE IN A FILTER TYPE SOCK TO PREVENT FUTURE ISSUES. I PURCHASED THIS BIKE NEW IN JULY OF 2019 AND THE BIKE HAD ABOUT 6,000 MILES WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED.
THE ENGINE ON THE MOTORCYCLE WILL START CUTTING OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE ENGINE IS STARVED OF FUEL EVEN WITH A FULL TANK. AT FIRST IT SEEMED AS THOUGH I PURCHASED BAD GAS, BUT AFTER MULTIPLE EVENTS IT APPEARS TO BE A FUEL PUMP ISSUE.
THIS IS THE KNOWN, DIRTY FUEL TANK WELD SEAMS ISSUE THAT ONLY AFFECTS THE LARGER, ADVENTURE SPORTS MODELS. THE MATERIAL ON THE SEAMS FLAKES OFF AND CLOGS THE FUEL FILTER AND FUEL PUMP. IT IS A FERROUS, WHITE DUST. THE FACE BOOK GROUPS DEVOTED TO THIS MODEL ARE FULL OF PHOTOS AND DESCRIPTIONS FROM MANY, MANY OTHERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE AND MY DEALER HAS DEALT WITH THIS BEFORE, I CAN PROVIDE MANY, MANY LINKS TO FB POSTS WITH PICTURES DOCUMENTING WHAT IS IN THE TANK WHEN THIS OCCURS. THIS OCCURRED AT 4,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC AT 10MPH AND WHEN I APPLIED A MEDIUM HIGH THROTTLE AT 2,200 RPM, THE BIKE BUCKLED LIKE YOU WOULD EXPECT IN AN OUT OF GAS SITUATION AND I LOST POWER WITHOUT THE ENGINE TURNING OFF, BUT I HAD OVER 3 GALLONS IN MY TANK AND FROM THE BEGINNING, HAVE BEEN USING ETHANOL FREE 85 OCTANE IN THE HOPES OF AVOIDING THIS ISSUE. WHEN I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, MY APPARENT ACCELERATION AND THEN A SUDDEN SLOWDOWN WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS ALMOST CAUSED SOMEONE TO HIT ME! I THEN HOBBLED THE BIKE HOME WHILE STAYING OFF THE HIGHWAYS. IT NOW WILL ONLY ACCELERATE UNDER LIGHT THROTTLE. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
2018 HONDA AFRICA TWIN ADVENTURE SPORTS. AT 1,750 MILES ON THE MOTORCYCLE, I DISCOVERED A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF WHITE SEDIMENT IN GAS TANK DUE TO WELDING SLAG IN THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. THE SEDIMENT ENDED UP CLOGGING UP THE FUEL FILTERS AND STOPING THE FUEL PUMP. THIS RESULTED IN THE MOTORCYCLE BEING STARVED FOR FUEL AND NOT RUNNING. I WAS STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
FUEL TANK LINER IS RELEASING FROM THE TANK WALL AND SEAMS. THIS IS CAUSING THE FUEL FILTER TO CLOG FAST AND PREMATURELY. THIS ALSO CAUSES STRESS AND WEAR ON THE FUEL PUMP FROM BEING STARVED OF GASOLINE. WHICH ALSO CAUSES THE MOTOR TO CUT OUT AT 4K RPMS. THIS IS DANGEROUS WHEN TRYING TO PASS OR AVOID ROAD OBSTACLES. THIS HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT TO WHERE SOMETIMES THE BIKE NEEDS TO BE SHUT DOWN AND LET FUEL TO INFILTRATE THROUGH THE FILTER TO RESTART AND COMBAT FUEL STARVATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. *TR
Read 11 more owner reports
THE FUEL TANK HAS A GREY MATTER THAT IS FLAKING OFF AND CLOGGING THE FUEL STRAINER, FUEL FILTER AND MOST LIKELY DAMAGING THE INJECTORS. THE BIKE STALLED WHILE TURNING IN A BUSY INTERSECTION ALMOST CAUSING A ACCIDENT. I CLEANED UP THE FUEL PUMP, FILTER AND STRAINER BUT WITHOUT A PROPERLY BUILT TANK THIS PROBLEM IS GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN. THE BIKE HAS 7,873 MILES ON IT. *TR
THE FUEL PUMP IS CLOGGED WITH A GREY WAXY SUBSTANCE THAT SEEMS TO COME OFF THE WELDS INSIDE THE FUEL TANK. THE MOTORCYCLE LURCHED AND FALTERED IN TRAFFIC CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
WITH 3,000 MILES ON THE MOTORCYCLE THE ENGINE SURGES WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HAD A LOSS OF POWER. UPON RESEARCH, I FOUND SEVERAL ARTICLES DESCRIBING FUEL TANK ISSUES ON THE HONDA AFRICA TWIN ADVENTURE SPORT (ATAS) MODEL. I REMOVED THE FUEL TANK AND FOUND CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL PUMP AND THE FUEL FILTER. CONTAMINATION CONSISTED OF WHITE FLAKY MATERIAL (LOOKS LIKE DANDRUFF) AND SMALL BITS OF DARK POWDERY METALLIC FLAKES. AN INSPECTION OF THE FUEL TANK REVEALED NO OBVIOUS BREACH OF THE TANK LINER INTEGRITY, HOWEVER THE WELD SEAMS APPEARED TO HAVE A WHITE DISCOLORATION IN THE SEAMS. THE MATERIAL COLLECTED AT THE FUEL PUMP APPEARS TO BE DUE TO LEACHING OF THE WELD SEAMS ON THE AFRICA TWIN ADVENTURE SPORTS (ATAS) MODEL. AFTER I ALLOWED THE FUEL PUMP FILTER TO DRY OUT - I VERIFIED THE DARK POWDERY METALLIC FLAKES WERE FERROUS MATERIAL ( I USED A MAGNET TO VALIDATE FERROUS CONTENT). MY CALL TO HONDA CORPORATION VERIFIED THERE WAS NO RECALL OR NOTICE REGARDING THIS ISSUE. HONDA CORP. WAS COURTEOUS AND WOULD ONLY RECOMMEND TAKING THE MOTORCYCLE TO A DEALER. *TR
FORMATION OF A FLAKEY MATERIAL INSIDE THE TANK THAT CLOGGED THE FUEL FILTER AND PUMP CAUSING IT TO STUMBLE OR STALL ARE HIGH RPM'S OR WHEN FUEL LEVEL WAS BELOW A CERTAIN POINT BUT FAR FROM EMPTY. MOSTLY OCCURRED AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. *TR
MOTORCYCLE LOSS OF POWER WHEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETE AN OVERTAKING MANEUVER. FELT LIKE FUEL STARVATION AND WAS ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF FREEWAY WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. AFTER TURNING IGNITION ON/OFF BIKE STARTED UP AND RAN OK BUT DID THE SAME POWER LOSS 3-4TIMES THAT DAY. A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HONDA AFRICA TWIN AVENGER SPORT MOTORCYCLE. WHILE RIDING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ABOVE 50 MPH, THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO A FUEL SUPPLY ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 (NA) HONDA AFRICA TWIN ADVENTURER SPORTS MOTORCYCLE. WHILE RIDING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTENTLY OCCURRED. THE CONTACT RODE TO WESTSIDE MOTORSPORTS (4201 S GROVE RD, SPOKANE, WA 99224, 509-747-1862) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK, FUEL PUMP, AND FUEL FILTER WERE DEFECTIVE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND A COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID. *TT CONSUMER STATED MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *JB
Unknown
90/90/21 Tire tread began to separate. This fell under Continental recall. Continental will not issue my reimbursement. I filled out paperwork, sent replacement tire receipt, damaged the sidewall to render tire unusable, and sent photos of this. The replacement tire was mounted and recall tire disposed of. Continental is now stating they will not issue my refund without the load rating photo, which is not possible because the shop disposed of it. They had already emailed me stating the process has begun.
Tire is beginning to crack around treads. Production week 1221. I have contacted Continental, and they are informing me I need to remove my tire and cut a hole in it for the warranty to be honored. This motorcycle is my means of transportation, and I cannot remove it and cut a hole until I receive a replacement.
IT IS A 6 SPEED. I DOWN SHIFTED TO 4TH UP SHIFTED TO 5TH GAVE IT GAS TO PICK UP SPEED AND IT WENT BACK DOWN TO 4TH BY ITS SELF. I WAS IN MOTION NOT MAKING A TURN .THE OTHER 2 TIMES I WAS IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC .
Showing 17 of 17 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Honda Crf1000a
These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Honda Crf1000a, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Honda Crf1000a has 17 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Honda Crf1000a has 2 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 1 of the Honda Crf1000a's 17 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Good) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Honda Crf1000a vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Honda Crf1000a vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Honda Crf1000a has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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Honda Crf1000a reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Honda Crf1000a reliable?
Good. The Honda Crf1000a has 17 NHTSA owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Honda Crf1000a years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2018 (13 complaints), 2017 (4 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Honda Crf1000a problems?
Top reported issues: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (13 complaints); TIRES (2 complaints); SERVICE BRAKES (1 complaints).
Does the Honda Crf1000a have recalls?
Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Honda Crf1000a. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.