Honda Ctx700 Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Honda Ctx700 options? We analyzed 5 model years (2014–2018) 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 Ctx700 has 11 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls across model years 2014–2018. The most reported issue area is ENGINE. 2014 drew the most complaints; 2015 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Honda
- Model
- Ctx700
- Model years analyzed
- 2014–2018 (5 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 11
- Safety recall campaigns
- 3
- Crash-related complaints
- 1
- Fire-related complaints
- 0
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2014 (7 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2015 (4 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ENGINE
- Reliability signal
- Good
By model year
Honda Ctx700: 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 CTX700 has 11 NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record. 1 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 11 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 3 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: Sep 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
3 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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2014–2018. 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 11 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
11 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.
The contact owns a 2015 Honda CTX700 Motorcycle. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. There was an abnormal clicking noise detected. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure was due to the starter relay switch. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V439000 (Electrical System) however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.
ON 7/10/15 WHILE DRIVING THE HONDA CTX 700ND WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THE ENGINE SURGED FROM 1 MPH TO 20MPH WITHOUT TOUCHING THE THROTTLE CAUSING AN ACCIDENT IN A PARKING LOT. BRAKES DID NOT STOP THE VEHICLE AND DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO HIT THE KILL SWITCH. I WAS HEADING STRAIGHT.
MY VEHICLE IS A HONDA MOTORCYCLE WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (DCT). WHEN COMING TO FULL STOP, THE MOTORCYCLE NORMALLY GOES INTO LOW IDLE, WHICH DISENGAGES THE CLUTCH. ON THIS OCCASION, THE MOTORCYCLE STAYED IN HIGH IDLE AND TRIED TO SURGE FORWARD. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE SURGE BY USING THE HAND BRAKE. I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND RESTARTED THE MOTORCYCLE. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE I WAS NOT ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF NEUTRAL. I BELIEVE THAT WAS BECAUSE THE IDLE WAS STILL TOO HIGH. I HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND, AFTER GETTING THERE, TRIED AGAIN AND AT THAT TIME I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF NEUTRAL. I CHECKED ONLINE (ESPECIALLY WWW.CTX700FORUM.COM) AND FOUND THAT SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM (SEE ESPECIALLY HTTP://WWW.CTX700FORUM.COM/FORUM/WARRANTY-SERVICE-ISSUES/23730-DCT-STUCK-NEUTRAL.HTML). THIS HIGH IDLE, LEADING TO A SURGE FORWARD WHEN STOPPED AT AN INTERSECTION, IS A POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM.
VEHICLE DID NOT RETURN TO NORMAL IDLE SPEED WHEN THROTTLE WAS RELEASED. AFTER BEING DRIVEN AT FREEWAY SPEEDS FOR 20 MINUTES, THE OPERATOR NOTED ENGINE BRAKING DID NOT OCCUR AS EXPECTED WHEN RELEASING THE THROTTLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLES DUAL-CLUTCH TRANSMISSION COULD NOT BE DISENGAGED FROM DRIVE. BRINGING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP REQUIRED MORE EFFORT THAN NORMAL. THE VEHICLES IDLE WAS AT, OR ABOVE, 2,000 RPM WHEN STOPPED - ABOUT 1,000 RPM ABOVE NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WOULD SURGE FORWARD, WITHOUT ADDITIONAL THROTTLE, WHEN THE BRAKE WAS RELEASED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A SAFE LOCATION AND TURNED OFF. AFTER 30 MINUTES OF BEING TURNED OFF, THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND APPEARED TO HAVE RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION.
While riding my Honda CTX 700 DCT, I lost all engine power, on two occasions. The second was after the Honda Certified Dealer said they repaired it. The first incident was while city riding at 25MPH, and the second was during dense highway traffic at 60MPH. I was barely able to safely pull to the side of the road on momentum alone. If the cars around me were any less attentive, I could have been struck, causing injury or death. I have received conflicting information from both the dealer, and Honda Corporate. They claim that the fault was a computer issue caused by too much oil, or a loose cable. But they had addressed those issues the first time, and it did the same exact thing again. The manufacturer has refused to inspect the bike, but instead is relying on their locally contracted repair facility for information. There was absolutely NO warning prior to either failure. The bike is currently at Brothers Powersports in Bremerton, WA., and may be inspected at your convivence.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HONDA CTX700. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE BRAKING ABILITY SEIZED. THE CONTACT TRAVELED ACROSS THREE LANES OF TRAFFIC UNTIL THE MOTORCYCLE STOPPED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,202.......UPDATED 04/01/16 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TRADED IN AND RESOLD. UPDATED 10/30/2017*JS
Read 5 more owner reports
AFTER I RODE THE BIKE FOR A WHILE, IT BECAME OBVIOUS BECAUSE OF HANDLEBAR MISALIGNMENT THAT SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT. THE HANDLE BARS ARE TILTED TO THE RIGHT QUITE A BIT. MY INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT IT IS A PROBLEM OF REAR AXLE ALIGNMENT. THE REAR TIRE MUST BE ADJUSTED TO A MISMATCH OF HASH-MARKS ON EACH SIDE IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE A STRAIGHT RIDING TRACK. I ALSO EXPERIENCED SHAKING IN THE BIKE AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 45 MPH. TAKING THE BIKE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS AND CONTACTING HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS NOT PROVIDED ANY FIXES OR ACCEPTABLE RESPONSES. I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE FORCED TO RIDE A CROOKED BRAND NEW MOTORCYCLE, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND YOU ARE NOT CERTAIN THAT THE SHIFT IN REAR AXLE ALIGNMENT REQUIRED TO GET THE BIKE TRACKING PROPERLY IS ENTIRELY SAFE. YOU BELIEVE THAT HONDA SHOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM RATHER THAN JUST TELLING ME TO RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE AS IS. I BELIEVE THAT I HAVE INVESTED OVER 7K IN A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT, AND IS QUITE DISCOURAGING. *TR
AFTER I RODE THE BIKE FOR A WHILE, IT BECAME OBVIOUS BECAUSE OF HANDLEBAR MISALIGNMENT THAT SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT. THE HANDLE BARS ARE TILTED TO THE RIGHT QUITE A BIT. MY INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THAT IT IS A PROBLEM OF REAR AXLE ALIGNMENT. THE REAR TIRE MUST BE ADJUSTED TO A MISMATCH OF HASH-MARKS ON EACH SIDE IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE A STRAIGHT RIDING TRACK. I ALSO EXPERIENCED SHAKING IN THE BIKE AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 45 MPH. TAKING THE BIKE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS AND CONTACTING HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS NOT PROVIDED ANY FIXES OR ACCEPTABLE RESPONSES. I DO NOT FEEL THAT I SHOULD BE FORCED TO RIDE A CROOKED BRAND NEW MOTORCYCLE, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND I AM NOT CERTAIN THAT THE SHIFT IN REAR AXLE ALIGNMENT REQUIRED TO GET THE BIKE TRACKING PROPERLY IS ENTIRELY SAFE. I BELIEVE THAT HONDA SHOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM RATHER THAN JUST TELLING ME TO RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE AS IS. I BELIEVE THAT I HAVE INVESTED OVER 7K IN A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT, AND IS QUITE DISCOURAGING. *TR
AS DELIVERED AND WITH THE REAR AXLE ALIGNED EQUALLY ON THE HASH MARKS ON EACH SIDE OF THE SWINGARM, THE REAR TIRE DOES NOT TRACK IN THE SAME PATH AS THE FRONT TIRE. SIMILARLY, THE REAR SPROCKET IS MISALIGNED WITH THE CHAIN. IN ORDER TO CORRECT THIS, THE REAR AXLE MUST BE MISALIGNED ACCORDING TO THE HASH MARKS. DOING SO CORRECTS THE ALIGNMENT OF THE FRONT AND REAR TIRES AND ALSO ALIGNS THE REAR SPROCKET WITH THE CHAIN. HOWEVER, THE AMOUNT OF AXLE SHIFT REQUIRED IS ENOUGH THAT I AM CONCERNED THE AXLE MAY NOT HOLD SECURELY HOLD THIS POSITION, MEANING IT COULD SLIP WHILE UNDER WAY. COCKING THE AXLE THIS MUCH IS PUTTING A BENDING STRESS ON THE AXLE BOLT AND I DO NOT KNOW IF THAT IS A CONCERN OF IF OR OTHER COMPONENTS ARE BEING OVERLY STRESSED. THE DEALER INSISTS THAT THE REAR AXLE MUST BE ALIGNED ACCORDING TO THE HASH MARKS, EVEN THOUGH THAT WILL PROBABLY RESULT IN ACCELERATED CHAIN AND SPROCKET WEAR AND COULD CREATE UNSTABLE HANDLING AND BRAKING UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS. ALTHOUGH I HAVE WORKED WITH THE DEALER AND HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE, NO ONE FROM ANY LEVEL AT HONDA HAS MEASURED MY BIKE AND COMPARED THE RESULTS TO THEIR ACCEPTABLE ALIGNMENT PARAMETERS. CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS IGNORED MY REQUEST TO PROVIDE ME THOSE ACCEPTABLE PARAMETERS AS WELL AS MY QUESTION AS TO WHETHER THE AXLE ALIGNMENT REQUIRED TO GET THE BIKE TRACKING PROPERLY COULD CAUSE ANY ISSUES. THEY ALSO FAILED TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES OF ACCELERATED CHAIN AND SPROCKET WEAR AND POSSIBLE UNSTABLE HANDLING IF THE MOTORCYCLE IS ALIGNED AS THE DEALER INSISTS. A SEPARATE LETTER TO [XXX], SENIOR VP PARTS, SERVICE & TECHNICAL DIVISION WENT UNANSWERED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
MOTORCYCLE ABRUPTLY STOPPED RUNNING ON HIGHWAY IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. WOULD NOT RESTART. FOUR DAYS LATER IT STARTED AND DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHY IT STALLED. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR
LCD SPEEDOMETER HOUSING SHOWS SIGN OF AN OVER HEATING ISSUE. DEALER SAYS IT'S FROM THE SUN, THE PLASTIC HOUSING AND LENS IS BADLY DAMAGED. THIS COULD CAUSE WATER TO LEAK INTO THE UNIT AND SHORT CIRCUIT, INSIDE THE UNIT. THIS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO STOP, ABRUPTLY AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I WAS TOLD THE UNIT WOULD BE REPLACED, BUT ONLY THIS ONE TIME, UNDER WARRANTY. THE TYPE OF PLASTIC SHOULD BE CHANGED TOO WITH STAND THE HEAT OF THE SUN BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR KILLED. *JS
Showing 11 of 11 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Honda Ctx700
These pages show model-year patterns across 5 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 Ctx700, 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 Ctx700 has 11 complaints on record across 5 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 Ctx700 has 3 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 Ctx700's 11 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 Ctx700 vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Honda Ctx700 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 Ctx700 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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Check a Honda Ctx700 by state
Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Honda Ctx700.
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Honda Ctx700 reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Honda Ctx700 reliable?
Good. The Honda Ctx700 has 11 NHTSA owner complaints and 3 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ENGINE. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Honda Ctx700 years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2014 (7 complaints), 2015 (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 Ctx700 problems?
Top reported issues: ENGINE (3 complaints); POWER TRAIN (3 complaints); STEERING (3 complaints).
Does the Honda Ctx700 have recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Honda Ctx700. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.