Recall 15V821 affects 1,825 2010, 2012, 2013 Honda VFR1200F motorcycles for driveshaft joint failure. Repair will be free at any franchised Honda dealer once available.
Honda is recalling 1,825 2010, 2012, 2013 VFR1200F motorcycles because driveshaft universal joint bearings can wear early and let the joint separate or break. A separated joint would stall the motorcycle; a broken joint can interfere with the swing arm and lock the rear wheel, and the Honda dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The driveshaft on the 2010, 2012, 2013 Honda VFR1200F is the metal shaft that carries engine power from the transmission to the rear wheel. Its universal joint lets that shaft move with the rear suspension while still turning smoothly. The joint depends on small bearings to stay aligned and carry load as the motorcycle accelerates.
On affected motorcycles, manufacturing or assembly errors left the universal joint bearings vulnerable to early wear. Honda also found that even a properly assembled joint in this group lacked the specified durability because of manufacturing errors. As the bearings wear, the universal joint can separate or break, cutting drive force to the rear wheel. Honda's investigation also included reports of rear wheel lockup while riding.
There is no warning sign before failure. If the universal joint starts to fail, the rider should treat any sudden loss of drive force or rear-wheel behavior change as a serious driveline problem.
Who's affected?
The listed VFR1200F model years share the same driveline scope, and VINs have been searchable since December 23, 2015.
| 2013 Honda VFR1200F | driveline |
|---|---|
| 2012 Honda VFR1200F | driveline |
| 2010 Honda VFR1200F | driveline |
| Units affected | 1,825 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific motorcycle is included.
What's the safety risk?
NHTSA campaign 15V821 says a separated universal joint can stall the motorcycle. If the universal joint breaks, it can contact the swing arm and lock the rear wheel, which increases crash risk. No warning sign is listed, so schedule the recall repair once parts are available. Repair will be free at any franchised Honda dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2010, 2012, 2013 Honda VFR1200F is included in this recall.
- Wait for Honda's repair notice before scheduling the driveshaft replacement that fixes the wear-prone universal joint bearings.
- Call Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009 and reference recall number 15V821 or Honda recall JW2 when you call.
- Avoid riding the motorcycle if it stalls, makes driveline noise, or shows rear-wheel binding before the repair.
- Bring the recall notice to a franchised Honda dealer once parts are ready; the driveshaft replacement is free.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Honda technician replaces the driveshaft assembly that contains the universal joint bearings covered by this recall. Because the remedy is still listed as under development, do not treat the final driveshaft replacement as schedulable until Honda confirms parts and service instructions are open for your VIN. The final dealer repair will be free once available. Honda has a general reimbursement plan on file. If you've already paid for a related driveshaft or universal joint repair, contact Honda customer service and ask how to submit repair documentation for review.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| December 4, 2015 | Dealer notification began |
|---|---|
| December 7, 2015 | NHTSA published the recall |
| December 23, 2015 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| December 23, 2015 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| December 29, 2015 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 15V821?
Recall 15V821 covers 1,825 2010, 2012, 2013 Honda VFR1200F motorcycles with driveshaft universal joint bearings that can wear early, separate, or break. Honda dealers replace the driveshaft for free under this recall.
What should I do if my 2010, 2012, 2013 Honda VFR1200F is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific motorcycle is included in recall 15V821. If it is, call a franchised Honda dealer and reference recall number 15V821 or Honda recall JW2. Ask the dealer to confirm parts and complete the free driveshaft replacement.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Honda dealers replace the affected driveshaft free of charge for included VFR1200F motorcycles, and Honda customer service is available at 1-800-999-1009.
What is the safety risk?
The driveshaft universal joint can separate or break. If it separates, the motorcycle would stall. If it breaks, it can interfere with the swing arm and lock the rear wheel. Either condition increases crash risk, so confirm your VIN and arrange the free dealer repair.
What if I bought my Honda VFR1200F used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the motorcycle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your VFR1200F is included, then contact a franchised Honda dealer with recall number 15V821 or Honda recall JW2.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/15V821000 |
|---|---|
| Honda customer service | 1-800-999-1009 |
| NHTSA recall # | 15V821 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 15V821000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →