Complaints over time
Complaints about the 2005 Victory Hammer peaked in 2008, with 2 filed
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Model year
2005 Victory Hammer
Motorcycle, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Aug 16, 2006 to Jul 28, 2015.
Recall campaigns covering this model year24,956 vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints62.4 times the median 2005 motorcycle
Severity index0.02005 motorcycles average 9.3
First 24 months1Complaints in its first two years
Components
33% of complaints about the 2005 Victory Hammer name engine and cooling
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls
2 recall campaigns cover the 2005 Victory Hammer
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05V-326 | Jul 19, 2005 | On certain motorcycles, some of the fuel supply hose leading from the fuel tank to the fuel rail may be incorrect for use in a pressurized fuel… | Fuel system | 4,244 | Part replacement |
| 05V-252 | May 31, 2005 | On certain motorcycles, the camshaft chain drive sprocket located on the crankshaft may have cracked upon installation | Powertrain | 712 | Part replacement |
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints
What owners reported about the 2005 Victory Hammer
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
6 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.
- Filed Jul 28, 2015Failure Jul 15, 20155,330 milesRensselaer, NYEngine, Fuel/propulsion system, Unknown or other
THIS IS A VICTORY MOTORCYCLE. WHEN DOWNSHIFTING TO ARRIVE AT A LIGHT I HEARD A CLUNK IN THE TRANSMISSION AREA. SHIFTING BECAME IMPOSSIBLE WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO A VICTORY DEALER IN HARRISONBURG, VA AND 2 WEEKS LATER I WAS INFORMED THAT ONE OF THE SHIFT FORK BROKE AND FELL INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND GROUND UP 2 GEARS. ALSO INFORMED THAT THE CLUTCH WAS BURNED. ALTHOUGH THIS MOTORCYCLE IS 10 YEARS OLD, IT ONLY HAD 5330 MILES ON IT AND WAS REGULARLY SERVICED. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING SHIFT FORKS DO NOT JUST BREAK. I BELIEVE EITHER THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE OR THE DESIGN WAS DEFECTIVE. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION AS THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD HAVE LOCKED UP AND THROWN ME OFF IF THE BREAK HAD OCCURRED WHILE I WAS MOVING AT REGULAR HIGHWAY SPEED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS DANGEROUS PART AND CONDITION. THANK YOU. UPDATE 9/15/15*CW UPDATED 12/12/2017*CN
NHTSA complaint 10744195 - Filed May 11, 2009Failure Oct 30, 200871,000 milesJacksonville, FLRear
DURING A ROUTINE TIRE CHANGE, THE TECH NOTIFIED ME OF A CRACK IN MY SWINGARM. AFTER HE SHOWED IT TO ME THEY LOCATED A TAKE OFF (A USED) FROM SOMEONE WHO WANTED A CHROME SWINGARM INSTEAD OF BLACK. I WAS OFFERED THAT USED SWINGARM AT A GOOD PRICE AND HAD IT SWAPPED. I WENT BACK AND BROUGHT HOME THE ORIGINAL (CRACKED) SWINGARM. I HAVE IT AND HAVE PICTURES TOO. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10268418 - Filed May 11, 2009Failure May 9, 20099,000 milesCharleston, ILRear
2005 VICTORY HAMMER PREMIUM BEING DRIVEN ON AN INTERSTATE TRAVELING 65 MPH WENT OVER A DIP IN THE ROAD. THE REAR TIRE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO DRAG AND LOCK; ABLE TO PULL TO SIDE OF ROADWAY. INSPECTION SHOWS THAT CAST ATTACHMENT POINT ON SWINGARM FOR SHOCK LINKAGE FRACTURED ON BOTH SIDES, RESULTING IN SWINGARM NO LONGER BEING SUPPORTED BY SHOCK LINKAGE. RESULTED IN COMPRESSION OF REAR OF BIKE WITH REAR FENDER AND SUBFRAME RESTING ON REAR TIRE. DEEP GASHES IN TIRE FROM STRUCTURES ON UNDERSIDE OF FENDER, MELTED RUBBER, AND DISCOLORED PAINT ON FENDER FROM HEAT, AND TORN WIRING. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10268402 - Filed Dec 20, 2008Failure Jul 20, 200818,000 milesTroy, MOManual transmission
13 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT MY VICTORY HAMMER NEW THE 2ND GEAR BEGAN TO SKIP BETWEEN 3200 AND 3600 RPM'S. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE 2ND GEAR TRANS RACK. PARTS FREE. LABOR $1500. THAT HAPPENED AROUND 8,000 MILES. 24 MONTH LATER @18,000MILES 2ND GEAR STARTED TO SKIP AGAIN BUT THIS TIME IT LOCKED UP ON ME IN TRAFFIC. I HEARD SOMETHING BREAK AND A LOT OF CLATTER SO I QUICKLY GOT OVER TO THE SIDE AND THEN IT LOCKED UP. $4,000 FOR PARTS AND LABOR FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. ALL PARTS REPLACED. ALL BROKEN PARTS IN MY POSSESSION. THEY INCLUDE A BROKEN SHIFT FORK, AND TEETH BROKEN ON 4 OF THE 6 GEARS. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10252357 - Filed Jun 2, 2008Failure May 31, 20088,894 milesLA Porte, TXBelts and associated pulleys
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 VICTORY HAMMER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE AS IF THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF THE CORRECT DRIVESHAFT. HE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER FOR INSPECTION. HE NOTICED THAT THE LOWER BELT OF THE BELT SYSTEM SPONTANEOUSLY FRACTURED AND BECAME JAMMED IN THE MOTOR. HE PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN REVERSE IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE BELT FROM THE MOTOR. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 8,894. UPDATED 06/25/08. *LJ UPDATED 06/25/08
NHTSA complaint 10229498 - Filed Aug 16, 2006Failure Aug 7, 200631,060 milesJacksonville, FLManual transmission
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH, THE TRANSMISSIOIN SEIZED CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK. THE DRIVE BELT HAD TO BE CUT IN ORDER TO ROLL THE VEHICLE OUT OF TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER. THE SEIZURE WAS DUE TO FRACTURED TEETH ON THE 2ND GEAR PLATE AND A BENT AND BROKEN SHIFT FORK SUPPORT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. UPDATED 11/09/06. *JB
NHTSA complaint 10165607
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations
NHTSA has not opened an investigation on this model year
Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins
5 manufacturer communications cover this model year
Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.
- SAF-16-01 Aug 16, 2016 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
A STOP RIDE MEANS THE CONSUMER MUST NOT OPERATE THEIR VEHICLE UNTIL THE REPAIR IS COMPLETE. We have been made aware that some dealers are incorrectly communicating the importance of STOP RIDE communications. - 060502 May 1, 2006 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
TURN SIGNAL WIRE COLOR AND POLARITY QUESTIONS ADDRESSED. VOICE OF VICTORY. *TT - 0501 Sep 6, 2005 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
LOWER BELT GUARD FAILURES CAUSED BY AFTERMARKET EXHAUST PIPES THAT EXIT NEAR THE LOWER BELT GUARD. *TT - 041102 Nov 1, 2004 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
SUSPENSION RIDE HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT PROCEDURE SIMPLIFIED. VICTORY 2003-2005 VEGAS, KINGPIN, & HAMMER. *TT - 050601 Jun 1, 2005 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
BATTERY MAY BE LABELED INCORRECTLY ON 2005 VICTORY HAMMER. *TT
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.