Victory · NHTSA safety record

2011 Victory Cross Country

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 11 safety complaints about the 2011 Victory Cross Country with the US government. Of those, no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering the hydraulic brakes and the steering.

The most complained-about system is the body structure, named in 3 complaints, 27% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 7,050 miles, the median across the 10 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers May 2011 to November 2014 · How this is counted

What is on file

11 complaints on file

Complaints

Describe a crash

Mention fire

People injured

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system

STRUCTURE 3 · 27% 3 27%

EQUIPMENT 2 · 18% 2 18%

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 2 · 18% 2 18%

UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2 · 18% 2 18%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 · 9% 1 9%

POWER TRAIN 1 · 9% 1 9%

VISIBILITY 1 · 9% 1 9%

0 4 8

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 11.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2014 at 6.

8 6 4 2

11 2011 12 2012 14 2014

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2011 to 2014.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA has not crash tested the 2011 Victory Cross Country. Its New Car Assessment Program tests a selection of each year's vehicles and does not reach motorcycles, heavy trucks, motorhomes or most low-volume models, so an absence here says nothing about how the vehicle would perform. It is not a low score.

What owners have reported about this vehicle is below, and it is a different question: a crash test measures what happens to the people inside in a controlled impact, while a complaint records what broke during ordinary use.

Recall campaigns

2 on file

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

17V647000 · October 12, 2017

The defect: Polaris Industries, Inc. (Polaris) is recalling certain 2010-2017 Victory Cross Country, Cross Country Tour, Cross Roads, Magnum, and Hard Ball motorcycles. If the engine misfires, continued riding may result in heat from the catalytic converter melting the rear brake line and nearby wiring.
The risk: A melted rear brake line can reduce braking performance, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Polaris will notify owners, and dealers will re-route the brake line away from the exhaust catalyst, free of charge. The recall began on November 8, 2017. Owners may contact Polaris customer service at 1-877-737-7172. Polaris' number for this recall is V-17-02.

Polaris Industries, Inc. · up to 26,182 vehicles across all model years covered

STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

11V305000 · June 1, 2011

The defect: POLARIS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 VICTORY CROSS COUNTRY MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 1, THROUGH APRIL 11, 2011. THE HANDLEBAR CLAMPS AND/OR RISERS MAY HAVE BEEN MACHINED INCORRECTLY WHICH COULD CAUSE THE HANDLEBARS TO SLIP IN THE CLAMPS.
The risk: THIS COULD CAUSE THE OPERATOR TO LOSE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: POLARIS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL TEST AND REPLACE DEFECTIVE RISER/CLAMP ASSEMBLIES, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 17, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VICTORY CONSUMER SERVICE AT 1-888-704-5290.

POLARIS INDUSTRIES, INC. · up to 840 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

EQUIPMENT Filed November 13, 2014

2011 VICTORY CROSS COUNTRY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO MOTORCYCLE LOCK AND RIDE SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE RETURNED THE BACK REST/LUGGAGE RACK COMBINATION TO HIS LOCAL DEALER ON JUNE 27, 2014 AND HE HAS NOT HEARD FROM THE DEALER, SINCE. *JB

NHTSA complaint 10651243. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES Filed October 14, 2014

11,000 miles

I HAVE A 2011 VICTORY CROSS COUNTRY MOTORCYCLE. THE SADDLEBAG LATCH ON THE RIGHT SIDE IS WEARING IMPROPERLY DUE TO IMPROPER ALIGNMENT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE. MY DEALER, VICTORY MOTORCYCLES, AND POLARIS HAVE REFUSED TO ISSUE A REPLACEMENT. WITHOUT REPAIR, THE LATCH WILL WEAR THROUGH AND THE SADDLEBAG LID WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE SECURED. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10644692. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE Filed October 13, 2014

17,500 miles

REGARDING POLARIS/VICTORY RECALL CAMPAIGN 13E-048 THAT VICTORY ISSUED IN AUGUST OF 2013: THE OFFICIAL LETTER CAME OUT IN THE SPRING OF 2013 AND STATED THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE AFTER APRIL 2013, I HAVE CALLED MY DEALERSHIP EVERY WEEK SINCE MAY OF 2013 TO SEE WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. THEY CONTINUE TO TELL ME THAT VICTORY HAS MOVED UP THE SHIPPING DATES OF THE PARTICULAR TWO PARTS (CHROME LOCK-N-GO BACKREST AND CHROME LOCK-N-GO LUGGAGE RACK) THAT I AM HAVING TO REPLACE. I HAVE PLACED TWO PHONE CALLS TO VICTORY CUSTOMER SERVICE AND ALWAYS GET A RUN AROUND. IT IS NOW OCTOBER 2014 AND ONCE AGAIN VICTORY HAS DELAYED THE SHIPPING DATES OF THE EXPECTED PARTS. MY DEALERSHIP CANNOT DO

NHTSA complaint 10644375, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES Filed October 13, 2014

21,000 miles

THE LATCH ON THE RIGHT SIDE SADDLE BAG IS WEARING ITS WAY THROUGH THE LATCH BRACKET. SEVERAL VICTORY CROSS COUNTRY OWNERS HAVE SITED THAT THEIR BRACKET HAS SHEARED RIGHT THROUGH THUS ALLOWING THE SADDLEBAG LID TO FLY OPEN WHEN VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. MY BRACKET HAS NOT SHEARED THROUGH YET BUT THE CUT IS 1/2 WAY THROUGH. VICTORY'S RESPONSE TO THE PROBLEM IS THAT I MUST BUY A WHOLE NEW LOCK SET AT AN ASTRONOMICAL COST. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT EXIST ON THE LEFT SADDLE BAD BECAUSE THE BRACKET IS REVERSED ON THAT SIDE AND WILL NOT SUFFER THE VIBRATION RELATED WEAR THAT THE RIGHT SIDE DOES. SEVERAL WEBSITES, I.E. HAVE OFFERED ONLINE VIDEO CLIPS THAT SHOW YOU HOW TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM THAT SEEMS TO

NHTSA complaint 10644381, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER Filed September 30, 2014

10,100 miles

LATCH ON THE RIGHT SADDLE BAG IS WORN ALMOST TO THE POINT OF NOT HOLDING, IF THIS WAS NOT FOUND BEFORE WEARING ALL THE WAY THROUGH. THIS WOULD HAVE CAUSED THE BAGGAGE DOOR TO OPEN AND LOOSE THE CONTENTS OF THE BAG ON THE ROAD CAUSING UNDUE ROAD HAZARD FOR OTHER MOTORCYCLES AND CARS, WHICH WOULD CAUSE ACCIDENTS .

NHTSA complaint 10640337. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM Filed July 24, 2014

28,106 miles

WHILE AT ROAD SPEED I HIT A MODERATE BUMP IN THE ROAD CAUSING THE PLASTIC FACTORY INSTALLED MOLDED PLASTIC PART TO SHEAR OFF AT THE TANK PLATE FACE. THIS CAUSED GASOLINE TO POUR OUT THE GAS NIPPLE BETWEEN MY LEGS AND ON TO THE HOT PIPES BELOW. THANKFULLY I WAS SMART AND QUICK ENOUGH TO SHUT DOWN THE BIKE AND STEP AWAY FROM IT TILL A TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. ONE SPARK OR THE PIPES BE A LITTLE HOTTER AS I HAD JUST STOPPED ABOUT 1 MILE BEFORE FOR LUNCH SO THE PIPES WERE NOT AS HOT AS THEY COULD HAVE BEEN. THIS IS IN MY MIND A DEFECTIVE CHEAP PLASTIC PART IN A CRITICAL CONNECTION. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN TO KEEP FROM BEING A ROLLING FIRE BALL ON OUR NATIONS HIGHWAYS. POLARIS FROM MY

NHTSA complaint 10616056, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Victory Cross Country

Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Deaths
2014	11	3	—
2013	21	3	—
2012	19	2	—

Other 2011 Victory models

Vision 12

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Victory on this site — 6 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

Complaints: NHTSA's ODI complaint file, published October 2, 2026. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.
Recalls: NHTSA's recall campaign API, newest campaign on this vehicle filed October 12, 2017.
Investigations: NHTSA's ODI investigation file, published October 2, 2026.

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by guarledes
Independent developer and analyst