*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Power train › Manual transmission
I AM WRITING IN REGARD TO THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE THAT I EXPERIENCED ON SATURDAY, THE 25TH OF AUGUST, 2007 ON MY 2003 MIDNIGHT ROADSTAR. FIFTH GEAR WAS LOST WHILE I WAS LEADING A GROUP OF MOTORCYCLES ON THE INTERSTATE. AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE, I HEARD A LOUD METALLIC CLICK, AND THOUGHT OF A BREAKAGE OF THE CIRCLIP. THIS FAILURE HAD THE POTENTIAL TO RESULT IN THE IMMEDIATE LOCKUP OF THE TRANSMISSION, AND RESULTANT LOCKUP OF THE REAR WHEEL. THIS EVENT COULD HAVE LED TO A CATASTROPHIC CRASH BECAUSE IT OCCURRED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH A GROUP OF MOTORCYCLES IMMEDIATELY BEHIND ME. IN FIFTH GEAR, NO POWER AT ALL IS PROVIDED TO THE DRIVE BELT. GEARS 1-4 AND NEUTRAL CONTINUED TO OPERATE NORMALLY…
Aug 25, 2007 · 28,378 milesElectrical system › Starter assembly
WHEN STARTING THE MOTORCYCLE THE ENGINE COUGHED (BACKFIRED THROUGH THE CARBURETOR). SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPTS TO START THE ENGINE WERE UNSUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THE STARTER WOULD NO LONGER ENGAGE. THIS LEFT ME STRANDED AND WAS FORCE TO FIND ALTERNATE TRANSPORTATION HOME IN ORDER TO PICK UP MY TRUCK & TRAILER TO GO BACK AND PICK UP THE MOTORCYCLE. SERVICE MANAGER AT THE YAMAHA DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY SEE THIS PROBLEM QUITE OFTEN. THE REPAIR CONSISTS OF APPLYING LOCKTITE TO A STARTER BOLT AND RE-TORQUEING THE BOLT. *NM
Apr 1, 2006 · 4,665 milesStructure › Frame and members › Underbody shields
DT: 2003 , YAMAHA MOTORCYCLE'S FRAME RUSTED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION THERE WAS A BRACKET WELDED TO THE FRAME THAT CRACKED. A CLOSER EXAMINATION REVEALED ALL 4 SIDES OF THE BRACKETS WERE CRACKED. . CONSUMER CAUGHT THIS IN TIME, AND THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS OR FAILURES. BUT CONSUMER FELT IF THIS HAD BROKEN COMPLETELY THE WHOLE SUSPENSION WOULD HAVE DROPPED FROM THE MOTORCYCLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER, WHO SAID THEY COULD WELD THIS FRAME OR BUY A NEW FRAME. CONSUMER OPTED TO BUY THE NEW FRAME BECAUSE HE FELT THIS WAS THE SAFEST OPTION. CONSUMER TOOK MOTORCYCLE FROM DEALER TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, WHO WAS MORE TRUSTED BY CONSUMER, HAD DISCUSSED REINFORCING THE BRACKET IF THIS WOULD BE WEAK. THE…
Jul 6, 2005 · 23,000 milesPower train › Manual transmission
THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP ON JANUARY 2004 IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA RECALL 03V309000/ REAR WHEEL LOCK UP. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND THAT IT WOULD TAKE ANOTHER TWO MONTHS FOR THE PARTS TO BE AVAILABLE. *NM IT WAS UNKNOWN AS TO WHEN THE PARTS WILL BECOME AVAILABLE. *SC *JB
Apr 29, 2004Power train › Manual transmission
RECALL NOTICE 03V309000 YAMAHA RECALL OF DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION PARTS THAT MAY CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH: I RECEIVED THE NOTICE ON JANUARY 10, 2004 AND CONTACTED THE DEALER TO SCHEDULE THE REQUIRED REPAIR. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE REPAIR KITS ARE TO BE PROVIDED BY YAMAHA AND THEY WOULD CALL ME TO SCHEDULE THE REPAIR. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THE STATED THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED ONLY A FEW KITS AND THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN OR IF THEY WILL BE RECEIVING ANY ADDITIONAL REPAIR KITS. AS A RESULT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE NOW RIDING THE DEFECTIVE MOTORCYCLES AND ARE IN DANGER OF INJURY OR DEATH. SOME OF US USE OUR MOTORCYCLES AS DAILY TRANSPORTATION; BECAUSE YAMAHA REFUSES TO PROVIDE…
Jan 9, 2004Power train › Manual transmission
THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNAWARE AS TO HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE BEFORE THEY RECEIVED PARTS TO PERFORM TRANSMISSION RECALL. *PH THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THE RECALL TO BE PERFORMED IN A TIMELY MANNER OR YAMAHA SHOULD BUY THE VEHICLE BACK. *SC RECALL #03V309000. *JB
Apr 15, 2004Power train › Manual transmission
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 03V309000 CONCERNING MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE ON 1/30/2004. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS, AND HAD NO INFORMATION ON WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. DEALER HAD A WAITING LIST WITH ABOUT THIRTY CONSUMERS. ALSO, THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PARTS HAVE NOT ARRIVED FROM JAPAN. *AK *JB
Jan 30, 2004Power train › Manual transmission
I BOUGHT A NEW 2003 YAMAHA ROAD STAR MOTORCYCLE FROM HATTIESBURG CYCLES IN HATTIESBURG MISSISSIPPI ON 3 JANUARY 2004. I WAS NOTIFIED 13 JANUARY 2004 OF A RECALL INVOLVING EXTENSIVE REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMISSION AND TOLD NOT TO OPERATE THE MOTORCYCLE UNTIL THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY A FAILURE IN WHICH THE REAR WHEEL COULD LOCK-UP CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. SINCE BEING NOTIFIED (6 WEEKS NOW) MY MOTORCYCLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE DEALER OR YAMAHA CUSTOMER SERVICE IS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ME WITH AN ESTIMATED DATE WHEN THE REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED. I FELL THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE I'M AM STILL MAKING $400 PAYMENTS EACH MONTH FOR A MOTORCYCLE WHICH I AM UNABLE TO OPERATE. WITH MY…
Jan 13, 2004
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.