Model year record

2001 Yamaha Road Star recalls & problems

The 2001 Yamaha Road Star has 3 safety recalls and 57 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train (49 complaints).

Recalls3safety recalls

Complaints57filed by owners

Crashes · fires3 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths14 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

EquipmentAug 23, 2010

Equipment

Recall 10E041000300 vehicles

Problem: YAMAHA IS RECALLING CERTAIN ACCESSORY YAMAHA DOUBLE "T" FAT HANDLEBARS , PART NUMBERS STR-5PX75-12-00 AND STR-4WM75-12-00, MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1, 2008 THROUGH JULY 31, 2009, TO BE USED ON MODEL YEAR 2002-2009 XV1700PC WARRIOR, 1999-2003 VX1600 AND 2004-2010 XV1700 ROAD STAR MOTORCYCLES. THESE HANDLEBARS MAY HAVE TUBING THINNER THAN DESIGNED WHERE THE BARS NARROW FOR THE SWITCH HOUSINGS AND GRIPS.
Risk: THE AFFECTED HANDLEBARS COULD BE WEAK ENOUGH IN THE AREA TO BREAK. SHOULD THIS BREAKAGE OCCUR WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS BEING OPERATED, THE OPERATOR COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Fix: YAMAHA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED HANDLEBARS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 31, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT YAMAHA TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-962-7926.

Power trainOct 17, 2006

Manual transmission

Recall 06V39700020,000 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, CERTAIN TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS MAY NOT MEET YAMAHA QUALITY-CONTROL STANDARDS, WHICH COULD ALLOW ABNORMAL WEAR THAT EVENTUALLY RESULTS IN A BROKEN RETAINING CIRCLIP.
Risk: IF THE CIRCLIP BREAKS, THE TRANSMISSION COULD LOCK UP, WHICH WOULD ALSO CAUSE THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK UP. THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH WITH INJURY OR DEATH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE CERTAIN TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS WITH NEW ONES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 30, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT YAMAHA AT 1-800-88-YAMAHA OR VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.YAMAHA-MOTOR.COM.

Power trainAug 26, 2003

Manual transmission

Recall 03V30900029,139 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (ODI)

Problem: IN THE TRANSMISSION ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE SECOND/THIRD PINION GEAR MAY BE INCORRECTLY MACHINED WHICH COULD CAUSE ABNORMAL WEAR THAT EVENTUALLY RESULTS IN A BROKEN RETAINER CIRCLIP.
Risk: IF THE CIRCLIP BREAKS, THE TRANSMISSION COULD LOCK UP, WHICH WOULD ALSO CAUSE THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK UP. THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Fix: YAMAHA WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION GEARS AND SHAFTS WITH NEW ONES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT YAMAHA AT 1-800-88-YAMAHA OR VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.YAMAHA-MOTOR.COM.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Power trainManual transmission; Automatic transmission	49	3	14	8,100 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline	5	0	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineCarburetor system	4	0	0	—
SuspensionRear	1	0	0	—
Wheels	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Power train › Manual transmission
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 YAMAHA ROAD STAR MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V309000 (POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION). THE DEALER WILL NOT PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR AFTER MULTIPLE CALLS AND PROMISES. THE CONTACT MUST CALL THE DEALER SO THEY CAN ORDER THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR. HE HAS BEEN CALLING THEM FOR EIGHT MONTHS WITHOUT ANY RESOLUTION. HE CALLED YAMAHA CUSTOMER RELATIONS FOR A REMEDY AND WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WOULD CALL THE DEALER SO THEY COULD PERFORM THE REPAIR; HOWEVER, HE HAS NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,000.
Nov 10, 2008 · 5,000 miles
Fuel system, gasoline
FUEL (GASOLINE) IS SPRAYED FROM REAR PORT OF CARBURETOR. AS MUCH AS 2 OZ MAY BE EMITTED AND SPRAYED ON HOT EXHAUST PIPES AND ENGINE. THE FUEL IMMEDIATELY VAPORIZES. THIS ONLY SEEMS TO OCCUR WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE IS HOT, THEN SHUT OFF AND ALLOWED TO SIT FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES. IT DOES NOT SPRAY LIQUID GAS IF IMMEDIATELY STARTED OR IF ALLOWED TO COOL. HOWEVER, THERE IS STILL A FREQUENT SMELL OF GAS. FIRST REPORTED IN AUGUST 2008. PROBLEM IS FREQUENT. *TR
Aug 23, 2008 · 17,000 miles
Fuel system, gasoline › Carburetor system
THERE WERE NO "EVENTS" LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE OF MY FUEL SYSTEM. WHILE RIDING IN TRAFFIC I NOTICED AN ODOR OF RAW FUEL. WHEN I PULLED OVER TO INVESTIGATE,I DISCOVERED GASOLINE POURING OUT FROM UNDER MY MOTORCYCLE! SHUTTING OFF THE FUEL PETCOCK AND RUNNING THE ENGINE @ AN ELEVATED RPM CAUSED THE SYMPTOM TO SUBSIDE AND LED TO THE CONCLUSION THAT A FAILURE IN 1 OR MORE CARBURETOR(S) HAD OCCURED. I CONTACTED MY DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT YAMAHA USA WOULD NOT WARRANTY A FAILURE OF THE CARBURETOR(S) CLAIMING THAT "POOR FUEL QUALITY" WAS THE FAULT,NOT A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. UPON QUESTIONING,I WAS FURTHER ADVISED THAT CORROSION OF THE NEEDLE AND SEAT ASSEMBLIES WAS A KNOWN FAILURE IN THIS…
Aug 1, 2004 · 2,360 miles
Power train › Manual transmission
MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND REAR WHEEL LOCKED WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH. WHEN THIS OCCURRED CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE ,AND COASTED IT TO A COMPLETE STOP WITHOUT THE MOTORCYCLE TIPPING OVER. THIS OCCURRED DUE TO THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THE REAR WHEEL LOCK RECALL 03V309000. BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Oct 2, 2004
Power train › Manual transmission
CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 03V 309 000 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN JANUARY, 2004. LATER, CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO STATED PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE MOTORCYCLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE, AND WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL MID APRIL, AT THE EARLIEST.*AK THE MOTORCYCLE WAS FINALLY REPAIRED THREE MONTHS AFTER THE RECALL WAS INITIATED. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS PICKED UP APRIL 3, 2004. *NM
Jan 1, 1901 · 13,000 miles
Power train › Manual transmission
ON JANUARY 14 2003 CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING TRANSMISSION. DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT RECALL REPAIRS. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND DEALER INDICATED THAT THE CONSUMER SHOULD WAIT A LITTLE LONGER. *AK *NM
Mar 15, 2004 · 3,300 miles
Power train › Manual transmission
NHTSA RECALL 03V309000. THE DRIVER CONTACTED THE DEALER ON JANUARY 09, 2004. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MECHANIC COULDN'T INFORM THE CONSUMER WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. *LA
Apr 30, 2004
Power train › Manual transmission
CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 03V309000 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON JANUARY 28,2004. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE IN FEBRUARY. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER IN FEBRUARY, AND THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PARTS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL THE END OF APRIL. *AK *NM
Apr 20, 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.

NHTSA defect investigations

UNINTENDED REAR WHEEL LOCKUPClosedLed to recall 03V309000
SUMMARY: ON AUGUST 22, 2003 YAMAHA NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WAS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR2001 XV1600 ?ROAD STAR? MODEL MOTORCYCLES TO ADDRESS TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THOSE VEHICLES.ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD FAIL DUE TO EXCESSIVE BUSHING WEAR ON THE 4TH PINION GEAR.BASED ON ITS ANALYSIS OF FAILED TRANSMISSIONS FROM THE FIELD, THE COMPANY FOUND ?UNEVEN CONTACT BETWEEN THE ENGAGEMENT DOGS ON THE 2ND/3RD PINION GEAR.WHEN IN 4TH GEAR, THESE UNEVEN SURFACES CAUSED UNEVEN BUSHING WEAR IN THE 4TH GEAR BUSHING.THIS WEAR WOULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE 4TH GEAR RETAINING CIRCLIP TO FAIL, LEADING TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE.?THIS COULD RESULT IN BOTH TRANSMISSION AND REAR WHEEL LOCKUP AND YAMAHA CONCLUDED A SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE CONDUCTED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.YAMAHA IS LIMITING THE RECALL?S SCOPE TO THOSE MOTORCYCLES BUILT BETWEEN NOVEMBER 30, 2000 AND JANUARY 24, 2001…
PE03038 · opened Aug 11, 2003 · closed Nov 6, 2003