Owners have filed 12 complaints
about the 2009 Yamaha FJR1300 with NHTSA between 2009 and 2016.
The largest single group is the electrical system.
Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 4 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 18
Against the median year of the Yamaha FJR1300. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 0
0% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 100
100% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2009 Yamaha FJR1300
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Electrical System
758.3%
Median failure at 10,253 miles
Engine & Cooling
325.0%
Median failure at 18,336 miles
Fuel & Propulsion
18.3%
Median failure at 16,000 miles
Acceleration & Cruise Control
18.3%
Median failure at 18,336 miles
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Nov 2009peak 2Apr 2016
Recalls on the 2009 Yamaha FJR1300
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 2011247901 units in Canada
Electrical
On certain motorcycles, a ground joint connector of the wire harness could overheat, become deformed, and cause an intermittent ground wire connection. If the electrical system is not properly grounded, the ignition system and/or other electrical components could malfunction, which could cause the engine to stall. Engine stalling would result in lost vehicle propulsion which, in conjunction with traffic and road conditions, and the rider's reactions, could increase the risk of a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will install an additional wire sub-lead; however, if the ground joint connector has already been damaged from overheating, the main wire harness will be replaced.
Recall 2009035770 units in Canada
Electrical
On certain motorcycles, the main ignition switch's wire connection could overheat, due to electrical resistance, and become hot enough to melt the solder connecting the wire to the main switch. As a result, the wire could come off the switch, preventing the electrical system from functioning. Should this occur while the motorcycle is being ridden, the engine could stall and be impossible to restart. A loss of propulsion, in conjunction with traffic and road conditions, and the driver's reactions, could increase the risk of a crash causing personal injury or death. Correction: Dealers will replace the ignition switch with an updated version.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 18,500 milesHomewood, AL
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I WAS RIDING AT ABOUT 30MPH ON A HIGHWAY AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED. I HAD TO COAST OVER TO THE SHOULDER TO STOP. THE GAUGES STAYED ON, THE KILL SWITCH WAS IN THE RUN POSITION, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START (STARTER WOULD NOT ENGAGE) UNTIL I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY OFF THEN BACK ON. THEN IT STARTED BACK UP AS USUAL, AND I RODE ON TO WORK. THESE ARE THE SAME SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALLS # 09V-002 AND 11V-338 WHICH WERE PERFORMED ON MY BIKE IN 2011 (MODIFICATION NUMBERS FROM YAMAHA 990051 AND 990061) BUT APPARENTLY THE BIKE IS NOT FIXED AND APPEARS TO BE DANGEROUS TO RIDE SINCE IT LOST ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING AT SPEED. PER THE RECALL INSTRUCTIONS, THE WIRE SUBLEAD WAS REPLACED BUT THE WIRE HARNESS ASSEMBLY WAS NOT REPLACED. PERHAPS THE MAIN WIRE HARNESS IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED?
NHTSA complaint #10853165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 18,500 milesHomewood, AL
ENGINE
I WAS RIDING AT ABOUT 30MPH ON A HIGHWAY AND THE ENGINE SUDDENLY DIED. I HAD TO COAST OVER TO THE SHOULDER TO STOP. THE GAUGES STAYED ON, THE KILL SWITCH WAS IN THE RUN POSITION, BUT THE ENGINE WOULD NOT START (STARTER WOULD NOT ENGAGE) UNTIL I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY OFF THEN BACK ON. THEN IT STARTED BACK UP AS USUAL, AND I RODE ON TO WORK. THESE ARE THE SAME SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALLS # 09V-002 AND 11V-338 WHICH WERE PERFORMED ON MY BIKE IN 2011 (MODIFICATION NUMBERS FROM YAMAHA 990051 AND 990061) BUT APPARENTLY THE BIKE IS NOT FIXED AND APPEARS TO BE DANGEROUS TO RIDE SINCE IT LOST ENGINE POWER WITHOUT WARNING AT SPEED. PER THE RECALL INSTRUCTIONS, THE WIRE SUBLEAD WAS REPLACED BUT THE WIRE HARNESS ASSEMBLY WAS NOT REPLACED. PERHAPS THE MAIN WIRE HARNESS IS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED?
NHTSA complaint #10853165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 18,336 milesTehachapi, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE PROBLEM I AM ABOUT TO DESCRIBE HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NEW. HOWEVER, DUE TO RESEARCH, I AM ONLY NOW ABLE TO REPORT THE PROBLEM. ON HOT DAYS, WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE IS PARKED OUTSIDE, AFTER STARTING, IT STUMBLES AND CUTS OUT DURING ACCELERATION. THE LAST INCIDENT (WHICH I AM NOW REPORTING ON) ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET HIT IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE DIED ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN. A VEHICLE AT THE ADJACENT STOP SIGN ALMOST HIT ME WHEN I STALLED OUT. THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE POINTS TO THE EMISSION CONTROL CHARCOAL CANISTER AS BEING THE PROBLEM. ONCE IT BECOMES SATURATED, IT EFFECTS THE INTAKE, AND THEN CAUSES STUMBLING AND CUTTING OUT. IF THE MOTORCYCLE CAN BE RIDDEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE CANISTER CLEARS AND THE MOTORCYCLE OPERATES IN A NORMAL MANNER. HOWEVER, A DANGEROUS SITUATION EXISTS PRIOR TO ITS CLEARING.
NHTSA complaint #10629166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 18,336 milesTehachapi, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE PROBLEM I AM ABOUT TO DESCRIBE HAS BEEN OCCURRING SINCE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NEW. HOWEVER, DUE TO RESEARCH, I AM ONLY NOW ABLE TO REPORT THE PROBLEM. ON HOT DAYS, WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE IS PARKED OUTSIDE, AFTER STARTING, IT STUMBLES AND CUTS OUT DURING ACCELERATION. THE LAST INCIDENT (WHICH I AM NOW REPORTING ON) ALMOST CAUSED ME TO GET HIT IN A PARKING LOT WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE DIED ACCELERATING FROM A STOP SIGN. A VEHICLE AT THE ADJACENT STOP SIGN ALMOST HIT ME WHEN I STALLED OUT. THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE POINTS TO THE EMISSION CONTROL CHARCOAL CANISTER AS BEING THE PROBLEM. ONCE IT BECOMES SATURATED, IT EFFECTS THE INTAKE, AND THEN CAUSES STUMBLING AND CUTTING OUT. IF THE MOTORCYCLE CAN BE RIDDEN AT HIGHWAY SPEED, THE CANISTER CLEARS AND THE MOTORCYCLE OPERATES IN A NORMAL MANNER. HOWEVER, A DANGEROUS SITUATION EXISTS PRIOR TO ITS CLEARING.
NHTSA complaint #10629166 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 16,000 milesTehachapi, CA
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WHILE REASSEMBLING MY MOTORCYCLE (DUE TO AN UNRELATED REPAIR), THE FUEL TANK BEGAN TO LEAK DUE TO A HOLE WORN INTO THE TANK FROM A HEX BOLT THAT HOLDS ON A PLASTIC REAR SKIRT. IT APPEARS THAT SEVERAL YEARS OF ABRASION, DUE TO THE HEX BOLT MOUNTING HOLE BEING TOO CLOSE TO THE TANK (POSSIBLY DUE TO A MANUFACTURING OR ASSEMBLY DEFECT) CAUSED THE TANK METAL TO BECOME COMPROMISED. WHEN I REASSEMBLED THE MOTORCYCLE THE HEX BOLT WAS ABLE TO PENETRATE THE WALL OF THE WEAKENED METAL, THUS CAUSING THE HOLE. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT THIS LEAK COULD HAVE OCCURRED WHILE RIDING, AND WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP IS WORKING WITH YAMAHA ON THIS MATTER, SO I HAVE YET TO SEE WHERE YAMAHA STAND ON THIS ISSUE. HOWEVER, I AM QUITE CONCERNED THAT OTHERS' THAT OWN THIS MOTORCYCLE MIGHT BE AT RISK. NOTE: MY MILEAGE FIGURE IS AN ESTIMATE.
NHTSA complaint #10495055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 18,000 milesBurien, WA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY CUTS-OUT. CUT-OUT LASTS FOR A SECOND OR LESS AND MAY REPEAT ITSELF SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE OPERATING PROPERLY AGAIN. MAY CUT-OUT SEVERAL TIMES IN 10 MILE DAILY COMMUTE. WHEN ENGINE IS CUTTING-OUT, IT IS A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. VERY UNSAFE SITUATION WHEN TRAVELING ON FREEWAY IN TRAFFIC. IGNITION SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS RECALL WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED.
NHTSA complaint #10440925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 18,000 milesBurien, WA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY CUTS-OUT. CUT-OUT LASTS FOR A SECOND OR LESS AND MAY REPEAT ITSELF SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE OPERATING PROPERLY AGAIN. MAY CUT-OUT SEVERAL TIMES IN 10 MILE DAILY COMMUTE. WHEN ENGINE IS CUTTING-OUT, IT IS A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. VERY UNSAFE SITUATION WHEN TRAVELING ON FREEWAY IN TRAFFIC. IGNITION SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS RECALL WORK HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED.
NHTSA complaint #10440925 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 15,000 milesAuburn Hills, MI
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 YAMAHA FJR13AYB MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 11V338000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING) AND CONTACTED THE DEALER TO SET-UP AN APPOINTMENT FOR REPAIRS. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE WIRE SUB-LEAD THAT WAS NEEDED FOR REPAIR WAS NOT READILY AVAILABLE AND WOULD NEED TO BE ORDERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE PART WAS BEING SHIPPED FROM ANOTHER STATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STILL HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND WHEN CONTACTING THE DEALER, HE RECEIVED NO RESPONSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.
NHTSA complaint #10419226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 10,253 milesAnderson SC, SC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I OWN A 2009 YAMAHA FJR 1300A WITH 10253 MILES WHILE ON A TRIP THE MOTORCYCLE KEPT CUTTING OFF SEVERAL TIMES MOSTLY WHEN YOU WOULD START OFF. MOST OFF THE TIME I COULD START IT RIGHT BACK UP BUT SEVERAL OTHER TIMES I HAD TO CYCLE THE IGNITION SWITCH TO GET IT GOING. BUT WHEN IT DID SHUT OFF ITS WAS WHEN PULLING OFF OR TURNING SO THE BIKE STOP RIGHT IN TRAFFIC PUTTING ME IN A DANGEROUS SPOT. I MADE IT HOME DISASSEMBLE THE BIKE AND FOUND S4 GROUND FRIED. YAMAHA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THIS!!!! I'M TRYING TO GET A HARNESS TO REPAIR BUT THAT IS MORE $$ THAN I HAVE RIGHT NOW SO MY BIKE SITS.
NHTSA complaint #10394070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 1,300 milesTehachapi, CA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2009 YAMAHA FJR1300A IS EXPERIENCING A POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL GROUNDING PROBLEM. THE MOTORCYCLE IS EXPERIENCING RANDOM STALLING, HARD RE-STARTING AND ON A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS, THE GAUGES HAVE MOMENTARILY GONE CRAZY. ON ONE OCCASION (ON THE FREEWAY) THE MOTORCYCLE BRIEFLY CUT OUT. THESE SYMPTOMS MIRROR THE BEGINNINGS OF THE CURRENT S4 SPIDER GROUNDING PROBLEM OTHER FJR RIDERS ARE DEALING EXPERIENCING. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT INVESTIGATE, AS THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. I'VE WRITTEN YAMAHA ABOUT MY CONCERNS, AND HAVE YET TO GET A RESPONSE.
NHTSA complaint #10336786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 5,400 milesMiddletown, NJ
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE TRAVELING ALONG THE CROSS ISLAND PARKWAY MY FJR1300A STALLED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING. BOTH TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WERE ON SOLID, THE HI-BEAMS LIGHT WAS ON, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE NOT SET TO THE "HI" POSITION, THE HORN DID NOT WORK, THE GLOVE BOX WOULD NOT OPEN, AND THE STARTER WOULD NOT ENGAGE. FORTUNATELY I WAS TRAVELING AT A VERY SLOW SPEED IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC JUST BEFORE GETTING ONTO THE THROGS NECK BRIDGE. HAD THIS HAPPENED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, THINGS WOULD HAVE TURNED OUT VERY DIFFERENTLY. BASED ON THE RESEARCH DONE, THIS HAS ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF AN ISSUE ALREADY REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES REGARDING SOME GROUND CONNECTIONS. THE SEVERITY OF THIS ISSUE IS IDENTICAL TO THE IGNITION SWITCH ISSUE THAT A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR, AND THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED ACCORDINGLY BEFORE SOMEBODY DIES AS A RESULT.
NHTSA complaint #10328649 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 4,704 milesSpringboro, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN RETURNING FROM A SHORT RIDE IN MY HOME AREA WHEN I MADE A TURN ONTO A SIDE STREET AND THE AND MY 2009 FJR1300A STOPPED RUNNING. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD (CURBS WITHOUT A BERM OR PARKING AREA) AND ATTEMPTED A RESTART. THE TACHOMETER AND SPEED GAUGES INDEXED AS THEY SHOULD HAVE. THE ABS AND LOW OIL LIGHTS TURNED ON THEN OFF AS THEY SHOULD HAVE. HOWEVER, THE HAZARD INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE ON (CONSTANTLY) AS WELL AS THE HIGH BEAM LIGHT INDICATOR. ALL OTHER ELECTRIC DEVICES WOULD NOT FUNCTION INCLUDING TAIL LIGHTS, STOP LIGHT, HAZARD LIGHTS, TURN LIGHTS, RUNNING LIGHTS, STARTER, FUEL PUMP, HORN AND WIND SCREEN HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A NEAR COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE WITH NO WARNING AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR INDICATION OF IMPENDING FAILURE. THE EVENT OCCURRED DURING THE DAY WITH GOOD VISIBILITY ON A LIGHTLY TRAVELED CITY STREET AT LOW SPEED. VERY LUCKY THAT IT WAS NOT AT NIGHT ON A HEAVILY TRAVELED INTERSTATE IN ONE OF THOSE CONSTRUCTION ZONES WHERE THERE IS NO BERM ON WHICH TO MOVE. WE HAVE THOSE IN THIS AREA AND I DO TRAVEL IN THOSE ZONES FROM TIME TO TIME. THE MANUFACTURER (YAMAHA) IS REPLACING THE WIRING HARNESS AS THE SOLUTION. IT APPEARS AS THOUGH A GROUND WIRE COLLECTOR HAS FAILED IN SOME MANNER - NO DETAILS FROM THE DEALER. PLEASE REFERENCE THE FOLLOWING URL FOR A DISCUSSION OF THIS PROBLEM: HTTP://WWW.FJRFORUM.COM/FORUM//INDEX.PHP?SHOWTOPIC=119017.
NHTSA complaint #10290823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.