64 of the
172 complaints filed about the Yamaha FJR1300
are about the electrical system —
37% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2007.
About a month ago I purchased a 2005 Yamaha fjr1300. After purchasing I was out riding when the bike suddenly stalled. Upon reengaging the clutch, the back tire kicked out very hard and caused me to wreck the bike. I sent the bike to Guntersville Power Sports to have the bike fixed. Upon examination by their techs, it was discovered that the bike had a faulty tps sensor, in which not only could be and was the cause of the accident but also was a recall. Yamahas tech said that the tps sensor was faulty and in corridiance of the recall and would fix and replace the tps sensor. But would not fix the damages. The bike wouldn't have received said damages had the bike not had a faulty tps sensor. Therefore making yamaha responsible
NHTSA complaint #11691995 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was riding the motorcycle during daylight hours, and I noticed some glitchy electrical behavior. The turn signal indicators were dimly lit, turn signals themselves were inoperative, horn inoperative, windshield vertical adjustment inoperative, etc. The important part was that both headlights were inoperative, which would be a huge problem if I was riding during nighttime hours. The engine continued to operate normally and I rode the bike home. The symptoms indicated a failed grounding connector. I removed the left side fairing and located a ground connector under the glove box/storage compartment that had scorch/burn marks on it. I cleaned the connector and applied conductive grease to prevent future corrosion. Problem solved…all electrical components worked normally. There was a previous NHTSA campaign for 2006-2009 FJR1300 models, 11V-338, that addressed a failed grounding connector. This bike is a 2012 model which was not addressed by the earlier campaign, and my failed grounding connector was a different one than was addressed by the campaign. I’ll attach a photo of my failed connector as well as a schematic of the ground connectors. The schematic is not an official Yamaha drawing, but from a group of FJR owners that have been working to solve the grounding problems. The original campaign addressed only the “S4” connector located under the fuel tank near the coolant thermostat on the forward left-hand side of the engine valve cover. My failed component was the “S6” connector located under the glove box/storage compartment. I located all 8 ground connectors on my bike, cleaned them and applied conductive grease to each one to hopefully avoid any future electrical problems. Yamaha needs to come up with a fix for the “S6” connector. If a rider is out riding at night and that connector fails, and the headlights suddenly go out…it could be very difficult to keep the bike on the road and avoid a crash.
NHTSA complaint #11494971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2008 YAMAHA FJR13AXB. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number:11V338000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact did experience a failure. Parts distribution disconnect. The failure mileage was 32,000
NHTSA complaint #11460529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The motorcycle headlights, ignition, and other electrical items work intermittently. Lights will go off with no warning while operating the bike. Ignition switch also fails with no warning. The issues appear to mirror a safety recall issued for this same bike, years 2006-2009 FJR1300 Factory Modification Campaign - Ground Wire Junction. The bulletin was issued on 7/8/2011 M2011-003R. It was classified as an issue that required immediate attention to ensure consumer safety. Loss of headlights during night operation and or the bike could shutoff while in operation. I've contacted Yamaha corporate and they will not cover this issue because my bike is a 2011 and it was not considered part of M2011-003R. I believe the recall may need to be expanded to cover additional year bikes that experience the same safety issues that were part of the original recall.
NHTSA complaint #11417806 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
A GROUNDING BLOCK IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM OVERHEATED AND FAILED. THE LOSS OF GROUND CAUSED SEVERAL ELECTRICAL ANAMOLIES, THE MOST SERIOUS BEING THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. FORTUNATELY, THIS FAILURE HAPPENED DURING THE DAY AT THE BEGINNING OF MY RIDE; IT WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS IF THE HEADLIGHTS HAD FAILED AT NIGHT. YAMAHA HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR EARLIER MODEL YEARS FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE, BUT MY FAILURE WAS A DIFFERENT GROUNDING BLOCK, IN THE NOSE FAIRING, NOT UNDER THE TANK. I CONNECTED THE WIRES FROM THE GROUNDING BLOCK TOGETHER AND EVERYTHING WORKS NORMALLY AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #11342830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IGNITION SWITCH IS INTERMITTENT. SOMETIMES AFTER TURNING SWITCH TO OFF POSITION THEN BACK TO THE ON POSITION, MOTORCYCLE WILL NOT START AND GAGE HAVE NO POWER. SOMETIME I MAY HAVE TO TURN KEY ON AND OFF FIFTY OR MORE TIMES AND SOMETIMES THAT DOESN'T WORK. MOTORCYCLE HAS LESS THAN 17,000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT. I'VE READ MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVING SAME THE SAME PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #11208378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DROVE BIKE FOR TEN MILE , SPEEDOMETER AND THE TACHOMETER WHERE JUMPING UP AND DOWN, DROVE HOME AND WOULD NOT RESTART FOR 1.5 HOURS. BIKE STALLED TURNING RIGHT CORNER AT A CITY INTERSECTION CAUSING REAR TIRE TO SLIDE. 1 BLOCK FROM HOME. OTHER TIMES THE BIKE WOULD NOT RESTART AFTER WARMED UP, STARTER WOULD WORK BUT COULD NOT HERE FUEL PUMP WORKING. ANOTHER TIME STALLED AT STOP SIGN AND PUSHED HOME. BIKE WOULD RESTART AFTER COOL DOWN FROM 10 MINUTES TO A HOUR. EVERY TIME BIKE WOULD NOT START IT WOULD HAVE ER-1 CODE ON DASH. YAMAHA MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #11204940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 YAMAHA FJR1300. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED. WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FAILED SOLDER CONNECTING WIRE FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000. UPDATED 01/06/2017*CT UPDATED 01/23/17.
NHTSA complaint #10913647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 YAMAHA FJR1300A. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT DETERMINED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY A FAILED SOLDER CONNECTING WIRE FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,500. UPDATED 01/06/2017
NHTSA complaint #10913638 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FAILURE ON REPAIR OF NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 11V338000 RECALL DATE: JUNE 28,2011 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: 990061 FAILURE DESCRIPTION: ON MONDAY 8/22/2016 , I STARTED EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I WAS STRANDED AND COULD NOT START BIKE. HAVING READ ON 'FJRFORUM.COM ' ABOUT "GROUND WIRE JUNCTION CONNECTION" OR 'GROUND BUSS CONNECTORS' ISSUES AND THE SYMPTOMS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM, I SUSPECTED THAT I HAVE A 'GROUND BUSS CONNECTORS' ISSUE. MY BIKE HAD THE RECALL DONE IN 2011. SYMPTOMS: INTERMITTENT A) IGNITION IN ON POSITION, NOT ATTEMPTING TO START BIKE. 1) BRAKE ACTIVATED (EITHER HAND OR FOOT) -> BRAKE LIGHTS WORK NORMALLY AND NO ABNORMAL ACTIVITY 2) RAISE/LOWER WINDSCREEN -> RESULTS IN VERY SLOW OR NO MOVEMENT AND THE BRIGHT LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATES. 3) HIT HORN -> NO HORN SOUNDS BUT BOTH TURN SIGNALS LIGHT AND THE BRIGHT LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATES. 3) TURN ON EITHER TURN SIGNAL -> THE TURN SIGNAL WILL FLASH AND THE BRIGHT LIGHT INDICATOR ILLUMINATES B) IGNITION IN ON POSITION AND ATTEMPT TO START BIKE: 1) INTERMITTENTLY WILL START, BUT IF NOT NOTHING EXCEPT TO ILLUMINATE THE BRIGHT LIGHT INDICATOR. 3) IF IT DOES START, LIGHTS MAY GO OUT! RANDOM TURN SIGNAL BEHAVIOR! INVESTIGATION: I INSPECTED ALL "GROUND JOINTS"(AKA SPIDERS) . I COMPLETED MY INSPECTION ON FRIDAY, AUG. 26. PRIMARY FINDING IS THAT THE CONNECTOR THAT MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER 990061 WAS SUPPOSE TO FIX HAS A PIN THAT IS INTERMITTENTLY SHORTING RESULTING IN SCORCH/BURN MARKS ON THE FEMALE CONNECTOR. I CAN ONLY SPECULATE THAT WHEN THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED THAT IT WAS EITHER NOT DONE CORRECTLY OR THAT THE CONNECTOR ALREADY HAD DAMAGE THAT WAS EITHER UNDETECTED OR IGNORED. AT ANY RATE, IT'S A FAILURE OF A SAFETY RECALL ! I HAVE ATTACHED PHOTOS OF THE RECALL FAILURE. I WANT YAMAHA TO INSPECT AND IF NEED BE REPLACE WIRING HARNESS PER MANUF. RECALL NO. 9900062
NHTSA complaint #10899765 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
I STOPPED DURING A MOTORCYCLE RIDE TO TAKE A PICTURE AND TURNED THE IGNITION KEY ON MY MOTORCYCLE TO THE OFF POSITION. WHEN I TURNED THE KEY BACK TO ON NO POWER WAS AVAILABLE. REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO USE THE KEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. I KNEW THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON SUBSEQUENT YEARS OF THE SAME MODEL MOTORCYCLE FOR THIS PROBLEM. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED WHEN I WAS IN MOTION THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY STOPPED AND ALL ELECTRICAL POWER TO THE MOTORCYCLE SYSTEMS WOULD HAVE BEEN LOST AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10747864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HIGH BEAM INDICATOR CAME ON, TURN SIGNALS FAILED TO OPERATE, BIKE WOULD NOT RESTART AFTER STOPPING. THIS WAS ALL CAUSED BY GROUND SPIDER 6 BURNING AND FAILING.
NHTSA complaint #10725381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WENT TO START THE BIKE AND NOTHING HAPPEN. EVERYTHING WAS IN GOOD STANDING. I THINK THE GROUND HARNESS IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY OR NOT DESIGN PROPERLY.
NHTSA complaint #10662571 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
YAMAHA FOR 2013 REDESIGNED THE FRONT PLASTIC COWLING IN A MANNER THAT PROHIBITS THE USER OF THE MOTORCYCLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THE BATTERY OR FUSES. THIS IS A SAFETY AND MANUFACTURING DEFECT. YAMAHA HAS RELEASED A "TECH EXCHANGE" TO DEALERS REQUIRING THE OWNER TO PAY FOR A NEW PLASTIC COWLING AND LABOR. THE TECH EXCHANGE NUMBER IS "M2013-13 10/25/13". I FEEL THAT YAMAHA SHOULD PAY FOR THIS DEFECT UNDER WARRANTY. I CALLED AND THEY SAID NO. IT COST ME $188.10 AT MY LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE THIS PLASTIC REPLACED. YAMAHA CUSTOMER RELATIONS NUMBER IS 800/962-7926 , OPTION 0. THIS IS MY SECOND FJR1300 MOTORCYCLE PURCHASED FROM THEM, THAT DID NOT SEEM TO MATTER.
NHTSA complaint #10586952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS PULLING UP TO A STOP LIGHT AND LOST ALL POWER. DIAGNOSIS SHOWED A FAILED IGNITION SWITCH. ONLINE INVESTIGATION INDICATES YAMAHA WAS FORCED BY THE NHTSA TO RECALL 2006-09 FJR 1300 MODELS FOR THIS SWITCH FAILURE, AND THERE ARE A HUGE NUMBER OF 2001-05 OWNERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME FAILURE. THIS COULD, AND PROBABLY HAS, LED TO INJURY OR DEATH IF FAILURE OCCURS AT A HIGHER SPEED. I WAS 500 MILES AWAY FROM HOME AT THE TIME, AND INCURRED COST EXCEEDING $500 TO GET HOME WITH THE MOTORCYCLE.
NHTSA complaint #10514103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MOTORCYCLE ABRUPTLY SHUT OFF, AFTER DIAGNOSING FOR AN HOUR DETERMINED THAT IT IS WAS THE ELECTRIC IGNITION / SWITCH. EVIDENTLY 2006 MODELS AND UP HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND YAHAMA ISSUED A RECALL, FURTHER RESEARCH SHOW PREVIOUS MODELS HAVE AND ARE BEING AFFECTED AS WELL.
NHTSA complaint #10512750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TOOK OFF RAMP OFF OF HIGHWAY AND SLOWED DOWN TO STOP AT STOP LIGHT AND MOTORCYCLE DIED. NO LIGHTS, GAUGES, OR ANY TYPE OFF ELECTRICAL POWER ON THE BIKE AT ALL. COULD NOT USE FLASHERS DUE TO POWER FAILURE. PUSHED BIKE TO SIDE OF ROAD AND WITH HELP PUSHED BIKE TO GAS STATION 1/8TH MILE DOWN THE ROAD ON A BUSY HIGH WAY. AFTER DIAGNOSING ISSUE FOUND THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. WAS ABLE TO BYPASS IGNITION SWITCH TO GET BACK HOME. GLAD IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON THE EXPRESSWAY.
NHTSA complaint #10459025 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BIKE HAS HAD THE FACTORY RECALL THAT CONNECTS A MORE DIRECT PATH OF BATTERY GROUND TO THE S 4 BUSS. HOWEVER, THIS ONLY HELPED WITH LOAD ON THE COMPONENTS OF THE S4 CONNECTOR. MY LIGHTS WENT OUT BECAUSE THE DOWN STREAM FROM THE S4 CONNECTOR, THE S6 (HAD BURNED CONTACTS) WHICH THE FEED THE S7 CONNECTOR FOR THE LH HEAD LIGHT AND THE S8 CONNECTOR FOR THE RH HEADLIGHT. THE COMBINATION OF CURRENT FROM BOTH LIGHTS THRU ONE PIN AT THE S6 CONNECTOR CAUSE THE CONNECTOR TO BUILD UP HEAT DAMAGE AND KILL THE GROUND PATH FOR BOTH HEADLIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10454813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE ON A STRAIGHT & LEVEL ROAD, DRY, DAYTIME, CRUISING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH (WITH MY WIFE ON BACK), BIKE SUDDENLY AND COMPLETELY QUIT, INCLUDING ALL INSTRUMENTATION AND BLINKERS. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER (PULLED CLUTCH IN AND COASTED OUT OF LANE) WITH TRAFFIC RIGHT ON MY BACK, AS NO FLASHERS OR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE FUNCTIONING. THANK GOD IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON THE FREEWAY. ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I FOUND ALL FUSES GOOD AND AFTER AN HOUR OF ROADSIDE DIAGNOSIS, GOT A TOW TRUCK. BIKE COULD NOT BE JUMPED EITHER - BATTERY WAS GOOD, BUT 100% ELECTRICAL FAILURE. TOWED IT HOME. I SPENT AN HOUR OR SO PERFORMING ELECTRICAL DIAGNOSIS WITH WIRING DIAGRAM - FOUND THAT WHEN IGNITION SWITCH WAS BYPASSED, EVERYTHING WORKED FINE! REALIZED THAT LARGE GAUGE WIRING GOES TO IGNITION SWITCH (PRACTICALLY ALL ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS) WHICH DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A GOOD IDEA WITHOUT A RELAY. IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED AS FAILURE CAUSING THIS SAFETY CONCERN. AN INVESTIGATION ON THE INTERNET REVEALED 2006-NEWER FJR1300'S HAVE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL FOR SAME/SIMILAR FAILURE AND SAME SAFETY CONCERN (COMPLETE FAILURE AT SOME RANDOM MOMENT.) I CONTACTED YAMAHA CORP. CUST. RELATIONS WHO STATED THAT MY BIKE IS NOT UNDER RECALL AND THEY HAVE NOT HAD SIGNIFICANT REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE. I MADE A FORMAL REPORT WITH YAMAHA. I HAVE ORDERED PARTS, WHICH ARE NOW ON BACK-ORDER. (IS THERE A PROBLEM YAMAHA) - THIS SWITCH (ON DISCOUNT) IS NEARLY $200, PLUS SEVERAL HOURS OF MY TIME, AS THE TAMPER-PROOF (THEFT-RESISTANT) BOLTS MAKE THIS A REAL BEAR TO REPLACE. YAMAHA CORP. COULD NOT TELL ME IF THE NEW REPLACEMENT SWITCH THAT I HAVE ORDERED IS THE SAME SUB-PAR SWITCH THAT HAS FAILED IN MY MOTORCYCLE OR IS THE PART HAS BEEN UPDATED. I WANT USDOT TO KNOW ABOUT THIS FAILURE IN CASE THERE ARE MORE LIKE MINE! MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN WHICH FREAKED OUT MY WIFE. THANK YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10453160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.