Owners have filed 19 complaints
about the 2000 Yamaha Road Star with NHTSA between 2001 and 2015.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 5 of 6 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 Road Star. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 54
10.5% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 100
80% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
How 2000 compares with every other Yamaha Road Star
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 2000 Yamaha Road Star
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Engine & Cooling
842.1%
Median failure at 24,457 miles
Transmission & Drivetrain
736.8%
1 crashes, 0 fires · median 15,000 mi
Body & Structure
210.5%
Tires
15.3%
Fuel & Propulsion
15.3%
Median failure at 6,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
1,000 – 9,999 miles
330.0%
10,000 – 24,999 miles
330.0%
25,000 – 49,999 miles
220.0%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
220.0%
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.
Mar 2001peak 5Jul 2015
NHTSA investigations into the 2000 Yamaha Road Star
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
PE03038Opened 11 Aug 2003Closed 6 Nov 2003POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
UNINTENDED REAR WHEEL LOCKUP
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...
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Rocky Point, NYCrash11 injured
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
VERY CONCERNED OVER THE LARGE NUMBER OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES SEEN IN YAMAHA ROAD STAR MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 3/00 AND 8/01. THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN TRACKED INDEPENDENTLY BY ROAD STAR OWNERS ON THE DELPHI ROAD STAR RIDERS INTERNET FORUM FOR THE PAST YEAR OR SO. I OWN A 2000 ROAD STAR THAT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 3/00, AND RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE REGULARLY AND FOR LONG DISTANCES AND EXTENDED TRIPS. SUCH A FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO INJURY OR DEATH, AS THE REAR WHEEL LOCKS-UP UPON TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10025800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 28,654 milesMissoula, MT
ENGINE
DRIVING 75MPH ON HIGHWAY, LOSS OF POWER, LOUD BANG! REAR TIRE LOCKED UP FOR A SECOND. ALMOST CAUSED ME TO CRASH. ENGINE WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE PUSHED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND TRAILERED HOME. TOOK ENGINE APART TO FIND OIL PUMP GEAR BROKEN. VERY COMMON ISSUE BUT NO RECALL FROM YAMAHA! IF YOU HAVE A 99-2002 ROAD STAR YOU ARE AFFECTED! THANKS FOR NOTHIN YAMAHA!
NHTSA complaint #10736151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 6,790 milesWhitefield, NH
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 YAMAHA ROAD STAR. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED THE REAR TIRE TO LOCK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS THE OIL PUMP GEAR. AS OF SEPTEMBER 5, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,972 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 6,972. THE CONSUMER STATED THE PART THAT FAILED WAS UPDATED IN 2002.UPDATED 10/24/07.
NHTSA complaint #10201892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 35,000 milesTacoma, WA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
THE YAMAHA ROADSTAR HAVE A CHRONIC PROBLEM OF STICKING VALVES. YAMAHA HAS TOLD THE CUSTOMERS THAT IT WAS OVERFILLING THE OIL. TO DATE THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS RIDERS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO HAVE THEIR MOTORCYCLES FIXED BY YAMAHA, WHO CLAIMED THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM. HOWEVER AS STATED THERE WERE NUMEROUS RIDERS WHO WERE REPORTING THIS PROBLEM AND MORE CAME UP EVERY DAY. THIS PROBLEM COULD LEAD TO A FATALITY. THE STICKING VALVES COULD LEAD TO ENGINE SHUTDOWN OR FAILURE. HAVING THIS HAPPEN ON A ROAD COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF LIFE, INJURY TO PROPERTY , ETC. WE WOULD HAVE HOPED THAT YAMAHA WOULD HAVE STEPPED FORWARD BUT, ALAS THEY HAVE NOT AND YOUR DEPARTMENT WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN GETTING THE TRANSMISSION RECALL DONE TO PREVENT LOSS OF LIFE AND PROPERTY. WE THE RIDERS OF YAMAHA ROADSTAR HOPED THAT YOU WILL HELP ENCOURAGE YAMAHA ONCE AGAIN TO FIX A POTENTLY LOSS OF LIFE PROBLEM WITH THE VALVE PROBLEMS THAT WE WERE ENCOUNTERING.
NHTSA complaint #10191480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 86,029 milesJohnston, IA
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 YAMAHA ROAD STAR. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE TO REPLACE THE GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION BEFORE IT LOCKED THE REAR WHEELS. THE DEALER REPLACED IT; HOWEVER, WHEN HE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE THERE WAS OIL UNDER THE ENGINE/MOTOR FRAME AND ON THE TIRES. OIL ON THE TIRES CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE A COLLISION. THE DEALER WIPED THE OIL OFF OF THE ENGINE AND TIRES AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RELATED FAILURE. THE CONTACT CHECKED FOR OIL IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ENGINE AND TIRES THE FOLLOWING DAY AND FOUND THAT IT WAS PRESENT. THERE WAS NO OIL PRESENT PRIOR TO HAVING THE REPAIR PERFORMED. THEY DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86029 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86052.
NHTSA complaint #10191388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 86,029 milesJohnston, IA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 YAMAHA ROAD STAR. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE TO REPLACE THE GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION BEFORE IT LOCKED THE REAR WHEELS. THE DEALER REPLACED IT; HOWEVER, WHEN HE PICKED UP THE VEHICLE THERE WAS OIL UNDER THE ENGINE/MOTOR FRAME AND ON THE TIRES. OIL ON THE TIRES CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE A COLLISION. THE DEALER WIPED THE OIL OFF OF THE ENGINE AND TIRES AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RELATED FAILURE. THE CONTACT CHECKED FOR OIL IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ENGINE AND TIRES THE FOLLOWING DAY AND FOUND THAT IT WAS PRESENT. THERE WAS NO OIL PRESENT PRIOR TO HAVING THE REPAIR PERFORMED. THEY DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86029 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86052.
NHTSA complaint #10191388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 16,000 milesBessemer, AL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DRASTIC POWER FAILURE WHILE CROSSING TRAFFIC . ALSO, POWER FAILURE WHILE MERGING ONTO INTERSTATE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WAS DUE TO STICKING VALVES, LOSS OF REAR CYLENDER COMPRESSION.
NHTSA complaint #10190609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 6,000 milesNorthville, MI
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
DT: MOTORCYCLE HAS 7,000 MILES ON IT, AND IT HAS A RUSTY HOLE ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK. DEALER SAID HE SHOULD HAVE IT REPLACED. CONSUMER CALLED YAMAHA, AND THEY REFUSED TO DEAL WITH HIM. THEY WANTED THE DEALER TO COMPENSATE HIM FOR REPAIRS. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT MOTORCYCLE IS ALWAYS IN THE GARAGE AND IS IN BEAUTIFUL CONDITION OTHER THEN WHAT IS GOING ON.
NHTSA complaint #10123720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 2,000 milesPittsburgh, PA
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
INTERMITENT OCCURENCES OF TRANSMISSION PROBLEM OCCURING WHEN SHIFTING INTO SECOND GEAR,EVEN UNDER ACCELERATION THE GEAR WILL SLIP INTO NEUTREL.
NHTSA complaint #10036774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Rocky Point, NYCrash11 injured
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
VERY CONCERNED OVER THE LARGE NUMBER OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES SEEN IN YAMAHA ROAD STAR MOTORCYCLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 3/00 AND 8/01. THIS INFORMATION HAS BEEN TRACKED INDEPENDENTLY BY ROAD STAR OWNERS ON THE DELPHI ROAD STAR RIDERS INTERNET FORUM FOR THE PAST YEAR OR SO. I OWN A 2000 ROAD STAR THAT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 3/00, AND RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE REGULARLY AND FOR LONG DISTANCES AND EXTENDED TRIPS. SUCH A FAILURE COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO INJURY OR DEATH, AS THE REAR WHEEL LOCKS-UP UPON TRANSMISSION FAILURE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #10025800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Frederick, MD
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE SHIFTING IN GEAR THERE IS A LOUD NOISE AND HESITATION INSIDE OF THE GEAR BOX.
NHTSA complaint #10026808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Marmora, NJ
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
I AM CONCERNED FOR MY OWN AND MY FAMILY MEMBERS SAFETY DUE TO REPORTED TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON YAMAHA ROAD STAR MOTORCYCLES. THESE FAILURES HAVE TAKEN PLACE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH NO ADVANCE WARNINGS. THE TRANSMISSION "LOCKS UP" THEREBY LOCKING THE REAR WHEEL.
NHTSA complaint #10025655 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 15,000 milesScottsdale, AZ
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
YAMAHA ROADSTAR MOTORCYCLE 2000, BUILT BEFORE MARCH OF 2000. SPRING INSIDE TRANSMISSION BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF SHIFT CAPABILITY. BREAK OCCURRED WHILE STOPPED AT A LIGHT, SO SPRING PARTS DID NOT INTERFERE WITH FORWARD MOVEMENT THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN CAUSED IF PIECE OF SPRING HAD LODGED BETWEEN GEAR TEETH. SPRING REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY, HOWEVER OCCASIONAL HARD SHIFTS OCCUR.
NHTSA complaint #10025663 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CA
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
VERY HARD TO SHIFT .
NHTSA complaint #10025672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mays Landing, NJ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
MY MOTORCYCLE, 2000 YAMAHA ROADSTAR, VIN. NO. [XXX], HAS NOT BEEN OPERATED IN MORE THAN A YEAR. I BROUGHT IT IN FOR ALL SERVICE TO PUT IT BACK ON ROAD, INCLUDING SERVICE UNDER RECALL 01V094000. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT MUFFLER BRACKET ONLY NEEDS TO BE INSPECTED. RECALL NOTICE STATES THAT REPLACEMENT IS REQUIRED. MANUFACTURER'S CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE CONTINUALLY RINGS BUSY 800.962.7962. CAN SOMEONE PLEASE GIVE ME AN ANSWER AS TO WHAT, IF ANYTHING, NEEDS TO BE DONE? *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10023693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 20,260 milesGlendale, AZ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL PUMP DRIVE GEAR FAILURE LED TO 3 COLLAPSED LIFTERS AND SUBSIQUENT ENGINE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10016853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hauppauge, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAVE HEARD OF 9 OTHER OIL PUMP FAILURES ON THE ROAD STAR.
NHTSA complaint #765199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
BEL AIR, MD
STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
REAR FENDER CRACKS ON THIS MODEL BEHIND THE FENDER SUPPORT. IF THIS CONDITION GOES UNNOTICED BY THE DRIVER THE FENDER MAY BUCKLE AND FALL TO CONTACT THE REAR TIRE CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE. CONTACT HAS BEEN MADE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY DENY THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM IN SPITE OF AN ESTIMATED 30% OF ALL OWNERS COMPLAINING OF EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #760736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Belleview, FL
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
CONSUMER NOTICED A CRACK IN THE REAR FENDER, THE DEALER ORDERED A NEW FENDER WHICH WAS SUPPOSED TO ARRIVE IN ONE WEEK BUT IT HAS BEEN 5 WEEKS AND THE FENDER HAS NOT ARRIVED YET. NLM
NHTSA complaint #559997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Midland, TX
TIRES
FRONT TIRE WAS PLACED ON MOTOR CYCLE BACKWARDS. ARROW INDICATED DIRECTION TIRE SHOULD BE. TIRE HAD A KNOT IN IT. STEERING WOULD SHAKE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #884212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.