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FaultScore report

2004 Yamaha Road Star problems

Owners have filed 23 complaints about the 2004 Yamaha Road Star with NHTSA between 2004 and 2020. The largest single group is the engine & cooling. Across this model's run it ranks 3 of 6 worst.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Yamaha Road Star All 2004 cars
D

FaultScore 61/100

Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Yamaha Road Star.

How this is worked out

The numbers

23

Complaints

2

Crashes reported

1

Fires reported

1

Injuries reported

1 complaint reports a death.

8,000 mi

Median mileage at failure

Half of reported failures happened before this

100%

Failed under 36,000 miles

Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty

What kind of bad

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.

Complaint volume 22 vs 50 Severity 100 vs 50 Early failure 100 vs 50
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 22
Against the median year of the Yamaha Road Star. 50 means typical for this model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 100
21.7% 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%.

How 2004 compares with every other Yamaha Road Star

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 2004 Yamaha Road Star

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Engine & Cooling 15 65.2%

1 crashes, 1 fires · median 11,500 mi

Transmission & Drivetrain 4 17.4%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 5,500 mi

Wheels 1 4.3%

Median failure at 30,000 miles

Fuel & Propulsion 1 4.3%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 1 4.3%

Median failure at 5 miles

Body & Structure 1 4.3%

When it fails

Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.

Under 1,000 miles 4 23.5%
1,000 – 9,999 miles 5 29.4%
10,000 – 24,999 miles 5 29.4%
25,000 – 49,999 miles 3 17.6%

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 2004 peak 5 Apr 2020

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

at 8,000 miles Bluffton, OH Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

FOR OVER A YEAR 2004 YAMAHA ROADSTAR MOTORCYCLE HAD THE VALVES STICKING WHILE RIDING IT , CAUSING IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER. IT HAD 8000 MILES ON IT . THIS HAPPENED AT 4500 MILES. I DID WHAT YAMAHA ADVISED TO DO TO AVOID THE SITUATION, IT DIDN'T HELP. THEY KEPT GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND. THEY KNEW IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE HAD TWO CARBURETOR FIRES AFTER IT LOST POWER, AND I HAD TO HIT THE THROTTLE HARD TO GET THROUGH AN INTERSECTION.

NHTSA complaint #10190624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jackson, KY Crash 1 injured

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

2004 YAMAHA ROADSTAR MIDNIGHT SILVERADO 1700 HAD A DEFECTIVE OIL PUMP SHAFT.*MR THE OIL PUMP SHAFT WHICH HOOKS TO THE TRANSMISSION BROKE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. YAMAHA HAS SENT TWO GOODWILL GESTURES TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10117658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Starkville, MS Crash 1 killed

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

XV-175S ROAD STAR YAMAHA MOTORCYCLE - 2004. BIKE RAN INTO A CEMENT HIGHWAY BARRIER WHEN RIDER WAS ON WAY HOME FROM DRIVING BIKE OFF SHOWROOM FLOOR. WITNESSES SAID IT SEEMED AS IF HE COULDN'T TURN THE HANDLE BARS OR APPLY THE BRAKES.

NHTSA complaint #10067550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 46 miles Pollock, LA

POWER TRAIN

THE TRANSMISSION DID THE SAME THING THAT THE TRANSMISSION ON THE 2003 DID. WITH ONLY 46000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION STARTED HAVING TROUBLE. O WAS ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK WHEN THE TRANSMISSION, STARTED ACTING LIKE IT HAD COME APART AND. GEARS WERE TRYING TO MESH. I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE BIKE AND CALLED MY WIFE TO BRING THE TRAIJER AND COME GET ME AND MY BIKE.

NHTSA complaint #11322548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Ellenwood, GA

ENGINE

REAR CYLINDER EXHAUST VALVES STICKING.

NHTSA complaint #10499332 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Richmond, WI

STRUCTURE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 BIG BEAR VENOM CHOPPER MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT LEFT THE VEHICLE WITH THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 08V129000 (STRUCTURE) ON FEBRUARY 1, 2010. THE CONTACT STATED THE DEALER WOULD NOT RELEASE THE VEHICLE UNTIL HE WAS REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURE IN THE VEHICLE. THE APPROXIMATE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA complaint #10336811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5 miles Stockton, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 YAMAHA ROADSTAR MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE ENGAGED THE THROTTLE, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED WHEN IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER NEVER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, INSTEAD THEY JUST INFORMED HIM THAT HE WAS RIDING IT INCORRECTLY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 06V371000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000. UPDATED 11/05/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/15/10 *LJ UPDATED 12/27/10

NHTSA complaint #10325989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5 miles Stockton, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 YAMAHA ROADSTAR MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN HE ENGAGED THE THROTTLE, THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED WHEN IT CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER NEVER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, INSTEAD THEY JUST INFORMED HIM THAT HE WAS RIDING IT INCORRECTLY. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 06V371000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 66,000. UPDATED 11/05/10. *LJ UPDATED 12/15/10 *LJ UPDATED 12/27/10

NHTSA complaint #10325989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 29,000 miles Franklin, KY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I HAVE A 2004 YAMAHA ROAD STAR AND THE REAR VALVE IS STICKING AND WILL SUDDENLY DROP POWERAND RUN ON ONE CYLINDER. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR A WHILE AND IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT YAMAHA KNOWS ABOUT.

NHTSA complaint #10193038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,550 miles Grand Island, NE

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I WAS MERGING ONTO INTERSTATE 80 GETTING UP TO SPEED AND IT STARTED TO SPIT/SPUTTER AND LOST POWER. ALMOST, REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER CAR AT 60 MPH. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO THIS POINT TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10191328 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 8,000 miles Bluffton, OH Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

FOR OVER A YEAR 2004 YAMAHA ROADSTAR MOTORCYCLE HAD THE VALVES STICKING WHILE RIDING IT , CAUSING IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER. IT HAD 8000 MILES ON IT . THIS HAPPENED AT 4500 MILES. I DID WHAT YAMAHA ADVISED TO DO TO AVOID THE SITUATION, IT DIDN'T HELP. THEY KEPT GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND. THEY KNEW IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE HAD TWO CARBURETOR FIRES AFTER IT LOST POWER, AND I HAD TO HIT THE THROTTLE HARD TO GET THROUGH AN INTERSECTION.

NHTSA complaint #10190624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Jamestown, KY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

2004 ROAD STAR VALVES STICK ON REAR CYLINDER CAUSING A LOSS OF POWER.

NHTSA complaint #10167290 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 24,000 miles Fountain Valley, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I HAVE A 2004 YAMAHA ROADSTAR. AT ABOUT 24,000 MILES IT DEVELOPED STICKING VALVES IN THE REAR CYLINDER HEAD. TALKED WITH DEALER ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF IT. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED SITUATION SO I REFUSED TO LET THEM EVEN MESS WITH IT. TOOK IT APART MYSELF. REAMED THE GUIDES AND LAPPED THE VALVES, PUT IN STRONGER SPRINGS AND PUT IT BACK TOGETHER. RUNS GREAT NOW. YAMAHA NEEDS TO BE TOLD TO DO A RECALL ON THE 2004, 2005 ROADSTAR TO SIMPLY REPLACE THE HEADS. THEY KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND HAVE FIXED IT ON THE 2006 MODEL.

NHTSA complaint #10166837 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,500 miles Centre, AL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

MOTORCYCLE LOOSES POWER AT ODD TIMES DUE TO REAR CYLINDER NOT FIRING. PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY STICKING EXHAUST VALVE. USUALLY OCCURS DURING THE FIRST 5 OR SO MILES AND WILL CLEAR UP AND RUN FINE FOR THE REST OF THE TRIP. I'VE BEEN LUCKY AND IT HAS NEVER OCCURRED WHEN PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, BUT THIS IS A POSSIBILITY.

NHTSA complaint #10166292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 17,000 miles Beaufort, NC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE VALVES STICK OPEN ON MY 2004 YAMAHA MOTORCYCLE. THEY STUCK OPEN IN THE MIDDLE OF A LEFT TURN IN A THREE-WAY INTERSECTION AND ALMOST RESULTED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION. MY DEALER IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS CHOSE TO IGNORE IT.

NHTSA complaint #10166230 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Samson, AL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I OWN A 2004 YAMAHA ROADSTAR, 1700CC MOTORCYCLE. I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR EXHAUST VALVES STICKING FOR THE LAST 20,000 MILES. I HAVE BEEN TO DEALER AFTER DEALER AND HAVE HAD NO SUCCESS IN HAVING MY PROBLEM FIXED. I BELIEVE THERE IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY RISK WITH THIS PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE BIKE WILL SUDDENLY LOSE ALL POWER AND QUIT RUNNING. IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE SOMEONE HAS THIS HAPPEN AND IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR EVEN KILLED.

NHTSA complaint #10166280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,000 miles Farmington, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

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

NHTSA complaint #10166028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Frederica, DE

POWER TRAIN

DT: THERE IS A HUB ON THE BACK WHEEL, AND THE AXLE IS SUPPOSED TO BE TORQUED 110 LBS, BUT COULD NOT TORQUE IT DOWN BECAUSE OF THE WHEEL BINDING. THE HUB OF IS OFF CENTER OF THE WHEEL ,IT IS NOT LINED UP CORRECTLY. THE CENTER OF THE WHEEL WAS NOT CUT CORRECTLY WHEN IT WAS MANUFACTURERD. HAD DAMAGE IN THE SWING ARM, AND THIS IS WHEN IT WAS NOTICED IT, THIS WAS ON AUGUST 19, 2005. TOOK THE DAMAGED PARTS TO THE DEALER THEY DID PAID FOR HALF OF THE PARTS. THE CONSUMER IS STILL WAITING FOR THE WHEEL. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10137953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 30,000 miles Frederica, DE

WHEELS

DT: THERE IS A HUB ON THE BACK WHEEL, AND THE AXLE IS SUPPOSED TO BE TORQUED 110 LBS, BUT COULD NOT TORQUE IT DOWN BECAUSE OF THE WHEEL BINDING. THE HUB OF IS OFF CENTER OF THE WHEEL ,IT IS NOT LINED UP CORRECTLY. THE CENTER OF THE WHEEL WAS NOT CUT CORRECTLY WHEN IT WAS MANUFACTURERD. HAD DAMAGE IN THE SWING ARM, AND THIS IS WHEN IT WAS NOTICED IT, THIS WAS ON AUGUST 19, 2005. TOOK THE DAMAGED PARTS TO THE DEALER THEY DID PAID FOR HALF OF THE PARTS. THE CONSUMER IS STILL WAITING FOR THE WHEEL. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10137953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jackson, KY Crash 1 injured

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

2004 YAMAHA ROADSTAR MIDNIGHT SILVERADO 1700 HAD A DEFECTIVE OIL PUMP SHAFT.*MR THE OIL PUMP SHAFT WHICH HOOKS TO THE TRANSMISSION BROKE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. YAMAHA HAS SENT TWO GOODWILL GESTURES TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY.

NHTSA complaint #10117658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jackson, KY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE OIL PUMP SHAFT OF THE CONSUMER'S 2004 YAMAHA ROAD STAR FAILED. *NM

NHTSA complaint #10113815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 2,980 miles Apopka, FL

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

WHEN RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE AND PULLING OFF FROM A STAND STILL MOTORCYCLE BACKFIRED AND THEN STALLS OUT. OWNER STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE HAD BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR 22 DAYS, BUT THE DEFECT STILL HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT DID NOT GET ANY ASSISTANCE FROM THEM EITHER.

NHTSA complaint #10113792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 550 miles Iron Ridge, WI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE STALLS WHILE WARMING UP, RUNNING ON ONLY ONE CYLINDER.

NHTSA complaint #10096525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Marion, OH

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

MOTORCYCLE WAS LEAKING GAS FROM THE CARBURETOR. MOTORCYCLE WAS INSPECTED ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS AT THREE DEALERSHIP. A YAMAHA REPRESENTATIVE CAME FROM CALIFORNIA TO INSPECT THE MOTORCYCLE ABOUT MONTH AGO, AND HE NEVER NOTIFIED THE CONSUMER WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE MOTORCYCLE.

NHTSA complaint #10094422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Starkville, MS Crash 1 killed

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

XV-175S ROAD STAR YAMAHA MOTORCYCLE - 2004. BIKE RAN INTO A CEMENT HIGHWAY BARRIER WHEN RIDER WAS ON WAY HOME FROM DRIVING BIKE OFF SHOWROOM FLOOR. WITNESSES SAID IT SEEMED AS IF HE COULDN'T TURN THE HANDLE BARS OR APPLY THE BRAKES.

NHTSA complaint #10067550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,500 miles Cincinnati, OH

POWER TRAIN

HAVE MOTORCYCLE THAT HAS BEEN ON RECALL FOR 3 MONTHS AND CAN NOT GET IT FIXED. YAMAHA HAS NOT SENT RECALL KITS TO MY DEALER AND MY MOTORCYCLE IS SITTING IN MY GARAGE WITH THE TRANSMISSON LOCKED UP AND I CAN NOT GET ANY RESULTS FROM YAMAHA.

NHTSA complaint #10060877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.