FaultScore

Yamaha Road Star transmission problems

248 of the 326 complaints filed about the Yamaha Road Star are about the transmission — 76% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2003.

248

Complaints

76%

Share of all complaints

5

Crashes

0

Fires

Transmission & Drivetrain complaints by model year

Median failure at 20,692 miles

Median failure at 15,000 miles

2001 Road Star 49 19.8%

Median failure at 8,100 miles

2002 Road Star 82 33.1%

Median failure at 6,200 miles

2003 Road Star 100 40.3%

Median failure at 4,000 miles

Median failure at 5,500 miles

Median failure at 53,000 miles

Median failure at 30,000 miles

What owners said

2004 Yamaha Road Star 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.

2007 Yamaha Road Star at 53,000 miles Warren, OH

POWER TRAIN

TAKATA RECALL 3RD GEAR FAILURE MAKES LOUD NOISE. HAPPENED ON A CITY STREET.

NHTSA complaint #10885384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Yamaha Road Star at 30,000 miles Livermore, CA

POWER TRAIN

WHILE DRIVING IN THIRD GEAR BETWEEN 25-40 MPH IT MAKES A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE AND THE MOTORCYCLE SPEED IS AFFECTED BY THE MOVEMENT IN THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE RESEARCHED AND FOUND EARLIER YEAR 2006, 2007 BIKES WITH THE SAME MOTOR/TRANS COMBINATIONS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES. YAMAHA LISTS AN UPDATED THIRD GEAR IN THEIR PARTS LIST. NORMAL DRIVING, THIRD GEAR STARTED TO MAKE NOISE WHILE RIDING DOWN COUNTY ROAD 5 IN ISANTI MINNESOTA TRAVELING AT 30 MPH. YAMAHA HAS ALREADY DESIGNED AN ALTERNATE PART FOR THIS DEFECTIVE ONE. HERE IS YAMAHA'S REPLACEMENT PART LISTED ON THEIR DEALER WEBSITE - GEAR, 3RD PINION 99999-03864-00 (REPLACES 1D7-17131-01-00). THERE COULD BE ACCIDENTAL DEATH OR INJURY IF THE TRANSMISSION WERE TO FAIL DUE TO A DEFECTIVE THIRD GEAR.

NHTSA complaint #10504821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Yamaha Road Star at 67,000 miles Arlington, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 YAMAHA ROAD STAR. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE REAR WHEEL LOCKED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE NOTICED THAT PINS THAT CONNECT THE FOURTH AND THE FIFTH GEAR HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,000.

NHTSA complaint #10292952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Yamaha Road Star at 19,342 miles Ridgefield, WA

POWER TRAIN

FREEWAY DRIVING AT 50 MPH, I HEARD A POP AND MY SPEEDOMETER QUIT. HEARD GRINDING IN THE DRIVE TRAIN. I PULLED OVER TO A STOP. UPON ROLLING MY BIKE ONTO A TRAILER THE REAR END LOCKED UP. THE MIDDLE GEAR SHAFT SNAPPED OFF AT REAR END WITH THE RETAINING NUT FLOATING LOOSE WITH THE FRONT U-JOINT IN THE HOUSING. AT LEAST 20 REPORTS OF THE SAME DEFECT CAN BE FOUND HTTP://FORUMS.DELPHIFORUMS.COM/YAMAHA1100/MESSAGES?MSG=42934.1 YAMAHA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOME GETS KILLED.

NHTSA complaint #10279421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Yamaha Road Star at 5,000 miles Tallahassee, FL

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.

NHTSA complaint #10265496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Yamaha Road Star Baltimore, MD

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

1999 YAMAHA 1600 ROADSTAR RECALL FOR TRANSMISSION. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE BIKE WAS RETURNED TO HIM AFTER HAVING THE RECALL WORK DONE ON THE TRANSMISSION, IT WAS LOCKING UP IN 2ND GEAR. WHEN THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER, HE WAS TOLD TO COME BACK AT A LATER TIME. THE CONSUMER DID NOT RETURN TO THE DEALER UNTIL THE SPRING AND WAS TOLD TOO MUCH TIME HAD ELAPSED FROM THE ORIGINAL WORK DATE AND THERE WERE TOO MANY MILES ON THE MOTORCYCLE. RECALL 06V397000.

NHTSA complaint #10244790 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Yamaha Road Star at 21,000 miles Arlingtyon, TN

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

I LEARNED OF THE YAMAHA 1999 ROADSTAR RECALL AND TOOK MY BIKE IN TO A YAMAHA DEALER TO BE FIXED. MY BIKE HAD BEEN RUNNING GREAT WITH NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER. THE DEALER HAS HAD THE BIKE NOW FOR 8 WEEKS. THEY GOT THE BIKE BACK TOGETHER A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND IT FIRED UP. I WENT TO RIDE IT HOME AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD COUGH AND BLOW BLACK SMOKE, BUT TO KEEP ON RIDING IT. IT DIED OUT ON ME AFTER ABOUT 20 MILES AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER HAS GIVEN US THE RUN AROUND THE ENTIRE TIME THEY HAVE HAD THE BIKE. NOW, IT WILL NOT RUN AT ALL AND THEY ARE SUGGESTING THAT I SPEND OVER 1000.00 JUST IN PARTS TO REPLACE PARTS THAT WERE NOT BAD IN THE FIRST PLACE. THEY DID SOMETHING WRONG TO IT DURING THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE RECALLED PARTS AND NOW THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKES. THEY DISTURBED THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND SHORTED OUT MODULE AND POSSIBLY THE COMPUTER. THEY ARE BLAMING ME FOR THE YEAR OF THE BIKE BEING 9 YEARS OLD. WELL, THE BIKE ONLY HAS 20,000 MILES ON IT AND IT HAS NEVER HAD A PROBLEM NEVER. MY HUSBAND CALLED THE YAMAHA CUSTOMER SERVICE TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THEM AS WELL. YAMAHA TOLD US THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM THAT IT WAS BETWEEN US AND THE DEALER. WHAT CAN WE DO TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM? I NOW HAVE A BIKE THAT IS NOT IN RUNNING CONDITION AT ALL AND THE DEALER CANNOT FIX THE BIKE. PLEASE HELP US.

NHTSA complaint #10231299 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Yamaha Road Star at 86,029 miles Johnston, 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.

2003 Yamaha Road Star Price, UT

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

WHILE RIDING M Y 2003 YAMAHA ROADSTAR I HAD PROBLEMS GETTING IT TO SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR. I CHECKED THE INTERNET FOR ANY RECALLS ON THE BIKE. WHEN I FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECALL I TOOK THE BIKE TO MY LOCAL DEALER, THE RAN THE VIN# AND SAID THAT IT HAD ALREADY BEEN DONE. THE RECALL STATES THAT AFTER THE MODIFICATIONS ARE COMPLETE STAMP A "*" ABOVE THE A ON THE VIN#. MY BIKE DOES NOT HAVE THE STAMP, THE DEALER SAID THAT DON'T MATTER BECAUSE HE KNOWS IT WAS DONE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE RIDING THE BIKE SINCE THE RECALL STATES DO NOT RIDE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH WILL RESULT. IF THE BIKE SHIFTED PROPERLY I WOULD FEEL MORE CONFIDENT THAT THE WORK WAS COMPLETED.

NHTSA complaint #10183407 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Yamaha Road Star Scottsdale, AZ

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICED AND I CONTACTED ALL THE AUTHORIZED DEALERS IN TOWN AND AFTER 4 WEEKS I AM STILL WAITING FOR PARTS AND SERVICE. IS THERE ANYWAY YOU CAN SPEED UP THIS PROCESS AND GET MY MODIFICATION COMPLETED SO I CAN ENJOY 80 DEGREE WEATHER ON MY YAMAHA ROADSTAR?!!

NHTSA complaint #10174150 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Yamaha Road Star at 20,385 miles Azle, TX

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #06V397000, REGARDING THE POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE SERVICE DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL WORK. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BIKE IS BEING FIXED. UPDATED 12/05/06.

NHTSA complaint #10172967 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Yamaha Road Star 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.

2002 Yamaha Road Star at 6,000 miles Cocoa, FL

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL LETTER THE DEALER WAS CALLED AND THE CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT. THE DEALER STATED THEY WOULD CALL THE CONSUMER BACK, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED A CALL BACK. THEY CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY STATED MAYBE ANOTHER THIRTY DAYS. TRANSMISSION RECALL 03V309000.

NHTSA complaint #10096728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Yamaha Road Star Schenectady, NY

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.

NHTSA complaint #10094938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Yamaha Road Star Mammoth Lakes, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING THE REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. SERVICE MANAGER MONICA.

NHTSA complaint #10091863 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Yamaha Road Star Unknown, DC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

2003 YAMAHA ROADSTER WAS RECALLED FOR POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER FOR SIX WEEKS FOR RECALL REPAIR, BUT DEALER WEREN'T ABLE TO DO SO BECAUSE RECALL KIT HASN'T BEEN PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER. (NAR) *LA

NHTSA complaint #10059746 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Yamaha Road Star Santa Rose, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

REQUESTED HELP TO GET YAHAMA TO EXPEDITE THE RECALL PROCESS ON THE YAMAHA ROADSTAR. (NAR) *PH

NHTSA complaint #10057999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Yamaha Road Star Unknown, DC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEALER WOULD HAVE THE PARTS FOR 2003 YAMAHA ROADSTAR RECALL N 7 TO 10 DAYS BUT WAS LATER INFORMED IT WOULD BE ANOTHER MONTH BEFORE THEY RECEIVED PARTS TO CORRECT THE LOCKING TRANSMISSION. (NAR) *PH

NHTSA complaint #10057992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Yamaha Road Star Unknown, DC

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER FOR 2003 YAMAHA ROADSTAR WHICH INDICATED REPAIRS WOULD TAKE 2 DAYS. AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALERSHIP, HE WAS INFORMED THE PARTS WOULDN'T BE AVAILABLE TO THEM UNTIL THE END OF FEB. OR EARLY MARCH. (NAR) *PH

NHTSA complaint #10057997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Yamaha Road Star problems