FaultScore
See all results →
All makes Worst years, ranked Problems by part Analysis Problems by model year Recalls in Canada Recall lookup Compare two cars How we grade

FaultScore report

2014 Yamaha XVS950 problems

Owners have filed 13 complaints about the 2014 Yamaha XVS950 with NHTSA between 2013 and 2022. The largest single group is the electrical system.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Yamaha XVS950 All 2014 cars
—

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

13

Complaints

0

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

700 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

How 2014 compares with every other Yamaha XVS950

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 2014 Yamaha XVS950

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

Electrical System 5 38.5%

Median failure at 8 miles

Acceleration & Cruise Control 3 23.1%

Median failure at 4,000 miles

Engine & Cooling 2 15.4%

Median failure at 14,000 miles

Other & Unspecified 1 7.7%
Steering 1 7.7%
Transmission & Drivetrain 1 7.7%

Median failure at 15,000 miles

When it fails

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

Under 1,000 miles 5 55.6%
1,000 – 9,999 miles 1 11.1%
10,000 – 24,999 miles 3 33.3%

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.

Oct 2013 peak 2 May 2022

The most recent complaints

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

Wheaton, KS

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Yamaha installed from factory a speedometer that is blatantly unreadable during daytime hours. The speedometer is simply too dim to contrast with the sun and poses a hazard when trying to read your current speed. As this bike is a daily driver for myself, I'm needing to look to the aftermarket to keep myself and others safe. Yamaha knows this is an issue given the 2015 model's new version. All 2014 bolts continue to suffer from this issue.

NHTSA complaint #11464173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wheaton, KS

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Yamaha installed from factory a speedometer that is blatantly unreadable during daytime hours. The speedometer is simply too dim to contrast with the sun and poses a hazard when trying to read your current speed. As this bike is a daily driver for myself, I'm needing to look to the aftermarket to keep myself and others safe. Yamaha knows this is an issue given the 2015 model's new version. All 2014 bolts continue to suffer from this issue.

NHTSA complaint #11464173 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Blairstown, NJ

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 YAMAHA XVS950. WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DESTROYED DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID. *BF*JB CONSUMER STATED TRANSMISSION FAILED SUDDENLY, COMPLETELY.

NHTSA complaint #11243976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Blairstown, NJ

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 YAMAHA XVS950. WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS DESTROYED DUE TO A DESIGN FLAW. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID. *BF*JB CONSUMER STATED TRANSMISSION FAILED SUDDENLY, COMPLETELY.

NHTSA complaint #11243976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stockbridge, GA

STEERING

MY CONCERN IS THE DEATH WOBBLE THE BIKE HAS WHEN AT SPEEDS AROUND 45 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #11122355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 4,000 miles Sierra Vista, AZ

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY 2014 YAMAHA BOLT MOTORCYCLE IS ALMOST INDECIPHERABLE. IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE AT NIGHT AND TOTALLY WASHES OUT DURING THE DAYTIME. THE ENGINEERS COVERED A LOW CONTRAST BLACK AND GRAY DIGITAL DISPLAY WITH A DARK TINT. THIS WAS AN UNNECESSARY ADDITION AND CONTRIBUTES TO CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR RIDERS.

NHTSA complaint #11055424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 13,000 miles Union City, CA

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 YAMAHA XVS950. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD NEAR THE REAR OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE MOTORCYCLE AND FOUND THAT THE DRIVE BELT PULLEY DETERIORATED ON BOTH SIDES OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REPAIRS WERE NOT COVERED. THE CONTACT, A CERTIFIED MECHANIC, NOTICED THAT THE DRIVE AXLE AND DRIVE BELT PULLEY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. UPDATED 01/25/17*LJ CARFAX: VIN PROVIDED HAS NO DISPLAYABLE RECORDS. UPDATED 7/5/18

NHTSA complaint #10919169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, FL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE GLASS COVERING THE SPEEDOMETER IS TINTED AND IS SO DARK THAT READING THE SPEED OR OTHER DATA IS IMPOSSIBLE WHILE RIDING INTO, OR TANGENTIALLY, TO THE SUN.

NHTSA complaint #10837075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1 miles Vancouver, WA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHEN RIDING INTO BRIGHT SUNLIGHT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER OR ODOMETER.

NHTSA complaint #10618042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1 miles Vancouver, WA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

WHEN RIDING INTO BRIGHT SUNLIGHT IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER OR ODOMETER.

NHTSA complaint #10618042 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 700 miles Santee, SC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SPEEDOMETER CANNOT BE READ IN SUNLIGHT, IT IS BLACKED OUT. IT IS DANGEROUS AS SPEED CANNOT BE DETERMINED.

NHTSA complaint #10596801 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 8 miles Redding, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

PURCHASED MOTORCYCLE ON 12.6.13, ON THE DRIVE HOME REALIZED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS UNREADABLE. IT WAS DAYLIGHT, MID-DAY. SUN WAS BRIGHT. I WAS UNABLE TO READ MY SPEED. IT'S A DIGITAL INDICATOR, WITH SMOKED LENS. WHEN RESEARCHING REVIEWS, THE ONLY COMPLAINT REGISTERED WAS THE INABILITY TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER READINGS. THE COMPANY HAS TO BE AWARE OF THIS, AND SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO MAKE THE NECESSARY RECALL ADJUSTMENTS. OTHERWISE, THIS SAFETY ISSUE MIGHT NOT BE CORRECTED.

NHTSA complaint #10555324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 200 miles Morrisville, NC

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL

WHEN DRIVING DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS THE SPEEDOMETER CAN BECOME DIFFICULT, IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. THE ADDED EFFORT NEEDED TO GET A SPEED READING DISTRACTS FROM OPERATING A 2 WHEELED VEHICLE CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NHTSA complaint #10549733 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.