Yamaha Road Star Problems by Year
Yamaha Road Star years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Road Star year: 2001, 2002, 2003. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2003 Road Star: 105 complaints, 1 recall
- 2002 Road Star: 87 complaints, 1 recall
- 2001 Road Star: 57 complaints, 2 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2008 Road Star: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2009 Road Star: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2005 Road Star: 2 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Yamaha Road Star problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 246 | 8 | 5 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 27 | 4 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 12 | 7 | 0 |
| Structure | 10 | 5 | 1 |
| Suspension | 8 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Wheels | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Yamaha Road Star problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2003: power train (100)
- 2002: power train (82)
All Yamaha Road Star model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 Road Star | 1 | 0 | — | Structure | |
| 2008 Road Star | 1 | 0 | — | Power Train | |
| 2007 Road Star | 7 | 0 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | |
| 2006 Road Star | 3 | 0 | — | Fuel/propulsion System | |
| 2005 Road Star | 2 | 0 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 2004 Road Star | 21 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 2003 Road Star | 105 | 1 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2002 Road Star | 87 | 1 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2001 Road Star | 57 | 2 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2000 Road Star | 18 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 1999 Road Star | 15 | 1 | — | Structure | About as many complaints as other years |
More from Yamaha: all Yamaha models · VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Yamaha Road Star years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2001 (57), 2002 (87), 2003 (105) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Road Star year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Yamaha Road Star?
Power Train, with 246 complaints across 8 model years.
How many recalls does the Yamaha Road Star have?
2 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.