Yamaha Road Star Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 246 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Yamaha Road Star across 8 model years. The 2003 model year has the most (100). The words owners use most often: “concerning transmission” (36% of reports).
- 246power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 5mention a crash
- 2mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 29%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Concerning transmission: mentioned in 89 of 246 complaints (36%)
- Consumer contacted: mentioned in 45 of 246 complaints (18%)
- Avenue cypress: mentioned in 27 of 246 complaints (11%)
- Service manager victor: mentioned in 26 of 246 complaints (11%)
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 89 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 246 complaints, 5 mention a crash, 2 an injury.
Yamaha Road Star power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Road Star | 1 | 100% | 30,000 |
| 2007 Road Star | 1 | 14% | 53,000 |
| 2004 Road Star | 4 | 19% | 5,500 |
| 2003 Road Star | 100 | 95% | 4,000 |
| 2002 Road Star | 82 | 94% | 6,200 |
| 2001 Road Star | 47 | 82% | 8,100 |
| 2000 Road Star | 7 | 39% | 15,000 |
| 1999 Road Star | 4 | 27% | 20,693 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Power train:manual transmission
Model years: 1999, 2000, 2001
Problem: On certain motorcycles, certain transmission components may not meet yamaha quality-control standards, which could allow abnormal wear that eventually results in a broken retaining circlip.
Risk: If the circlip breaks, the transmission could lock up, which would also cause the rear wheel to lock up. This could result in loss of control and a crash with injury or death.
Fix: Dealers will replace certain transmission components with new ones free of charge. The recall began on october 30, 2006. Owners may contact yamaha at 1-800-88-yamaha or visit their website at www.yamaha-motor.com.
Power train:manual transmission
Model years: 2001, 2002, 2003
Problem: In the transmission on certain motorcycles, the second/third pinion gear may be incorrectly machined which could cause abnormal wear that eventually results in a broken retainer circlip.
Risk: If the circlip breaks, the transmission could lock up, which would also cause the rear wheel to lock up. This could result in loss of control and a crash, possibly resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Yamaha will replace the transmission gears and shafts with new ones. Owner notification began on september 9, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact yamaha at 1-800-88-yamaha or visit their website at www.yamaha-motor.com.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
Takata recall 3rd gear failure makes loud noise. Happened on a city street.
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…
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…
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Yamaha Road Stars have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 246 owner complaints about power train for the Yamaha Road Star. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Yamaha Road Star power train?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Yamaha Road Star?
The most frequent phrase is “concerning transmission”, in 89 of 246 complaints, followed by “consumer contacted” (45).
See all Yamaha Road Star problems.