RoadVitals

2014 Yamaha Bolt

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
82
Latest Apr 30, 2021
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Jul 8, 2013
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 82 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2014 Yamaha Bolt, most frequently naming the electrical, driver assistance and exterior lighting categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical5656.6%
  • Driver assistance2323.2%
  • Exterior lighting77.1%
  • Visibility66.1%
  • Steering33.0%
  • Body & structure22.0%
  • Suspension11.0%
  • Other / unspecified11.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
13V298000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Jul 8, 2013
3,900 units potentially affected
The defect: Yamaha Motor Company (Yamaha) is recalling certain model year 2014 XVS950CU (Bolt) motorcycles manufactured March 2013 through June 2013. Slack or sag in the wiring harness may allow it to contact the exhaust manifold causing the wires to melt, and possibly short circuit.
The risk: If the wires short circuit, the fuses will blow which may cause the engine to stall. An engine stall while riding, increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Yamaha will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness and secure it away from the exhaust. If the wiring harness is damaged, it will first be replaced. The recall began on August 2, 2013. Owners may contact Yamaha at 1-800-962-7926.
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USAView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 82
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Apr 30, 2021

VEHICLE METER IS DANGEROUSLY DIM. NOT VISIBLE DURING DAYLIGHT DUE TO GLARE. ONLY 2014 YAMAHA BOLT MODELS ENCOUNTER THIS ISSUE. THE SPEED CAN NOT BE DETERMINED WHILE RIDING NOR ANY OTHER INFORMATION DISPLAYED ON THE METER.

NHTSA ID
11414546
Incident
Mar 16, 2021
Mileage
4,500 mi
Steering
Filed Oct 23, 2020

DEATH WOBBLE- STEERING INSTABILITY AT 35-45 MPH. THIS COULD BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURER BY USING TAPERED STEERING BEARINGS

NHTSA ID
11365921
Incident
Oct 1, 2018
Mileage
6,500 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Sep 7, 2018

SPEEDOMETER CAN'T BE SEEN WHEN TRAVELING INTO THE SUN OR ANY TIME THE SUN IS AT THE WRONG ANGLE THAT IT CREATES A NON READABLE DISPLAY, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE ALMOST ANY TIME THE SUN IS OUT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD NOT BEING ABLE TO READ YOUR SPEED AS WELL AS POSSIBLY CAUSING SPEEDING TICKETS. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE MANUFACTURE WITH A RECALL. SERIOUSLY ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
11128017
Incident
Jul 4, 2018
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 20, 2017

SPEEDOMETER CAN'T BE SEEN WHEN TRAVELING INTO THE SUN OR ANY TIME THE SUN IS AT THE WRONG ANGLE THAT IT CREATES A NON READABLE DISPLAY, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE ALMOST ANY TIME THE SUN IS OUT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD NOT BEING ABLE TO READ YOUR SPEED AS WELL AS POSSIBLY CAUSING SPEEDING TICKETS.

NHTSA ID
10967154
Incident
Mar 19, 2017
Steering
Filed Jan 27, 2017

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

NHTSA ID
10947988
Incident
Jan 15, 2017
Mileage
1,950 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 2, 2017

DURING THE DAY OR WHEN THE SUN IS BRIGHT I CAN NOT SEE THE SPEEDOMETER READING. ITS DIGITAL AND THERE ISN'T MUCH CONTRAST SO I CANT SEE HOW FAST I AM GOING. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. THIS CAN CAUSE ME TO CHECK MY SPEED FOR LONGER PERIODS OF TIME AND CAN CAUSE A SPEEDING VIOLATION OR ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENS WHEN IN MOTION OR STATIONARY, ITS TOO DIM.

NHTSA ID
10939106
Incident
Dec 31, 2016
Mileage
4,700 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jan 1, 2017

BIKE SPEEDOMETER HAS AN ISSUE WHERE THE SPEED DISPLAY IS WAY TOO DIM TO SEE IN SUNLIGHT. IN THE RIGHT SUNLIGHT POSITION, IT IS COMPLETELY BLACK AND IMPOSSIBLE TO READ WITHOUT LITERALLY PUTTING YOUR HEAD INCHES FROM IT AND LOOKING AT IT FAR TOO LONG TO TRY TO MAKE ANYTHING OUT. THIS IS DANGEROUS WHILE IN MOTION FOR OBVIOUS REASONS. THIS HAPPENS ON EVERY RIDE FOR ME AT MULTIPLE POINTS DEPENDING ON WHERE THE SUN IS. EVEN WHEN I CAN SEE THE NUMBERS, IT'S STILL TOO DIM FOR JUST A QUICK GLANCE. THERE MUST BE SOME BADLY ENGINEERED POLARIZED LENS IN THERE. THIS IS POOR DESIGN AND A SAFETY HAZARD JUST TO GET A "BLACKED OUT" LOOK. BY 2015 YAMAHA KNOWS THIS WHICH IS WHY IT'S FIXED FROM 2015 MODELS ON. SOME GUYS ARE EVEN BUYING 2015 SPEEDOMETERS TO INSTALL ON THE 2014 BIKE TO FIX THIS. A SPEEDING TICKET IS THE LEAST OF MY WORRIES, THIS IS MY LIFE AND A GAMBLE EVERY TIME I RIDE.

NHTSA ID
10938974
Incident
Aug 20, 2016
Mileage
3,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 17, 2016

WHILE DRIVING MY 2014 YAMAHA BOLT R SPEC, THE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT ILLUMINATE AT NIGHT AND IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO READ DURING SUNNY DAYLIGHT HOURS. THIS CAUSES THE DRIVER TO TAKE HIS OR HER EYES OFF OF THE ROAD FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME IN ATTEMPT TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER TO REMAIN AT THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. THIS INCREASES THE CHANCES OF A MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT WHICH COULD LEAD TO SERIOUS BODILY INJURY OR DEATH. THE NEWER MODEL BOLT (2015-PRESENT) HAS FIXED THIS ISSUE HOWEVER YAMAHA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL OR REACHED OUT TO THE 2014 BOLT OWNERS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPLACE THE POOR MANUFACTURED SPEEDOMETER.

NHTSA ID
10896490
Incident
Aug 15, 2016

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TE-M-2015-006

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

YAMAHA MC: INFORMATION ON DISCONTINUATION OF SUSPENSION OIL RT-43 USED FOR CERTAIN MODELS AND REPLACED BY AN ULTRA HIGH PERFORMANCE M1 SUSPENSION OIL. NO MODEL OR YEARS LISTED. *PE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Yamaha Bolt by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2015400—
2014Viewing821035.3

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.