RoadVitals

2014 Yamaha Bolt Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints 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.
23
Latest Sep 7, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
28%
of 82 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2014 Yamaha Bolt submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 23 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

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
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
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 23, 2015

IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT, I CAN NOT SEE THE SPEEDOMETER. IT IS A BLACK CIRCLE. DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER WHETHER THE SUN IS IN FRONT OR BEHIND ME. THIS IS A HAZARD AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. THIS WILL CAUSE ME TO GET A SPEEDING TICKET OR, WORSE, GET INTO A CRASH BECAUSE I CAN NOT JUDGE MY SPEED.

NHTSA ID
10811998
Incident
Dec 23, 2015
Mileage
350 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 3, 2015

THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT VISABLE AT ALL WHILE RIDING INTO THE SUN

NHTSA ID
10779533
Incident
Oct 1, 2015
Mileage
4 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 10, 2015

THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH TO PROVIDE CURRENT SPEED IN DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS AND CREATES AN INABILITY TO KNOW YOUR CURRENT SPEED.

NHTSA ID
10747456
Incident
Aug 10, 2015
Mileage
950 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 30, 2015

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY MOTORCYCLE I NOTICED THAT WHEN IT IS BRIGHT OUTSIDE I CAN NOT READ MY SPEEDOMETER. THERE IS A BIG BLACK CIRCLE WITH NO WAY FOR ME TO SEE HOW FAST I AM GOING. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO LEAN FORWARD, CHANGE BODY POSITIONS AND COVER THE SPEEDOMETER WITH MY HAND TO SEE IT AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE EVEN FROM A FEW INCHES AWAY FROM IT. THIS POSES A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. TO MY KNOWLEDGE ALL VEHICLES ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A WORKING SPEEDOMETER AND THIS MOTORCYCLE'S SPEEDOMETER ONLY WORKS PART OF THE TIME. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE RIDING IN THE HILLS WHEN IT'S A BRIGHT DAY AS THERE ARE NUMEROUS CURVES THAT REQUIRE YOU TO SLOW DOWN FROM 45 OR 50 MPH TO LESS THAN 30 MPH TO SAFELY NAVIGATE THE CURVES. IT IS EXTREMELY EASY TO MISJUDGE YOUR SPEED FOR THESE CURVES BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE THE SPEEDOMETER. I HAVE CAME CLOSE TO CRASHING A COUPLE TIMES AND OTHER TIMES I ABOUT GOT RAN OVER BECAUSE I SLOWED DOWN TO MUCH. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.

NHTSA ID
10731364
Incident
Jun 19, 2014
Mileage
57 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 27, 2015

THE SPEEDOMETER SCREEN IS UNREADABLE AND IS A HAZARD.

NHTSA ID
10730752
Incident
Jun 26, 2015
Mileage
400 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jun 25, 2015

WHILE RIDING THE YAMAHA BOLT DURING THE DAYTIME IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER DUE TO GLARE. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS DUE TO THE GLASS OVER THE LCD ITSELF, BUT UNLESS I TAKE MY EYES OFF OF THE ROAD AND COVER THE GLASS WITH MY HAND I CANNOT GET AN ACCURATE VIEW OF MY SPEED. THIS LEAVES ME VULNERABLE TO ACCIDENTS, SPEEDING TICKETS AND MANY OTHER SITUATIONS THAT ARE DUE TO THIS DISTRACTION. I HOPE YAMAHA WILL ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.

NHTSA ID
10730328
Incident
Jun 25, 2014
Mileage
2 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jun 23, 2015

THE SPEEDOMETER IS UNREADABLE IN MOST DAYLIGHT SITUATIONS. THE GLASS PLATE OVER THE DIGITAL READOUT IS TOO DARK AND REFLECTIVE. ALL ONE CAN SEE DURING MOST DAY RIDING IS GLARE OR A BLACK PANE. IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL WHAT SPEED THE MOTORCYCLE IS GOING SINCE THE SPEEDOMETER IS UNREADABLE. ONE CANNOT JUDGE IF THEY HAVE SLOWED TO REQUIRED SPEEDS IN MARKED "REDUCED SPEED" AREAS SUCH AS CONSTRUCTION AND DANGEROUS CURVES. ONE CANNOT KNOW IF THEY ARE ENTERING TRAFFIC AT A SAFE SPEED OR EXCEEDING THE SPEED LIMITS POSTED. TURN SIGNAL FLASHER IS NOT VISIBLE IN DAYLIGHT, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE DRIVE TO KNOW IF HIS TURN SIGNAL IS ON OR OFF. WARNING LIGHTS ARE NOT VISIBLE IN DAYLIGHT, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE DRIVER TO RESPOND TO ANY POTENTIAL MECHANICAL EMERGENCY SHOWN BY LIGHTS.

NHTSA ID
10726955
Incident
Oct 10, 2013
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 20, 2015

DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF THE DAY THE POSITION OF THE SUN THE SPEEDOMETER BECOMES UNREADABLE. WHICH HAS CAUSED ME TO DRIVE OVER THE SPEED LIMIT WHICH HAS ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS. ALSO I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH NOT TO HAVE GOTTEN ARRESTED BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, BUT OFTEN I HAVE FOUND MYSELF SPEEDING EXCESSIVELY WHEN I COULDN'T SEE MY SPEEDOMETER DUE TO SUNLIGHT. I ONLY REALIZED MY SPEED WHEN THE SUNLIGHT WAS BLOCKED. MOVING MY HEAD AND SHIFTING MY STANCE DOES NOT HELP THE SITUATION ONE BIT. THE PRODUCT IS DEFECTIVE AND YAMAHA KEEPS PUTTING IT OUT. CONSUMERS ARE BUYING THE PRODUCT BECAUSE THEY ARE NON THE WISER. PLEASE HELP STOP THE PRODUCTION OF THIS SPEEDOMETER BEFORE THERE IS REAL INJURY.

NHTSA ID
10726367
Incident
Jun 1, 2015
Mileage
2,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 11, 2015

2014 YAMAHA BOLT R-SPEC (XV950R). THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER VISIBILITY IS EXTREMELY POOR DURING THE DAYTIME IN ALMOST ALL BUT PERFECT CONDITIONS AND MAKES DETERMINING SPEED A MAJOR ISSUE. AT NIGHT IT IS VISIBLE DUE TO IT'S BACK LIGHT AND REALLY IS THE ONLY TIME IT CAN BE SEEN AT ALL ANGLES ALL THE TIME.

NHTSA ID
10724661
Incident
Jun 11, 2015
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Apr 30, 2015

LCD SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER IS NOT VISIBLE (DARK) WHEN DRIVING TOWARD THE SUN. UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE SPEED AND OTHER LCD READINGS. THIS CAUSES A DISTRACTION WHEN TRYING TO READ THE METER. THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER IS ONLY VISIBLE WHEN SUN IS BEHIND THE RIDER OR AT NIGHT. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT YAMAHA CHANGED THE SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER ON THE 2015 MODEL MAKING IT MORE VISIBLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10713950
Incident
Mar 19, 2014
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Dec 2, 2014

THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER ON THIS MOTORCYCLE IS UNREADABLE UNDER CERTAIN LIGHTING CONDITIONS. ANGLED SUNLIGHT (MORNING, EVENING WHEN LIGHT IS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE) CREATES A CONDITION WHERE THE SPEEDOMETER READOUT IS UNREADABLE. THE ONLY METHOD OF MEASURING SPEED IS BY SURROUNDING TRAFFIC. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR MOTORCYCLE DRIVERS, ESPECIALLY ON EXPRESSWAYS AND URBAN ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT CHANGES BY LOCATION. *JS

NHTSA ID
10661604
Incident
Oct 10, 2014
Mileage
6 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 28, 2014

COULD NOT SEE SPEEDO, SUN LIGHT GLARE ON SPEEDO LENS, UNABLE TO SEE HOW FAST I AM GOING.. NOT SO MUCH A SAFETY ISSUE BUT COME IN HANDY WHEN FOLLOWING STATE LAWS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10639629
Incident
Sep 5, 2014
Mileage
650 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jul 27, 2014

SMOKE COLORED SPEEDOMETER LENS TOO DARK IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT, ESPECIALLY WHEN WEARING POLARIZED SUNGLASSES. THIS CREATES A HAZARD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO GAUGE SPEED DURING CITY OR HIGHWAY RIDING. *JS

NHTSA ID
10616690
Incident
Jul 13, 2013
Mileage
4 mi
Driver assistanceVisibility
Filed Apr 17, 2014

THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER ON THIS MOTORCYCLE IS UNREADABLE UNDER CERTAIN LIGHTING CONDITIONS. ANGLED SUNLIGHT (MORNING, EVENING WHEN LIGHT IS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE) CREATES A CONDITION WHERE THE SPEEDOMETER READOUT IS UNREADABLE. THE ONLY METHOD OF MEASURING SPEED IS BY SURROUNDING TRAFFIC. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR MOTORCYCLE DRIVERS, ESPECIALLY ON EXPRESSWAYS AND URBAN ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT CHANGES BY LOCATION. *TT

NHTSA ID
10583418
Incident
Apr 17, 2014
Mileage
2,878 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 16, 2014

UNABLE TO VIEW SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY IN CERTAIN DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS. *TT

NHTSA ID
10583076
Incident
Mar 17, 2014
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 16, 2014

DURING BRIGHT LIGHT CONDITIONS, THE DIGITAL DISPLAY SPEEDOMETER BECOMES UNREADABLE. THIS PROBLEM CREATES BOTH A SAFETY RISK AND POSSIBLE LEGAL ISSUES FOR THE OPERATOR AS A RESULT. *TT

NHTSA ID
10583072
Incident
Apr 16, 2014
Mileage
1 mi
Driver assistanceVisibility
Filed Apr 16, 2014

SPEEDOMETER TURNING BLACK IN THE SUN. *TT

NHTSA ID
10583020
Incident
Apr 16, 2014
Mileage
1 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 15, 2014

THE SPEEDOMETER IS DARN NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO READ IN CERTAIN DAYLIGHT DRIVING SITUATIONS. THIS CAN BE A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE OF NOT KNOWING YOUR SPEED AND SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME LOOKING DOWN AND NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO THE ROADWAY. *TT

NHTSA ID
10582892
Incident
Apr 1, 2014
Mileage
1 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Aug 8, 2013

I LOVE THE MACHINE, HOWEVER, AT NIGHT, YOU CANNOT SEE THE SPEEDOMETER. IT DOESN'T LIGHT UP, AND THE NUMBERS ARE HARD TO SEE. WHICH COULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN NOT KNOWING HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING, ESPECIALLY ON A MOTORCYCLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10534402
Incident
Aug 8, 2013
Mileage
601 mi

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.

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Data on this page last refreshed .