2015 Yamaha Fj-09 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2015 Yamaha Fj-09, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine654.5%
- Powertrain (other)218.2%
- Brakes19.1%
- Electrical19.1%
- Fuel system19.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
CLUTCH BASKET WENT BAD (MANY OF THIS ENGINE MOTORCYCLES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM)
A FULL DESCRIPTION OF THE INCIDENT INCLUDING PICTURES AND WRITE-UP CAN BE FOUND HERE: HTTP://FJ-09.ORG/THREAD/2911/12-STEP-REPLACE-OIL-PAN
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE SITTING IN TRAFFIC AT A STOP LIGHT I FELT A POP IN MY LEFT HAND AND THE CLUTCH GAINED AN EXTRA HALF INCH OF SLACK. THE MOTORCYCLE BEGAN TRYING TO LURCH FORWARD FROM THE NOW SLIPPING CLUTCH. THE CLUTCH CABLE HAD BEGUN TO BREAK. I MANAGED TO WRESTLE THE BIKE OUT OF TRAFFIC TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INJURING MYSELF BUT ALMOST DROPPED THE MOTORCYCLE NUMEROUS TIMES. I WAS ABLE TO LIMP THE MOTORCYCLE HOME AND INVESTIGATE THE ISSUE FURTHER. I HAD READ ONLINE OF MANY OTHERS HAVING SIMILAR ISSUES WITH THE CLUTCH CABLE BREAKING. I ATTEMPTED TO ADJUST THE CABLE BUT IT WOULD NOT COME INTO SPEC. I REALIZED I WOULD NEED A NEW CABLE SO I TOOK A RAZOR BLADE AND DISSECTED THE CLUTCH CABLE. UPON OPENING IT, 90% OF THE CABLE HAD TORN AND THERE WAS ONLY 2 STEEL STRANDS FROM A COMPLETE BREAK. THIS BIKE HAS BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR ONLY 9 MONTHS AND HAS COMPLETED JUST OVER 10,000 MILES. UPON ORDERING A REPLACEMENT CABLE I NOTICED THAT YAMAHA HAS UPDATED THE PART NUMBER FROM 2PP-26335-01-00 TO 2PP-26335-02-00 INDICATING THE REVISION. THE ORIGINAL CABLE HAS A GUIDE TUBE WHICH IS TOO SHORT AND THAT CAUSES THE CABLE TO SLIGHTLY BIND AND RUB CAUSING THE FAILURE. SOME OTHER RIDERS REPORT ISSUES AS EARLY AS 3,000 MILES. OTHERS BRAG THAT THEIR CLUTCH CABLE MADE IT AN ASTONISHING 24,000 MILES BEFORE BREAKING. THE CLUTCH IS THE ONLY THING THAT SEPERATES THE MOTOR FROM THE DRIVE AND IS A CRITICAL PART IN MAINTAINING CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE. IF YOU ARE NO ABLE TO DISENGAGE THE MOTOR FROM THE DRIVE, THE BIKE WILL NOT WANT TO STOP. SHIFTING OUT OF GEAR TO NEUTRAL IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE WITH NO CLUTCH AND THE MOTOR TRYING TO TURN THE DRIVE. I WAS LUCKY THAT MY CLUTCH CABLE GAVE WAY WHILE SITTING STILL. HAD I BEEN DECELERATING FROM HIGHWAY SPEED I DOUBT I WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO STOP IN A NORMAL DISTANCE. YAMAHA SHOULD RECALL THIS PART. COST IS $22 AND LESS THAN AN HOUR TO INSTALL. SAFETY MATTERS
FACTORY SPECIFICATION FOR FINAL DRIVE CHAIN TENSION ON THE FJ-09 IS UNUSUALLY TIGHT AT 5MM - 15MM. I HAVE OWNED MORE THAN 40 MOTORCYCLES AND NONE OF THEM SPECIFIED SUCH A TIGHT TENSION. MOST MFGRS, INCL. EVERY YAMAHA I'VE EVER OWNED, SPECIFY 25MM - 35MM "SLACK" IN THE CHAIN FROM FULL TIGHT AND WHEN MEASURED WITH BIKE ON CENTERSTAND. HAVING TOO LITTLE SLACK CAN RESULT IN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE DRIVE CHAIN AND/OR THE REAR SPROCKET AND/OR THE FRONT SPROCKET. IF ANY OF THESE PARTS CATASTROPHICALLY FAIL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, IT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT, INJURY, AND/OR DEATH. YAMAHA SHOULD REVISE THEIR SPECIFICATION AND OFFER FREE ADJUSTMENT AT THE DEALERSHIP, A 10 MINUTE JOB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
A FULL DESCRIPTION OF THE INCIDENT INCLUDING PICTURES AND WRITE-UP CAN BE FOUND HERE: HTTP://FJ-09.ORG/THREAD/2911/12-STEP-REPLACE-OIL-PAN
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRAVELING AT APPROX 45 MPH VEHICLE SHUT OFF. UPON RESTART SEVERAL MINUTES LATER IT WOULD ONLY IDLE FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE STALLING AGAIN. TOWED TO DEALER, UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. BIKE WAS RETURNED 2 DAYS LATER WITH ASSURANCES IT WAS RUNNING FINE. ON THE RIDE HOME, APPROX 5 MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND WHILE TRAVELING APPROX 60 MPH, IT SHUT OFF AGAIN AND WOULD NOT RESTART. TOWED AGAIN TO THE DEALER AND DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY ECU. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A NARROW TWO LANE COUNTRY ROAD WITH TRAFFIC BEHIND ME AND NO WHERE TO EXIT THE PAVEMENT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRAVELING AT APPROX 45 MPH VEHICLE SHUT OFF. UPON RESTART SEVERAL MINUTES LATER IT WOULD ONLY IDLE FOR A FEW SECONDS BEFORE STALLING AGAIN. TOWED TO DEALER, UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. BIKE WAS RETURNED 2 DAYS LATER WITH ASSURANCES IT WAS RUNNING FINE. ON THE RIDE HOME, APPROX 5 MILES FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND WHILE TRAVELING APPROX 60 MPH, IT SHUT OFF AGAIN AND WOULD NOT RESTART. TOWED AGAIN TO THE DEALER AND DIAGNOSED AS A FAULTY ECU. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CONDITION. THE SECOND INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A NARROW TWO LANE COUNTRY ROAD WITH TRAFFIC BEHIND ME AND NO WHERE TO EXIT THE PAVEMENT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .