2018 Yamaha FJR1300 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 2018 Yamaha FJR1300, 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
- Engine240.0%
- Fuel system120.0%
- Exterior lighting120.0%
- Powertrain (other)120.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
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
The contact owns a 2018 Yamaha FJR 1300. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 20V814000 (Exterior Lighting), 20V813000 (Power Train), and 21V865000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not repaired due to the parts being on back order. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that parts were on back order. The contact had not experienced failure.
The Yamaha FJR 1300 between 2016 and 2020 was subjected to a recall due possible to transmission. This was documented in the NHTSA as well as Yamaha - the recalls has been completed for many motorcycles including mine. Resolution - As part of that recall they replaced the transmission with a reinforced 2nd gear and main shaft (as we riders understand it), and they performed an ECU re-flash to prevent RPMs over 4k while in 1st, 2nd and 3rd with clutch open. Issue - The ECU - Rev limiting kicks in between 1 to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd at <35 mph with clutch open (pulled) - 4k RPM max. While these are not typical speeds for those gears - needing more power happens in cases of emergency maneuvering. If at any time you need a bit more power and you hit the throttle at that lower speed, you open clutch, hit the throttle and expect power. But no, you can't get above 4k rpm. Essentially leaving you in a potential perilous predicament. Now think about this RPM limiting is about emergency maneuvering. If one finds themselves having to move out of a dangerous situation (either stopped or moving slowly) where you need that 'bit more 'umph' to get going get going an out of the situation quickly, its not happening! And that is exactly how I found out about this. I needed to maneuver out of a dangerous (rear end) situation and hit the throttle only to find pout that it stopped at 4k RPMs. As any experienced rider can attest, when you need power to move into safety, you expect the motorcycle to respond. Yamaha has taken this ability away. This I find it to be a serious safety issue and Yamaha has placed many (~4k) riders in this predicament with this restriction. Interesting related fact - the exact FJR1300 2021 models with the same transmission as the one used in the recall for previous affected ones does not have that ECU restriction. I am asking the NHTSA to look into this potentially life threatening situation and request that Yamaha re-address this new problem.
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
The Yamaha FJR 1300 between 2016 and 2020 was subjected to a recall due possible to transmission. This was documented in the NHTSA as well as Yamaha - the recalls has been completed for many motorcycles including mine. Resolution - As part of that recall they replaced the transmission with a reinforced 2nd gear and main shaft (as we riders understand it), and they performed an ECU re-flash to prevent RPMs over 4k while in 1st, 2nd and 3rd with clutch open. Issue - The ECU - Rev limiting kicks in between 1 to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd at <35 mph with clutch open (pulled) - 4k RPM max. While these are not typical speeds for those gears - needing more power happens in cases of emergency maneuvering. If at any time you need a bit more power and you hit the throttle at that lower speed, you open clutch, hit the throttle and expect power. But no, you can't get above 4k rpm. Essentially leaving you in a potential perilous predicament. Now think about this RPM limiting is about emergency maneuvering. If one finds themselves having to move out of a dangerous situation (either stopped or moving slowly) where you need that 'bit more 'umph' to get going get going an out of the situation quickly, its not happening! And that is exactly how I found out about this. I needed to maneuver out of a dangerous (rear end) situation and hit the throttle only to find pout that it stopped at 4k RPMs. As any experienced rider can attest, when you need power to move into safety, you expect the motorcycle to respond. Yamaha has taken this ability away. This I find it to be a serious safety issue and Yamaha has placed many (~4k) riders in this predicament with this restriction. Interesting related fact - the exact FJR1300 2021 models with the same transmission as the one used in the recall for previous affected ones does not have that ECU restriction. I am asking the NHTSA to look into this potentially life threatening situation and request that Yamaha re-address this new problem.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2018 Yamaha FJR 1300. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 20V814000 (Exterior Lighting), 20V813000 (Power Train), and 21V865000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not repaired due to the parts being on back order. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that parts were on back order. The contact had not experienced failure.
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
The contact owns a 2018 Yamaha FJR 1300. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 20V814000 (Exterior Lighting), 20V813000 (Power Train), and 21V865000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, but the vehicle was not repaired due to the parts being on back order. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that parts were on back order. The contact had not experienced failure.
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 .