2015 Yamaha FZ09 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 FZ09, 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
- Powertrain (other)535.7%
- Body & structure321.4%
- Engine214.3%
- Suspension214.3%
- Brakes17.1%
- Steering17.1%
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
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF INSTALLING NEW CLUTCH PLATES WHEN I NOTICED THAT MY CLUTCH BASKET WAS CRACKED IN TWO PLACES. AFTER A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH, I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT CRACKING CLUTCH BASKETS ARE A COMMON ISSUE WITH MY FIRST GENERATION FZ09. I HAD TO LEAVE MY MOTORCYCLE AT MY FRIENDS HOUSE BECAUSE OF THIS AND CANNOT PROVIDE PICTURES AT THE MOMENT. THERE IS NO TELLING WHEN THE BASKET CRACKED.
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 50MPH WHEN A ANIMAL CAME OUT OF THE DITCH. I THEN PULLED CLUTCH IN SO I COULD BRAKE. ONCE I DID THIS THE BIKE STALLED. TO GET THE BIKE GOING AGAIN I RELEASED THE CLUTCH, BUT ONCE I DID THIS THE BIKE JUST LOCKED THE BACK TIRE. I THEN PULLED CLUTCH IN AGAIN AND THEN IT STARTED. I ATTEMPTED TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH WAS NOT DISENGAGING I KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG. GOT THE BIKE BACK HOME, AND PULLED THE CLUTCH CASE OFF TO FIND TWO CLUTCH DISKS HAD SHATTERED. THIS ALSO CAUSED THE CLUTCH BASKET TO BREAK. NOW THERE IS METAL FLOATING ALL AROUND MY MOTOR.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
SINCE DAY ONE OF OWNING MY BRAND NEW 2015 YAMAHA FZ09 (BUILD DATE 01/2015) I HAVE NOTICED A SMALL CRACK ON THE FRAME OF THE BIKE. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST A SURFACE DEFECT. AFTER TALKING WITH OTHER OWNERS WITH BIKES THAT WERE BUILT NEAR THE SAME TIME AS MINE, WE HAVE REALIZED THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME CRACK. ONE MEMBER HAS COMPLAINED TO YAMAHA, AND HAD THEIR FRAME REPLACED MAKING US THINK THAT THIS COULD BE A LARGER ISSUE. THIS IS A CRACK IN THE FRAME WHICH COULD PROPAGATE AND CAUSE A WRECK. THE CRACK GOES THROUGH THE FRAME MEMBER AND CAN BE SEN ON THE OTHER SIDE. CURRENTLY IT HAS CAUSED NO HARM, BUT MOTORCYCLES GET TOTALED OUT BY INSURANCE COMPANIES EACH DAY FOR HAVING TINY CRACKS IN THE FRAME.
CRACK THROUGH MID-FRAME.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 50MPH WHEN A ANIMAL CAME OUT OF THE DITCH. I THEN PULLED CLUTCH IN SO I COULD BRAKE. ONCE I DID THIS THE BIKE STALLED. TO GET THE BIKE GOING AGAIN I RELEASED THE CLUTCH, BUT ONCE I DID THIS THE BIKE JUST LOCKED THE BACK TIRE. I THEN PULLED CLUTCH IN AGAIN AND THEN IT STARTED. I ATTEMPTED TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH WAS NOT DISENGAGING I KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG. GOT THE BIKE BACK HOME, AND PULLED THE CLUTCH CASE OFF TO FIND TWO CLUTCH DISKS HAD SHATTERED. THIS ALSO CAUSED THE CLUTCH BASKET TO BREAK. NOW THERE IS METAL FLOATING ALL AROUND MY MOTOR.
CLUTCH BASKET CUSH BUMPERS PREMATURELY WEARING OUT, CAUSING FREEPLAY BETWEEN RING GEAR AND BASKET. ANY PLAY WHATSOEVER IS ABNORMAL AND WILL CAUSE EXCESSIVE VIBRATIONS. VIBRATIONS WITHIN THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WILL CAUSE PLATES TO BREAK POTENTIALLY CAUSING A CRASH.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE REAR SUSPENSION SHOCK ABSORBER IS RUSTED AT ALL OF THE REAR WELDED POINTS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGED AND IS IN A LOW HUMIDITY DESERT OF ARIZONA. THE RUST FROM THE WELDS HAS TRAVELED UP ALONG WHERE TWO PARTS OF THE SHOCK ASSEMBLY IS CONNECTED. THERE IS NO WAY TO DISASSEMBLE THE SHOCK TO CLEAN OFF THE RUST AND REFINISH IT. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, ONLY THE 2015 MODEL YEAR IS AFFECTED, SINCE YAMAHA CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE REAR SHOCK ASSEMBLY FROM 2016.
BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2015 YAMAHA FZ-09 IN YEAR 2016. MY BIKE AND MANY OTHERS HAVE A DEFECT IN THE FRAME, AND I CHOSE TO DIG DEEPER TO SEE IF IT WAS A CRACK OR CASTING MARK. YAMAHA HAD THE DEALERSHIP TAKE THE TANK OFF AND AND LOOK ON THE INSIDE, AND SURE ENOUGH, IT WAS CRACKED IN THE SAME AREA SAME PLACE ONLY ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE MAIN FRAME AS WELL. TO MAKE SURE THE DEALERSHIP TOOK IT TO AN AUTO BODY FACILITY TO SAND BLAST THE AREA, AND THAT CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS INDEED A CRACK. MANY MANY MORE 2015'S HAVE THE SAME ISSUE, AND TWO OF THE SHOWROOM BRAND NEW 2015'S JUST LIKE MINE HAVE THE SAME MARKINGS.
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
ANY TIME THE VEHICLE EXCEEDS 70 MPH THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER BECOMES DIFFICULT TO APPLY AND THE FRONT BRAKES DO NOT WORK. THE BRAKE LEVER REQUIRES MULTIPLE CYCLES OF SQUEEZE AND RELEASE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE AGAIN.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2015 YAMAHA FZ-09 IN YEAR 2016. MY BIKE AND MANY OTHERS HAVE A DEFECT IN THE FRAME, AND I CHOSE TO DIG DEEPER TO SEE IF IT WAS A CRACK OR CASTING MARK. YAMAHA HAD THE DEALERSHIP TAKE THE TANK OFF AND AND LOOK ON THE INSIDE, AND SURE ENOUGH, IT WAS CRACKED IN THE SAME AREA SAME PLACE ONLY ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE MAIN FRAME AS WELL. TO MAKE SURE THE DEALERSHIP TOOK IT TO AN AUTO BODY FACILITY TO SAND BLAST THE AREA, AND THAT CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS INDEED A CRACK. MANY MANY MORE 2015'S HAVE THE SAME ISSUE, AND TWO OF THE SHOWROOM BRAND NEW 2015'S JUST LIKE MINE HAVE THE SAME MARKINGS.
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 .