RoadVitals

2002 Yamaha Midnight Star

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.
7
Latest Dec 7, 2018
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 Aug 26, 2003
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 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Yamaha Midnight Star, most frequently naming the transmission, powertrain (other) and suspension categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year.

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

  • Transmission571.4%
  • Powertrain (other)114.3%
  • Suspension114.3%

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
03V309000

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

Aug 26, 2003
29,139 units potentially affected
The defect: IN THE TRANSMISSION ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE SECOND/THIRD PINION GEAR MAY BE INCORRECTLY MACHINED WHICH COULD CAUSE ABNORMAL WEAR THAT EVENTUALLY RESULTS IN A BROKEN RETAINER CIRCLIP.
The risk: IF THE CIRCLIP BREAKS, THE TRANSMISSION COULD LOCK UP, WHICH WOULD ALSO CAUSE THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK UP. THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy: YAMAHA WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION GEARS AND SHAFTS WITH NEW ONES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT YAMAHA AT 1-800-88-YAMAHA OR VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.YAMAHA-MOTOR.COM.
YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION, USAManufacturer number M2004-001View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 7, 2018

WHILE RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE IN DEC 2015 ON STATE HIGHWAY 67. I HEAR A NOISE THAT WAS A NEW NOISE I NEVER HEAR BEFORE AND THEN THE MOTOR RPM RACED HIGHER, AT THAT TIME I PROMPTLY PULLED OVER, I COULD NOT PHYSICALLY SEE ANYTHING OR HEAR ANY ISSUES, SO I RETURNED TO THE ROAD, AND AS I WAS SHIFTING GEARS, WHEN I GOT TO WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN 5TH GEAR THERE WAS NOTHING, IT RESPONDED AS IF I WERE IN NEUTRAL. WHEN I FINALLY RETURNED HOME, I START RESEARCH AND FIND THERE IS A MANUFACTURER RECALL #990021 AND NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 03V309000 FOR ON MY MOTORCYCLE THROUGH THE VIN NUMBER ID. AT THIS TIME I CALL AND I TAKE IT TO A YAMAHA CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AND THEY HAVE TROUBLE THEY SAY WITH MY VIN # THROUGH THE YAMAHA DIRECT LINE, SO I GOOGLE IT MYSELF AND SHOW THEM THE RECALL AND PARTS EFFECTED, SO AFTER HE DEALERSHIP HAD IT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THEM ALSO TRYING TO GET YAMAHA TO MAKE GOOD ON THEIR RECALL SAYS THEY WILL NOT BECAUSE IT NO LONGER VIABLE COMPONENT AND THAT IT WAS OBSOLETE, I'M NOT SURE HOW A PART IN A RECALL BECOMES OBSOLETE WHEN THE RECALL IS INCOMPLETE, BUT I NEED THIS BIKE REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC AT THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO PUT THE BIKE BACK ON THE ROAD. I WENT TO WORK OVERSEAS IN JAN OF 2016 AND RETURNED BACK TO THE US IN MAY OF 2018 AND RELOCATED TO NM, AND TRIED TO PERUSE GETTING MY RECALL COMPLETED AND HAVE HAD ONLY TROUBLE FROM YAMAHA NOT WANTING TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND COMPLETE THE RECALL.

NHTSA ID
11156750
Incident
Dec 27, 2015
Mileage
19,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 8, 2004

CONSUMER HAS BEEN ON A WAITING LIST FOR OVER 3 MONTHS TO HAVE THE REAR WHEEL LOCK UP RECALL 03V309000 REPAIRS PERFORMED. THE PARTS HAVE NOT BEEN AVAILABLE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED IT MAY BE ANOTHER 8 WEEKS BEFORE THE RECALL IS PERFORMED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10075888
Incident
Feb 5, 2004
Suspension
Filed May 18, 2004

2002 YAMAHA ROYAL STAR VENTURE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER (AIR ADJUSTABLE) FAILED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL 1999 TO PRESENT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10072809
Incident
May 15, 2004
Mileage
12,500 mi
Transmission
Filed May 5, 2004

IN JANUARY 2004, I RECEIVED A RECALL FROM YAMAHA, STATING THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT THEY WILL FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE, AND THAT I SHOULD NOT RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE UNTIL THE WORK IS DONE. AS OF MARCH, THEY STILL DID NOT HAVE PARTS AT THE DEALER AND I WROTE YAMAHA WITH MY CONCERNS. THEY ASSURED ME THAT PARTS ARE COMING SOON. NOW IT IS MAY, FIVE MONTHS LATER, AND I OWN A MOTORCYCLE THAT I CAN'T RIDE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10068334
Incident
Jan 9, 2004
Transmission
Filed Mar 3, 2004

NHTSA RECALL O3V309000 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO DO RECALL REPAIRS. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER.*AK

NHTSA ID
10061281
Transmission
Filed Feb 25, 2004

2002 YAMAHA ROAD STAR TRANSMISSION RECALL. MY BIKE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE 1/27/04 WAITING FOR A TRANSMISSION KIT. I AM BEING TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO KITS AVAILABLE AND THEY MIGHT GET PARTS THE MIDDLE TO LATE APRIL, 04. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! I HAVE ONLY 4,000 MILES ON THIS BIKE PURCHASED IN JUNE '02. YAMAHA SHOULD EITHER HAVE TO FIX MY BIKE ASAP OR BUY IT BACK AT THE ORIGINAL PRICE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10058992
Incident
Jan 27, 2004
Transmission
Filed Feb 10, 2004

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 03V309000 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE, AND HAD NO INFORMATION WHEN THE PARTS WILL COME IN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10057788
Incident
Feb 2, 2004

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Yamaha Midnight Star by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003171036.8
2002Viewing710—
2001520—
2000010—
1999010—

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.