RoadVitals

2003 Yamaha Road Star Silverado

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.
50
Latest Aug 2, 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 50 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Yamaha Road Star Silverado, most frequently naming the transmission, electrical and powertrain (other) 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

  • Transmission4484.6%
  • Electrical23.8%
  • Powertrain (other)23.8%
  • Other / unspecified11.9%
  • Fuel system11.9%
  • Engine11.9%
  • Body & structure11.9%

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

View all 50
Powertrain (other)
Filed Aug 2, 2018

PASSING ON A FREEWAY AND LOST 5TH GEAR. COULD HAVE HAD SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS IS A WELL KNOWN ISSUE AND PROBLEM THAT YAMAHA IS AWARE OF AND THEY LEFT CUSTOMERS OUT TO DRY. OR SHOULD I SAY DIE!! THIS WILL COST US AROUND 4,000 TO FIX. SHAME ON YAMAHA FOR NOT FIXING THIS PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION, THIS IS A DIRECT RESULT OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUE. YAMAHA STATES IF THE RECALL IS DONE, THEN THEY'RE DONE.

NHTSA ID
11115360
Incident
Aug 1, 2018
Mileage
14,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed May 20, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 YAMAHA ROAD STAR SILVERADO MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, HE HEARD A CLUNKING SOUND AS THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,850. *TR

NHTSA ID
10512790
Incident
May 15, 2013
Mileage
25,850 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 21, 2011

I OWNED A YAMAHA ROAD STAR SILVERADO 1600 YEAR 2003. I HAVE NOW 52000 KLM ONLY. LAST WEEK WILE A WAS RIDING AT 110KLM PER HOUR ON THE FIFTH GEAR AS USUAL TRANSMISSION CAME ON NEUTRAL STATE, WHEN I RELEASED THE TRANSMISSION WAS BROKEN IN FIFTH GEAR. SO I ENDED MY RIDE IN FOURTH GEAR AS THE RESULT AT LEAST 3000.00 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS, OR MORE AT YAMAHA SHOP. *KB

NHTSA ID
10414036
Incident
Jul 14, 2011
Transmission
Filed May 18, 2010

I OWN A 2003 YAMAHA ROAD STAR AND THE RECALL WAS DONE ON TRANS. BUT 3 WEEKS A GO IT LOCKED UP WHILE I WAS RIDING IT. THE SHOP TELLS ME IT WAS SECOND GEAR THAT BROKE, HE SAID THAT HE DIDN'T HAVE ANY IDEA WHY. IT ONLY HAS 18000 MILES AND ITS IN MINT SHAPE. NEVER BEEN TREATED ROUGH, DON'T THINK I COULD EVER RIDE IT AGAIN AND FEEL SAFE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10331100
Incident
Apr 15, 2010
Mileage
18,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 10, 2009

RE: COMPLAINT # 10290507 TOOK MY 2003 ROADSTAR TO YAMAHA DEALERSHIP FOR TRANSMISSION PROBLEM (5TH GEAR GONE). WAS TOLD THAT IT HAS BEEN AN ISSUE AND YAMAHA WILL REPAIR ON A CASE-BY-CASE SITUATION. ON FRIDAY NOV.6TH I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT IF THE RECALL HAS BEEN DONE THAT YAMAHA WILL PAY TO FIX IT.THEN TODAY NOV.10TH,THE DEALER SAID THE DISTRICT REP SAID HE WILL NOT AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE BIKE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS MOTORCYCLE ONLY HAS 8,700 EASY MILES ON IT AND THIS SEEMS TO BE A YAMAHA PART DEFECT THAT THEY DO NOT WANT TO FIX. I HAVE BEEN READING ONLINE FORUMS FOR THE ROADSTARS AND HAVE FOUND THAT A LOT OF OWNERS HAVE HAD THE EXACT PROBLEM WITH 5TH GEAR. SOME HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET YAMAHA TO FIX THEIRS AND OTHERS HAVE HAD TO PAY TO FIX IT THEMSELVES. I HAVE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT WHEN 5TH GEAR GOES OUT,THAT IT DAMAGES OTHER TRANSMISSION AND ENGINE PARTS. SOMEBODY IS GOING TO GET KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND IT IS A SHAME THAT YAMAHA WON`T BACK UP THEIR PRODUCT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10291639
Incident
Oct 29, 2009
Mileage
8,700 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 1, 2009

I WAS RIDING MY 2003 YAMAHA ROADSTAR SILVERADO WITH 8,000 MILES ON IT,WHEN I HEARD A CLINK,CLINK AND THEN 5TH GEAR WAS GONE.JUST LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH I FOUND THAT MANY 2003 ROADSTARS HAVE HAD THE EXACT ISSUE EXCEPT I DID NOT CRASH LIKE SOME OTHERS HAVE DONE. I CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHO CHECKED THE VIN AND SAID THE RECALL HAD BEEN DONE IN DEC.2004. THERE SHOULD BE A PUNCH MARK AT THE VIN NUMBER.THERE IS NONE ON MY BIKE. YAMAHA SAYS THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THE 5TH GEAR ISSUE EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE A LOT OF OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR AND YAMAHA SHOULD BE RECALLING AND FIXING THIS PROBLEM AS THE MOTOR HAS TO BE TORN ALL THE WAY DOWN TO FIX IT AND THIS CAN NOT BE DONE BY THE AVERAGE PERSON. MYSELF AND OTHER YAMAHA ROADSTAR OWNERS ARE NOT,AND WILL NOT LET THIS ISSUE GO AS IT IS A COSTLY REPAIR AND A YAMAHA DEFECT. WE HAVE TOO MUCH MONEY INVESTED IN THESE MOTORCYCLES TO LET THIS BLOW OVER. SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS ISSUE SOON BEFORE ANYBODY ELSE IS INJURED OR KILLED. THIS IS AN ISSUE OF LIFE AND DEATH!!! WE ARE COUNTING ON NHTSA TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. PLEASE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10290507
Incident
Oct 29, 2009
Mileage
8,780 mi
Transmission
Filed Aug 9, 2009

RIDING A 2003 YAMAHA ROADSTAR, RIDER AND A PASSENGER, ON 57N (SO. CALIFORNIA), CRUISING AT 70 MPH IN FIFTH GEAR, BEGAN LOSING SPEED AND BIKE STARTED TO REV AS IF IN NEUTRAL. DOWNSHIFTED TO 4TH, NORMAL, UP-SHIFT TO 5TH, NO POWER, BIKE ACTING AS IF IN NEUTRAL. PULLED OFF FREEWAY. EXAMINED FOR ANYTHING OBVIOUSLY BROKEN BUT FOUND NOTHING WRONG. DROVE MOTORCYCLE TO REPAIR SHOP WHEN IT HAS BEEN EVER SINCE. REPAIR SHOP HAS DISMANTLED TRANSMISSION FROM ENGINE. PINION GEAR THAT HOLDS 5TH GEAR IN PLACE HAS SHEARED OFF CAUSING SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO OTHER ENGINE/TRANNY PARTS. BROKEN PARTS COULD HAVE CAUSED ENGINE TO LOCK-UP CAUSING A POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING ACCIDENT. YAMAHA CONTACTED ON TWO OCCASIONS AND WAS TOLD THAT THE MOTORCYCLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, RECALL HAD BEEN PERFORMED AND THIS WAS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. MAJOR GEAR THAT FAILED HAS BEEN SUPERSEDED AND REPLACED WITH A NEW PART NUMBER! COST TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE WILL BE IN EXCESS OF $4000.00 ANOTHER LOCAL 2003 ROADSTAR OWNER/RIDER HAD THE SAME EXACT EXPERIENCE ONE WEEK LATER, ALSO AT 70 MPH ALSO ON A LOCAL SOCIAL FREEWAY- NHTSA COMPLAINT FILED AS WELL. ONE INTERNET FORUM INDICATE AT LEAST 7 ADDITIONAL INSTANCES WHERE 5TH GEAR HAS FAILED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10279848
Incident
Jul 11, 2009
Mileage
10,650 mi
Body & structureFuel system
Filed Jul 30, 2008

FUEL TANK ON A FIVE YEAR OLD MOTORCYCLE HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND MULTIPLE PIN HOLES HAVE FORMED. GAS LEAKED ON HOT MOTOR CREATING SAFETY ISSUE. MANUFACTURER WILL NOT FIX OR REPLACE TANK. PER MANUFACTURER THERE IS NO COATING ON THE INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK TO PROTECT THE BARE METAL FROM RUSTING. MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE PURCHASED NEW IN 2003. *TR

NHTSA ID
10236371
Incident
Jul 26, 2008
Mileage
16,000 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Yamaha Road Star Silverado by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2003Viewing501038.0
2002171034.5
2001720—
2000110—
1999110—

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.