RoadVitals

2003 Yamaha Road Star Warrior

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.
26
Latest Jul 22, 2007
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.
1
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 26 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Yamaha Road Star Warrior, most frequently naming the transmission, engine and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 1 NHTSA investigation names it.

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

  • Transmission2180.8%
  • Engine311.5%
  • Electrical13.8%
  • Powertrain (other)13.8%

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

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE03038ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

UNINTENDED REAR WHEEL LOCKUP

Opened Aug 11, 2003
Closed Nov 6, 2003

SUMMARY: ON AUGUST 22, 2003 YAMAHA NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WAS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR2001 XV1600 ?ROAD STAR? MODEL MOTORCYCLES TO ADDRESS TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THOSE VEHICLES.ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD FAIL DUE TO EXCESSIVE BUSHING WEAR ON THE 4TH PINION GEAR.BASED ON ITS ANALYSIS OF FAILED TRANSMISSIONS FROM THE FIELD, THE COMPANY FOUND ?UNEVEN CONTACT BETWEEN THE ENGAGEMENT DOGS ON THE 2ND/3RD PINION GEAR.WHEN IN 4TH GEAR, THESE UNEVEN SURFACES CAUSED UNEVEN BUSHING WEAR IN THE 4TH GEAR BUSHING.THIS WEAR WOULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE 4TH GEAR RETAINING CIRCLIP TO FAIL, LEADING TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE.?THIS COULD RESULT IN BOTH TRANSMISSION AND REAR WHEEL LOCKUP AND YAMAHA CONCLUDED A SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE CONDUCTED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.YAMAHA IS LIMITING THE RECALL?S SCOPE TO THOSE MOTORCYCLES BUILT BETWEEN NOVEMBER 30, 2000 AND JANUARY 24, 2001 BASED UPON THE FOLLOWING:1. YAMAHA U.S. REPORTED FIELD FAILURES (INVOLVING BIKES BUILT IN DECEMBER, 2000) TO YAMAHA JAPAN.2.YAMAHA JAPAN INVESTIGATED AND VALIDATED THE CAUSE DESCRIBED ABOVE.3.YAMAHA JAPAN IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE ENGAGEMENT DOG ON THE 2ND/3RD PINION GEAR.4. YAMAHA JAPAN RECORDS INDICATED THAT THE JIG USED TO PRODUCE THE 2ND/3RD PINION GEAR WAS RE-CALIBRATED ON JANUARY 13, 2001.5.PARTS PRODUCED BEFORE NOVEMBER 30,2000 AND AFTER JANUARY 13, 2001 WERE SAMPLED AND FOUND TO BE WITHIN SPECIFICATION (THE RECALL WAS EXTENDED BEYOND JANUARY 13 BUILD AS A PRECAUTION).WITH YAMAHA?S RECALL, WE ARE CLOSING THIS INVESTIGATION BUT WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE FIELD PERFORMANCE OF ALL ROAD STAR MODEL MOTORCYCLES TO ASSESS THE PERFORMANCE OF THOSE BIKES NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL.SHOULD THE FACTS WARRANT ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION, WE WILL PROCEED ACCORDINGLY.

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSIONLed to recall 03V309000

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 26
Engine
Filed Jul 22, 2007

VISITING DAYTONA BIKE WEEK 2007. ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED ON FREEWAY. AFTER MOTORISTS GRACIOUSLY ALLOWED ME THROUGH TRAFFIC TO THE SHOULDER HAD ERROR CODE 12 AND MOTORCYCLE WOULD NOT START. TRAILERED TO YAMAHA DEALER AND THEY SAID CRANKCASE POSITION SENSOR (CPS) HAD BECOME SEPARATED FROM ITS CONNECTING WIRE INSIDE THE ENGINE. LOCAL DEALER FIXED NEXT DAY AT COST OF SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS. DID NOT HAVE PART SO SOLDERED CONNECTION. CONCERNS: A) PART SHOULD BE REPLACED NOT REPAIRED; B) THIS IS OCCURRING ON MANY OTHER CYCLES AND IS A DANGEROUS EVENT WHEN IN TRAFFIC OR AT HIGH SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10197145
Incident
Mar 7, 2007
Mileage
7,811 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 12, 2006

RIDING 2003 YAMAHA ROADSTAR WARRIOR ON PUBLIC HIGHWAY ENGINE STOPPED, DIAGNOSTIC CODE 12 SHOWED ON SPEEDOMETER CPS( CRANK SHAFT POSITIONING SENSOR) WIRE BROKE. NEED TO ORDER NEW SENSOR. *JB

NHTSA ID
10159578
Incident
May 27, 2006
Mileage
11,700 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 7, 2006
Crash reported

YAMAHA ROAD STAR WARRIOR ENGINE STALLED ON HIGHWAY EXAMINATION REVEALED A CUT OFF WIRE FROM CPS TIMING SENSOR. WIRE'S ARE UNDER GREAT TENSION. *NM

NHTSA ID
10159184
Incident
May 19, 2006
Mileage
5,000 mi
Transmission
Filed May 7, 2004

2003 ROAD STAR WARRIOR IS STILL IN REPAIR SHOP FOR RECALL NOTICE REPAIRS. *MR RECALL IS ON MOTORCYCLE'S TRANSMISSION. *LA

NHTSA ID
10073326
Transmission
Filed May 5, 2004

ON JANUARY 12, 2004 CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING TRANSMISSION. DEALERSHIP STILL DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT THE RECALL. FLOOR MANGER WAS CONTACTED, AND HE INDICATED THAT THE CONSUMER SHOULD WAIT UNTIL THE COMPONENT PART ON RECALL WILL BE AVAILABLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10072164
Incident
May 5, 2004
Mileage
1,700 mi
Transmission
Filed May 4, 2004

THE PARTS TO PERFORM REAR WHEEL LOCK UP RECALL 03V309000 REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN AVAILABLE FOR 3 MONTHS. CURRENTLY, THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, AND THE MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR 16 DAYS. THE RECALL LETTER INDICATED THE PROCEDURE WILL ONLY TAKE 2 DAYS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10072045
Incident
Jan 19, 2004
Transmission
Filed Apr 27, 2004

ON JANUARY 9, 2004 CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING TRANSMISSION. DEALERSHIP STILL DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT RECALL REPAIRS. DEALER HAS BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE. HOWEVER, MANUFACTURER IS THE PROBLEM, THE 1-800 TELEPHONE NUMBER IS DISCONNECTED,AND CONSUMER CANNOT GET IN TOUCH WITH MANUFACTURER. *AK

NHTSA ID
10071660
Incident
Apr 27, 2004
Mileage
3,200 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 20, 2004

ON JANUARY 9 2004 CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10064623
Incident
Mar 22, 2004

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Yamaha Road Star Warrior by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2004700—
2003Viewing261143.8
2002842151.0

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.