RoadVitals

2002 Yamaha Road 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.
87
Latest Nov 19, 2009
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.
2
Latest Aug 23, 2010
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 87 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Yamaha Road Star, most frequently naming the transmission, brakes and electrical categories. 2 safety recalls have 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

  • Transmission8193.1%
  • Brakes11.1%
  • Electrical11.1%
  • Body & structure11.1%
  • Other / unspecified11.1%
  • Powertrain (other)11.1%
  • Fuel system11.1%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns 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
10E041000

EQUIPMENT

Aug 23, 2010
300 units potentially affected
The defect: YAMAHA IS RECALLING CERTAIN ACCESSORY YAMAHA DOUBLE "T" FAT HANDLEBARS , PART NUMBERS STR-5PX75-12-00 AND STR-4WM75-12-00, MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 1, 2008 THROUGH JULY 31, 2009, TO BE USED ON MODEL YEAR 2002-2009 XV1700PC WARRIOR, 1999-2003 VX1600 AND 2004-2010 XV1700 ROAD STAR MOTORCYCLES. THESE HANDLEBARS MAY HAVE TUBING THINNER THAN DESIGNED WHERE THE BARS NARROW FOR THE SWITCH HOUSINGS AND GRIPS.
The risk: THE AFFECTED HANDLEBARS COULD BE WEAK ENOUGH IN THE AREA TO BREAK. SHOULD THIS BREAKAGE OCCUR WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS BEING OPERATED, THE OPERATOR COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
The remedy: YAMAHA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED HANDLEBARS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 31, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT YAMAHA TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-962-7926.
YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION, USAView 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

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

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSIONLed to recall 03V309000

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 87
Transmission
Filed Nov 19, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 YAMAHA ROAD STAR. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE REAR WHEEL LOCKED. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION HE NOTICED THAT PINS THAT CONNECT THE FOURTH AND THE FIFTH GEAR HAD FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,000.

NHTSA ID
10292952
Incident
Nov 10, 2009
Mileage
67,000 mi
ElectricalPowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 5, 2009

FREEWAY DRIVING AT 50 MPH, I HEARD A POP AND MY SPEEDOMETER QUIT. HEARD GRINDING IN THE DRIVE TRAIN. I PULLED OVER TO A STOP. UPON ROLLING MY BIKE ONTO A TRAILER THE REAR END LOCKED UP. THE MIDDLE GEAR SHAFT SNAPPED OFF AT REAR END WITH THE RETAINING NUT FLOATING LOOSE WITH THE FRONT U-JOINT IN THE HOUSING. AT LEAST 20 REPORTS OF THE SAME DEFECT CAN BE FOUND HTTP://FORUMS.DELPHIFORUMS.COM/YAMAHA1100/MESSAGES?MSG=42934.1 YAMAHA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOME GETS KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10279421
Incident
Jul 28, 2009
Mileage
19,342 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 17, 2005

DT: FUEL TANK VENT ROLLOVER VALVE IS PLUNGING UP, CAUSING VACUUM TO COLLAPSE FUEL TANK. IT IS ALSO SUCKING WATER INSIDE. REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT, MARKS ARE INCORRECT. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THREE YEARS. MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FUEL CAP. ALSO, SUCKING WATER INSIDE UP THE TUBE IN RAINING WEATHER. THE MODEL IS ROADSTAR.*AK

NHTSA ID
10125689
Incident
May 14, 2002
Mileage
1,100 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 13, 2004

AFTER RECEIVING A RECALL LETTER THE DEALER WAS CALLED AND THE CONSUMER MADE AN APPOINTMENT. THE DEALER STATED THEY WOULD CALL THE CONSUMER BACK, HOWEVER THE CONSUMER NEVER RECEIVED A CALL BACK. THEY CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY STATED MAYBE ANOTHER THIRTY DAYS. TRANSMISSION RECALL 03V309000. *JB

NHTSA ID
10096728
Incident
Jan 12, 2004
Mileage
6,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 10, 2004

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING THE REPLACEMENT OF TRANSMISSION. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. SERVICE MANAGER MONICA. *AK

NHTSA ID
10091863
Incident
Sep 10, 2004
Transmission
Filed Jul 19, 2004

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 03V309000 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER HAD THE RECALL NOTICE SINCE JANUARY, 2004 AND THE WORK HAD NOT BEEN DONE . DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT IT MAY TAKE ANOTHER SIX MONTHS BEFORE THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD BE FIXED.*AK *NM

NHTSA ID
10075540
Incident
Jan 12, 2004
Mileage
3,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jun 10, 2004

2002 YAMAHA ROAD STAR 1/09/2004 SAFETY RECALL NOTICE.*MR THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN WAITING SINCE JANUARY TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK PERFORMED ON HIS MOTORCYCLE. THE DEALER EXPLAINED THAT TEH MANUFACTURER HAS NOT PROVIDED THE WITH THE PART TO DO THE RECALL. *NM

NHTSA ID
10079323
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Transmission
Filed Jun 3, 2004

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE(VP02E00) FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION!!!!!!!!NO PARTS AVAILABLE PER SERVICE MANAGER VICTOR. *NM

NHTSA ID
10075668
Incident
Jun 3, 2004

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Yamaha Road Star by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2010000—
2009100—
2008100—
2007700—
2006300—
2005200—
2004211044.5
20031052151.9
2002Viewing872152.0
2001573155.1
2000182148.7
1999152148.7

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.