RoadVitals

2002 Yamaha XVS11 Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
13
Latest Sep 17, 2011
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
4
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2002 Yamaha XVS11, 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

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.

10
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

MIDDLE DRIVE SHAFT SNAPPED OFF WHERE THE NUT GOES ON. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND HAS HAPPENED ON MANY OF THESE BIKES. THE BACK WHEEL CAN LOCK UP AND PUT THE MOTORCYCLE INTO A SKID CAUSING AN ACCIDENT THAT COULD EASILY RESULT IN DEATH. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND NOTICED A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THE DRIVE TRAIN WAS SKIPPING AND LOCKING UP. UPON INSPECTION I SEEN THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD SNAPPED OFF. I PLAN ON CONTACTING YAMAHA TO SEE WHAT THEY PLAN TO DO ABOUT THIS. THIS WAS POOR DESIGN BECAUSE THE HAVE MADE A STRONGER DRIVE SHAFT TO REPLACE IT. *TT

NHTSA ID 10425897 · filed Sep 17, 2011

WHILE COMMUTING TO WORK I NOTICED A VERY LOUD WHINING SOUND COMING FROM THE DRIVE SHAFT AREA DURING DECELLERATION ON MY 2002 V-STAR 1100. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION AND RESEARCH I LEARNED IT WAS MY MIDDLE DRIVE THAT HAD ACTUALLY DISMEMBERED ITSELF, CAUSING A BROKEN PART TO RATTLE AROUND INSIDE THE ASSEMBLY, WHICH MANY OTHER YAMAHA OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED ACCORDING TO AN ONLINE FORUM. THANKFULLY I WAS NOT INJURED BUT SOME INDIVIDUALS VOICED THAT THIS CAN CAUSE THE REAR WHEEL TO COMPLETELY LOCK UP GOING AT ANY RATE OF SPEED. *TT

NHTSA ID 10417834 · filed Aug 7, 2011
All 10 reports naming powertrain (other) →

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I OWN A 02 YAMAHA VSTAR 1100 CLASSICA AND IT'S HAS BEEN KNOWN THAT YEARS PRIOR TO 2003 THAT THE STARTER AND STARTER CLUTCH WILL FAIL AND NEED REPLACING. THIS WOULD NORMALLY RUN OVER 800 DOLLARS TO REPLACE AT THE DEALER. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ALOT TO THESE BIKES AND SOME HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL OF GETTING THE PARTS FOR FREE FROM THE DEALER BUT MANY HAVE NOT BEEN SO LUCKY LIKE MYSELF. IF ONE DEALER REPLACED THE PARTS FOR ON CUSTOMER THEN THIS SHOULD BE DONE TO EVERY BIKE THAT NEEDS THIS TYPE OF REPAIR. IT HAS BEEN KNOWN THAT THE BIKES MADE AFTER 03 DO NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM BUT MANY OF US STILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IS THERE ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE SO EVERYONE GETS THIS DEFECTIVE PARTS REPLACED? WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR INPUT. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID 10255938 · filed Jan 22, 2009

2002 YAMAHA V STAR 1100 CLASSIC - WOULD NOT START, STARTER IS TWISTED, YAMAHA ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN STATING THAT IMPROPER STARTING CAUSES THIS CONDITION, ALSO INFERS THAT THIS IS A DESIGN PROBLEM. THEY WILL NOT HOWEVER RECALL OR COMPENSATE OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM (RESEARCH SHOWS HUNDREDS OF TWISTED STARTERS). *TR

NHTSA ID 10227832 · filed May 14, 2008

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.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

AIR INDUCTION SYSTEM (AIS), IN PARTICULAR, CHROME PIPE, RUSTED OUT LEADING TO AN EXHAUST LEAK. IT SEEMS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MOTORCYCLE. MOISTURE COLLECTS IN THE TUBE LEADING TO RUSTING. SOME HAVE REMOVE THE SYSTEM OR PLUGGED THE AIS. SINCE THIS PART OF THE EMMISSION SYSTEM LEADING TO EXHAUST VALVES I AM CONCERNED. A SEARCH OF THE INTERNET SITES REVEALS THIS HAPPENS AND THE SYSTEM IS BEING REMOVED.

NHTSA ID 10126390 · filed Jun 23, 2005

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

PRODUCT IS 2002 YAMAHA VSTAR 1100 MOTORCYCLE (XVS1100) PURCHASED IN 2002. AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF RIDING, MIDDLE DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY IS IN THE PROCESS OF FAILING, WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH. MANY ENTHUSIASTS OF THIS MODEL REPORT FAILURE OF ASSEMBLY WHICH IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURING DEFECT. HAVE NOT REPLACED THE ASSEMBLY YET. *TR

NHTSA ID 10235570 · filed Jul 23, 2008

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

Data on this page last refreshed .