2004 Yamaha XVS1100 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2004 Yamaha XVS1100, 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
- Electrical150.0%
- Powertrain (other)150.0%
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
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A 2004 VSTAR 1100 CUSTOM (XVS11000) WITH 52,000 MILES. I STARTED HEARING A WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN I WOULD DOWN SHIFT (SIMILAR SOUND YOU HEAR WHEN BACKING UP IN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR). SOON AFTER THE NOISE STARTED THE SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. JUST AS I WAS GETTING READING TO PULL INTO THE GAS STATION UP AHEAD (ABOUT .5 MILES) TO CHECK ON IT I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE LOOSE BALL BEARINGS JUST RUNNING AROUND IN THE TRANSMISSION. NEEDLESS TO SAY I STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. TOOK THE BIKE DOWN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP/SERVICE SHOP AND WAS GIVEN A QUOTE FOR $5200. WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING IS THE NUT ON THE END OF THE MIDDLE GEAR SHAFT HAD SHEARED OFF THE END OF THE SHAFT AND BOUNCED AROUND IN THE U-JOINT. THAT'S WHAT HAD MADE THE TERRIBLE NOISE. IN THE SAME PROCESS IT DESTROYED THE SPEED SENSOR AND WARPED THE CYLINDER (PART OF THE SWING-ARM) THAT HOUSES THE U-JOINT. LUCKILY THE NUT DID NOT LODGE ITSELF INSIDE U-JOINT AND CAUSE THE BIKE TO LOCK-UP. THIS IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM THAT YAMAHA KNOWS ABOUT, BECAUSE THE NEW MIDDLE SHAFT THEY HAVE AS A REPLACEMENT PART IS MADE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT AND IS MUCH STRONGER. YET THEY REFUSE TO ADMIT IT TO US STRANDED BIKERS THAT ARE HAVING TO COME OUT OF POCKET THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. IT CLEARLY HAS HAPPENED TO BIKES WITH ONLY A FEW HUNDRED MILES ALL THE WAY ON UP. THIS COULD VERY EASILY CAUSE FATALITIES IF THE RIDER IS DOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND TRANSMISSION SEIZES. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
I HAVE A 2004 VSTAR 1100 CUSTOM (XVS11000) WITH 52,000 MILES. I STARTED HEARING A WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION WHEN I WOULD DOWN SHIFT (SIMILAR SOUND YOU HEAR WHEN BACKING UP IN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR). SOON AFTER THE NOISE STARTED THE SPEEDOMETER QUIT WORKING. JUST AS I WAS GETTING READING TO PULL INTO THE GAS STATION UP AHEAD (ABOUT .5 MILES) TO CHECK ON IT I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE LOOSE BALL BEARINGS JUST RUNNING AROUND IN THE TRANSMISSION. NEEDLESS TO SAY I STOPPED IMMEDIATELY. TOOK THE BIKE DOWN TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP/SERVICE SHOP AND WAS GIVEN A QUOTE FOR $5200. WHAT ENDED UP HAPPENING IS THE NUT ON THE END OF THE MIDDLE GEAR SHAFT HAD SHEARED OFF THE END OF THE SHAFT AND BOUNCED AROUND IN THE U-JOINT. THAT'S WHAT HAD MADE THE TERRIBLE NOISE. IN THE SAME PROCESS IT DESTROYED THE SPEED SENSOR AND WARPED THE CYLINDER (PART OF THE SWING-ARM) THAT HOUSES THE U-JOINT. LUCKILY THE NUT DID NOT LODGE ITSELF INSIDE U-JOINT AND CAUSE THE BIKE TO LOCK-UP. THIS IS CLEARLY A PROBLEM THAT YAMAHA KNOWS ABOUT, BECAUSE THE NEW MIDDLE SHAFT THEY HAVE AS A REPLACEMENT PART IS MADE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT AND IS MUCH STRONGER. YET THEY REFUSE TO ADMIT IT TO US STRANDED BIKERS THAT ARE HAVING TO COME OUT OF POCKET THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR WHAT APPEARS TO BE A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. IT CLEARLY HAS HAPPENED TO BIKES WITH ONLY A FEW HUNDRED MILES ALL THE WAY ON UP. THIS COULD VERY EASILY CAUSE FATALITIES IF THE RIDER IS DOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND TRANSMISSION SEIZES. *TR
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .