RoadVitals

2007 Yamaha Yzf-R1 Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
14
Latest Aug 18, 2010
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
16%
of 90 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2007 Yamaha Yzf-R1 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Aug 18, 2010

2007 YAMAHA YZF-R1. MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT CAUSES THE INTAKE VALVE IN THE NUMBER 4 CYLINDER TO RUB ON THE GUIDE AND CAUSES THE VALVE TO BREAK OFF INTO THE CYLINDER. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO CATCH IT EARLY AND TOOK IT TO MY REPAIR GUY. HE DISASSEMBLED THE HEAD AND FOUND THE BAD VALVE. SENT IT OUT TO BE MACHINED AND THE MACHINIST WAS UNABLE TO GET A VALVE GUIDE TO PRESS IN DUE TO THE BAD MACHINING FROM THE FACTORY. HE THEN HAD TO MACHINE IT OUT AND REPLACE WITH A DIFFERENT GUIDE. I CALLED YAMAHA WHEN THIS WAS HAPPENING AND THEY TOLD ME THAT NO ONE ELSE HAD REPORTED A PROBLEM LIKE THIS. I LATER LEARNED THAT THEY DO KNOW ABOUT IT AND IT IS A RECURRING PROBLEM FOUND IN MANY OF THE 2007 R1'S PRIMARILY THOSE STAMPED 02/07 ON THE VIN. I CALLED YAMAHA BACK AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY WOULD DO SINCE THE WORK WAS ALREADY DONE AND IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. MORE INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND ON THE R1 FORUM UNDER THE MECHANICAL HELP THREAD. TITLED RECALL ON 07/08 SHOULD THEY? CAN WE PUSH THIS? I FIRST NOTICED THAT THE BIKE WAS LOSING A LITTLE POWER AND THEN IT BEGAN TO GET WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10350452
Incident
Jun 1, 2010
Mileage
12,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 6, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 YAMAHA YZFR1 MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN DRIVING THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL TICKING COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. THE CONTACT STATED THE NOISE PROGRESSED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY BACKFIRE WITH LIMITED POWER AND PRESSURE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE TO BE CAUSED BY THE VALVE STEM WHICH WAS PLACED INCORRECTLY AND COULD POTENTIALLY BREAK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE CONTACT WAS NO LONGER DRIVING THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,000.

NHTSA ID
10347834
Incident
Jun 28, 2010
Mileage
7,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 29, 2007

HAS EXTREME THROTTLE LAG IN SECOND GEAR AT AROUND 5500 RPM. PROBLEM ISN'T PRESENT EVERYTIME, BUT CAN BE DUPLICATED BY PUTTING THE BIKE INTO SECOND GEAR AND STAYING AT 5500 RPM FOR 1 TO 2 SECONDS AND THEN APPLYING GENEROUS THROTTLE. A LAG USUALLY AROUND 3 SECONDS AFTER POWER APPLICATION CAN BE FELT. IT HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST BE INVOLVED IN 2 ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS ISSUE. AT THAT RPM AND GEAR SETTING THE BIKE IS UNSAFE DUE TO THE LACK OF THROTTLE RESPONSE AND CAN CAUSE AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE SITUATION ON THE PUBLIC ROADS FOR NOT ONLY THE MOTORCYCLIST BUT FOR OTHER MOTORISTS AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10207312
Incident
Oct 29, 2007
Mileage
980 mi
Engine
Filed May 22, 2007

I RECENTLY PURCHASED THE 2007 R-1 MOTORCYCLE AND HAVE BEEN HAVING CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE THROTTLE LAG. 2ND GEAR AT 5500 MPH THE MOTORCYCLE HAD NO POWER. I FOUND THIS TO BE VERY DANGEROUS WHEN PASSING VEHICLES AND ACCELERATING THROUGH TURNS. I FELT THAT YAMAHA WAS NOT DOING THEIR PART TO FIX THE PROBLEM. $12,000 LATER AND UNHAPPY. PLEASE HELP. *AK

NHTSA ID
10191410
Incident
Apr 1, 2007
Engine
Filed May 5, 2007

I RECENTLY PURCHASE A 2007 YAMAHA YZF R-1. UNDERSTANDINGS IT IS THE FIRST YEAR YAHMAHA USES THIS TECHNOLOGY ON THE R1S WAS A CONCERN. BUT I BOUGHT IT ANYWAY. MY FEARS CAME TRUE WHEN MERGING ONTO FREEWAY. THE BIKE HAS A DANGEROUS THROTTLE LAG IN 2ND GEAR AT 5500RPMS (45MPH). THIS IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION ON ANY VEHICLE BUT ESP A 2 WHEEL MOTORCYCLE. APPARENTLY THERE IS NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM AND YAMAHA IS NOT PLANNING A RECALL DESPITE KNOWING OF THE HAZARDOUS POSITION IT HAS PLACED ITS CUSTOMERS IN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10189847
Incident
Mar 29, 2007
Mileage
4 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed May 1, 2007

MY 2007 YAMAHA R1 1. THE BIKE CUTS OFF ALMOST EVERY TIME I COME TO A STOP. IT DOES NOT MATTER WHETHER THE BIKE IS IN NEUTRAL OR IN GEAR WITH THE CLUTCH PULLED IN. IT DIED APPROXIMATELY. 15-20 TIMES ON MY RIDE. 2. IF I BLIP/REV THE BIKE IN NEUTRAL OR WHILE IN GEAR WITH THE CLUTCH PULLED IN, THE BIKE SHUTS OF AS WELL. 3. I WAS MERGING ON THE FREEWAY IN SECOND GEAR AND WHEN I WENT TO SPEED UP, THE BIKE HESITATED FOR ABOUT 3-4 SECONDS AND THEN VERY SLOWLY PICKED UP. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY THE CAR BEHIND ME. I REALIZED THAT IF I'M AT 5500 RPM'S IN SECOND GEAR FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN OPEN THE THROTTLE, IT CAUSES THIS LAG EVERY SINGLE TIME. THIS IS DEFINITELY NOT SAFE! I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY A CAR. 4. THE BIKE ALSO REACHED 250 DEGREES SEVERAL TIMES UNDER CRUISING CONDITIONS. I CAN'T EVEN TRUST THIS BIKE TO STAY RUNNING EITHER 'CAUSE IT SEEMS IT DIES EVERY TIME I COME TO A STOP. 5. THE BIKE ALSO SOMETIMES TAKES QUITE A FEW TRIES TO START IT. I HAVE TO HOLD DOWN THE STARTER FOR ABOUT 3-5 SECONDS SOMETIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10189407
Incident
Apr 27, 2007
Mileage
30 mi
Engine
Filed May 1, 2007

WHILE TAKING MY 2007 YAMAHA R1 IN SECOND GEAR TO 5500 RPMS. ONCE I OPEN THE THROTTLE, THE BIKE DOES NOT RESPOND FOR A SECOND OR TWO. BUT IF I TAKE THE RPMS TO 5000 OR 6000 THE RESPONSE IS IMMEDIATE. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SINCE THE DAY I RODE THE BIKE OFF OF THE DEALERS LOT. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO YET FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10189396
Incident
Apr 8, 2007
EngineTransmission
Filed Apr 21, 2007

THIS MOTORCYCLE CONSISTENTLY REFUSES TO ACCELERATE WHEN IN SECOND GEAR AT APPROXIMATELY 550RPM OR 49 MPH. THERE IS A SUBSTANTIAL DELAY IN RESPONSE AND A VERY SLOW INCREASE IN SPEED UNTIL NEARLY 70 MPH IS REACHED WHEN IT STARTS TO ACCELERATE AS NORMAL. THERE ARE NO FAULT CODES OR ANY OTHER ABNORMAL INDICATIONS, AND THIS CAN BE RECREATED AT ANY TIME. THIS POSES A SIGNIFICANT HAZARD FOR COLLISION AVOIDANCE AS WELL AS MERGING WITH EXISTING TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID
10188487
Incident
Dec 19, 2006
Mileage
50 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 17, 2007

2007 YAMAHA YZF-R1 SUPER SPORT MOTORCYCLE. THERE IS A CONSTANT FAILURE MODE IN THE ENGINE MAPPING THAT CAUSES SLOW ENGINE ACCELERATION IN THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: 2ND GEAR, 5500 RPMS. THIS CONDITION CAN BECOME A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE WHEN MANEUVERING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, OR EXPECTING ENGINE POWER TO HELP STAND THE MOTORCYCLE UP AFTER A TIGHT TURN. AFTER CONTACTING YAMAHA, I WAS TOLD THAT THE ENGINEERS HAS EVALUATED THE CONDITION AS A CHARACTERISTIC OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. YAMAHA HAS NO PLANS TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ID
10188085
Incident
Apr 16, 2007
Mileage
750 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Apr 12, 2007

I PURCHASED MY MOTORCYCLE BRAND NEW AND NOTICED ONE DAY WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE IN SECOND GEAR AFTER SLOWING THAT THE BIKE DID NOT RESPOND. THE BIKE ACTED AS IF IN SLOW MOTION AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE POWER RETURNED TO IT. IT WILL CONTINUE TO DO IT TO THIS DAY AND I DO NOT KNOW WHY. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED IT IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT IS A VERY REAL SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT HAS HAPPENED ONCE WHEN I WAS TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF A VEHICLE THAT WAS MOVING INTO MY LANE. LUCKILY THEY NOTICED ME AT THE LAST MINUTE BUT I CAN'T EXPECT THAT TO ALWAYS BE THE CASE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10187703
Incident
Mar 17, 2007
Mileage
100 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 27, 2007

THE MOTORCYCLE HAS STALLED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHEN SLOWING DOWN WITH THE CLUTCH ENGAGED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10186299
Incident
Mar 1, 2007
Mileage
1,100 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 20, 2007

2007 YAMAHA R1 MOTORCYCLE HAS A PROBLEM! THE ENGINE CUTS OUT AT AROUND 5500 RPM. IF YOUR AT THIS RPM AND OPEN THE THROTTLE IT WILL NOT RESPOND AT ALL FOR A FEW SECONDS, THEN IT WILL TAKE OFF. I FOUND THIS TO BE VERY DANGEROUS. IT ALMOST COUSED AN ACCIDENT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10185719
Incident
Mar 2, 2007
Engine
Filed Mar 19, 2007

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 YAMAHA MOTORCYCLE YZF-R1. WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE IS IN 2ND GEAR AND AT 5500 RPMS, THE MOTORCYCLE HESITATES FOR APPROXIMATELY 3-4 SECONDS WHEN HE TRIED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE MOTORYCLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1 MILE, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 743 MILES.

NHTSA ID
10185542
Incident
Dec 1, 2006
Mileage
1 mi
Body & structureEngine
Filed Mar 13, 2007

(1) THROTTLE LAG ON 2007 YAMAHA R1, TRY TO ACCELERATE IN 2ND GEAR AT 5500 RPM'S AND THE BIKE DOESN'T MOVE, THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN A VIOLENT JERK AND THE BIKE IS NOW VIOLENTLY ACCELERATION. (2) I WAS IN TRAFFIC TRYING TO PASS A VEHICLE AND ALMOST GOT RUN OVER DUE TO THE LAG. THERE IS NO FIXED REPORT, BUT THE EUROPEAN BIKES DON'T HAVE THIS SO A NEW ECU WOULD FIX IT. OR A REFLASH OF THE ECU. (3) THE REARSET (AKA FOOTPEG BRACKETS) ARE BREAKING OFF WHEN WEIGHT IS APPLIED. STANDING UP ON THE BIKE OR JUST PUTTING PRESSURE ON THEM WILL CAUSE THEM TO SNAP. (4) FRIEND WHO HAS THE SAME BIKE BROKE HIS FOOT WHEN THE RESET BROKE. (5) HAD TO BUY AFTERMARKET REAR SETS TO AVOID THIS PROBLEM. SPENT $ 500, ON A PRODUCT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BUY..YAMAHA NEEDS TO REIMBURSE ME OR SEND ME NEW ONES. *JB

NHTSA ID
10184954
Incident
Mar 10, 2007
Mileage
98 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .