2007 Yamaha Yzf-R1 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 2007 Yamaha Yzf-R1, 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
- Driver assistance5152.6%
- Engine1414.4%
- Electrical1111.3%
- Fuel system88.2%
- Body & structure66.2%
- Transmission55.2%
- Powertrain (other)22.1%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
1. I WAS CRUISING IN 2ND GEAR AT 5500 RPMS, I GAVE IT GAS BUT THE BIKE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING, I STARTED TO LET OFF THE GAS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A SUDDEN BURST OF POWER, CAUSING THE REAR END OF THE BIKE TO KICK OUT SIDE WAYS AND THROWING ME OFF THE BIKE, FLIPPING AND TUMBLING. 2.THE MOTORCYCLE FAILED TO OPERATE AS IT SHOULD HAVE, THE CONSEQUENCE WAS THE MOTORCYCLE BEING DESTROYED AND ME BEING SEVERELY INJURED. 3. NOTHING WAS DONE, YAMAHA DENIED MY CLAIM TELLING ME THAT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS TO HAPPEN. *TR
PAYED $13,000 FOR A MOTORCYCLE THAT DOES NOT RESPOND APPROPRIATELY...2ND GEAR AT 5500 RPM. MOTORCYCLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE UNTIL A GOOD TIME AFTER I'VE ACCELERATED. CONTINUES TO HAPPEN AND WILL NOT BE ELIMINATED UNTIL ECU IS CORRECTED BY YAMAHA! COULD COST SOMEONE THEIR LIFE OR LIMB IF INJURED. *TR
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
I ALMOST DROPPED THE BIKE WITH MY SON ON THE BIKE WITH ME IN A INTERSECTION AND WAS ALMOST STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO THE LOAF IN THROTTLE IN FIRST GEAR. THE BIKE STUMBLES AND MISFIRES FROM IDLE UP TILL AROUND 2000 RPMS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE NOTIFIED YAMAHA DIRECTLY WITH NO HELP. THEY STARTED CHANGING OUT THE COMPUTERS IN THE BIKES THEN THEY STOPPED. I JUST BOUGHT THE BIKE WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM ESPECIALLY HAVING MY CHILD ON THE BIKE WHEN THIS TOOK PLACE. WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE BARELY WERE MISSED BY A CAR DUE TO THE BIKE STUMBLING AND SHIFT OFF IN THE INTERSECTION AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. IT TOOK EVERYTHING IN ME TO PREVENT MY SON FROM BEING STRUCK BY THE ONCOMING VEHICLE. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE 07 AND 08 MODELS. THERE ARE FEW COMPLAINTS PROBABLY DUE TO THE OTHER OWNERS DIED ON THIS BIKE BEFORE BEING ABLE TO FILE A COMPLAINT. WE WERE ON A CITY STREET AT A INTERSECTION. AS I WENT IN MOTION THE BIKE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION AND ALMOST HIT US BOTH KILLED. THEY NEED TO RECALL THESE BIKE AND PERMANENTLY FIX THEM. *TR
2007 AND 2008 YAMAHA R1 MOTORCYCLES HAVE FAULTY ECU WHICH CAUSES BIKE TO STALL WHEN COASTING OR STOPPING AND LAG WHEN ACCELERATING AT CERTAIN RPM RANGES. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR BOTH THE RIDER AND OTHER MOTOR VEHICLES IN THE VICINITY. YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND INITIALLY EXCHANGED FAULTY ECU'S AT NO CHARGE BUT QUICKLY STOPPED DOING THIS. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE MANUFACTURE AND WITH THE LOCAL DEALERSHIPS, BOTH WHEN I WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND AFTER IT HAD EXPIRED, AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. *TR
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
I ALMOST DROPPED THE BIKE WITH MY SON ON THE BIKE WITH ME IN A INTERSECTION AND WAS ALMOST STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO THE LOAF IN THROTTLE IN FIRST GEAR. THE BIKE STUMBLES AND MISFIRES FROM IDLE UP TILL AROUND 2000 RPMS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE NOTIFIED YAMAHA DIRECTLY WITH NO HELP. THEY STARTED CHANGING OUT THE COMPUTERS IN THE BIKES THEN THEY STOPPED. I JUST BOUGHT THE BIKE WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM ESPECIALLY HAVING MY CHILD ON THE BIKE WHEN THIS TOOK PLACE. WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE BARELY WERE MISSED BY A CAR DUE TO THE BIKE STUMBLING AND SHIFT OFF IN THE INTERSECTION AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. IT TOOK EVERYTHING IN ME TO PREVENT MY SON FROM BEING STRUCK BY THE ONCOMING VEHICLE. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE 07 AND 08 MODELS. THERE ARE FEW COMPLAINTS PROBABLY DUE TO THE OTHER OWNERS DIED ON THIS BIKE BEFORE BEING ABLE TO FILE A COMPLAINT. WE WERE ON A CITY STREET AT A INTERSECTION. AS I WENT IN MOTION THE BIKE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION AND ALMOST HIT US BOTH KILLED. THEY NEED TO RECALL THESE BIKE AND PERMANENTLY FIX THEM. *TR
PURCHASED 2007 YAMAHA YZFR1 LAST SEPTEMBER. THE BIKE EXHIBITED A LAG IN THE THROTTLE AROUND 5,000 RPM, AND THE ENGINE WILL ALSO STALL AT RANDOM, USUALLY AT THE WORST TIME. THIS BIKE HAS STALLED AT LEAST 20 TIMES AT INTERSECTIONS, AND STALLED ANOTHER 6 TIMES JUST YESTERDAY! THE THROTTLE LAG ISSUE HAS BEEN FIXED BY A DEALER. THE STALL HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. THE STALL PROBLEM SCARES ME. IT MAY LEAD TO MY DEATH!!! YAMAHA NEEDS TO FIX THIS NOW! *TR
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
2007 YAMAHA R1, THROTTLE LAGGED AT AROUND 5500 RPMS. NO RESPONSE FOR A FEW SECONDS. CAN CAUSE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WHEN NEED TO SPEED UP OR TAKE OFF BEFORE BEING RAN OVER A SUV OR IN AN INTERSECTION OR OVERTAKING ANOTHER VEHICLE. FOOT PEG BRACKET BROKEN. WAS PARKING THE BIKE WHEN I PUT SOME PRESSURE ON THE FOOT PEG, IT BROKE AND MYSELF AND THE BIKE WENT DOWN. NO INJURIES, JUST DAMAGES WHICH I WANT TO BE REIMBURSED BY YAMAHA.... BUT IT COULD BE FATAL IN CASE OF RIDING IN TRAFFIC. I REALLY THOUGHT SOMEHOW I SCREWED UP, AND REASON WHY I WENT DOWN, UNTIL I FOUND OUT THAT MANY MORE PEOPLE WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. NOW I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT MY BIKE AND I WENT DOWN BECAUSE OF A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM WITH THE MATERIAL USED IN THE FOOT PEG. I HAVE PICTURES AVAILABLE.... PLUS ORDERED A NEW FOOT PEG, AND IT IS ON BACK ORDER.! MAYBE YAMAHA TOOK THEM ALL OFF THE MARKET , AND IS REPLACING THEM WITH NEW ONES? OR MAYBE IT MEANT MANY PEOPLE WERE HAVING TO BUY NEW ONES. WHEN IS THIS GOING TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY AND ACTIONS TAKEN?*AK
I HAVE RECENTLY PURCHASED THE 2007 YAMAHA YZFR1 AND HAVE SOME CONCERNS REGARDING THE SAFETY OF THIS VEHICLE. FIRST OFF I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT THE ISSUE OF A FLAT SPOT IN ACCELERATION. WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT APPROXIMATELY 5500 RPM AND THROTTLE IS APPLIED THERE IS A DELAY IN ACCELERATION LASTING BETWEEN 3-5 SECONDS. THIS DELAY COULD CAUSE INJURY OR POSSIBLE DEATH DUE TO ACCIDENTS OCCURRING WHEN ACCELERATION IN THIS RANGE IS NECESSARY. THE SECOND ISSUE IS WITH THE REAR SET (FOOT PEGS). ALTHOUGH THIS HAS NOT OCCURRED ON MY VEHICLE, THERE HAVE BEEN CASES OF THE SET CRACKING AND BREAKING. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION IT CAN CAUSE INJURY OR POSSIBLE DEATH. *JB
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.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY 2007 YAMAHA R1 MOTORCYCLE HAS THROTTLE RESPONSE LAG IN 2ND GEAR AT ABOUT 50 MPH. I EXPERIENCED THE LAG WILL RIDING AND NOTICED THAT WHEN I WAS GIVING THE ENGINE THROTTLE I RECEIVED NO RESPONSE FOR ABOUT 4 SECONDS. WHEN I DID FINALLY RECEIVE THROTTLE RESPONSE, I WAS APPLYING TOO MUCH THROTTLE (BECAUSE I WAS INITIALLY NOT GETTING ANY RESPONSE) AND THE MOTORCYCLE ACCELERATED SO QUICKLY THAT IT ALMOST KICKED ME OFF (THE MOTORCYCLE POPPED A WHEELIE). AFTER THE EXPERIENCE, I DID NOT THINK TOO MUCH OF IT UNTIL I READ ABOUT THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. AFTER READING ABOUT IT, I WENT OUT RIDING AND WAS ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE THROTTLE LAG ON COMMAND. THE THROTTLE LAG RESPONSE TAKES PLACE IN SECOND GEAR, 50 MPH, AND 5500 RPMS. THE ISSUE ABOUT THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN THE THROTTLE FINALLY KICKS IN THE USER HAS THE THROTTLE FULLY OPEN IN AN ATTEMPT TO COUNTER ACT IT AND THE MOTORCYCLE RESPONDS VIOLENTLY. THE RIDER COULD BE KICKED OFF THE MOTORCYCLE IF THEY ARE NOT PREPARED. *JB
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
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 ALMOST DROPPED THE BIKE WITH MY SON ON THE BIKE WITH ME IN A INTERSECTION AND WAS ALMOST STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE DUE TO THE LOAF IN THROTTLE IN FIRST GEAR. THE BIKE STUMBLES AND MISFIRES FROM IDLE UP TILL AROUND 2000 RPMS. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. I HAVE NOTIFIED YAMAHA DIRECTLY WITH NO HELP. THEY STARTED CHANGING OUT THE COMPUTERS IN THE BIKES THEN THEY STOPPED. I JUST BOUGHT THE BIKE WITH THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM ESPECIALLY HAVING MY CHILD ON THE BIKE WHEN THIS TOOK PLACE. WE WERE LUCKY THAT WE BARELY WERE MISSED BY A CAR DUE TO THE BIKE STUMBLING AND SHIFT OFF IN THE INTERSECTION AS I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN. IT TOOK EVERYTHING IN ME TO PREVENT MY SON FROM BEING STRUCK BY THE ONCOMING VEHICLE. THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE 07 AND 08 MODELS. THERE ARE FEW COMPLAINTS PROBABLY DUE TO THE OTHER OWNERS DIED ON THIS BIKE BEFORE BEING ABLE TO FILE A COMPLAINT. WE WERE ON A CITY STREET AT A INTERSECTION. AS I WENT IN MOTION THE BIKE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION AND ALMOST HIT US BOTH KILLED. THEY NEED TO RECALL THESE BIKE AND PERMANENTLY FIX THEM. *TR
THE 2007 YAMAHA YZF-R1 HAS SIGNIFICANT LAG OR AFLAT-SPOT" IF YOU WILL AT APPROXIMATELY 48 MPH IN SECOND GEAR. ANY ATTEMPT TO ROLL ON THE THROTTLE AT THAT POINT WILL RESULT IN THE BIKE NEARLY STALLING AND OR CUTTING OUT BEFORE SLOWLY ACCELERATING. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR ANY OWNERS OF THE MOTORCYCLE. IF YOU EVER HAD TO ACCELERATE OUT OF A PROBLEM AT THAT SPEED, YOU MIGHT AS WELL JUST BRACE FOR IMPACT. ALSO, 45 MPH IS A VERY COMMON SPEED LIMIT IN OUR LOCAL AREA, AND IT WAS NOT A PLEASANT FEELING WHEN YOU ROLL ON THE THROTTLE AND NOTHING HAPPENS. KEEP IN MIND, MY 10 FAILURES IS JUST THE BEGINNING. IT IS 10 AND COUNTING. *AK
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 .