IllustrationTHE OEM SPEEDOMETER IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ IN DAYLIGHT. *TR
2014 Yamaha Bolt
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Bolt years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
640–25K
025–50K
050–75K
075–100K
1100–150K
0150K+
65 reports with mileage · 17 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
56 reportsTHE SPEEDOMETER ON THE BIKE GOES BLACK IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT AND YOU CANNOT READ IT AT ALL. *TR
THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER ON THIS MOTORCYCLE IS UNREADABLE UNDER CERTAIN LIGHTING CONDITIONS. ANGLED SUNLIGHT (MORNING, EVENING WHEN LIGHT IS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE) CREATES A CONDITION WHERE THE SPEEDOMETER READOUT IS UNREADABLE. THE ONLY METHOD OF MEASURING SPEED IS BY SURROUNDING TRAFFIC. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS …
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THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER ON THIS MOTORCYCLE IS UNREADABLE UNDER CERTAIN LIGHTING CONDITIONS. ANGLED SUNLIGHT (MORNING, EVENING WHEN LIGHT IS COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE) CREATES A CONDITION WHERE THE SPEEDOMETER READOUT IS UNREADABLE. THE ONLY METHOD OF MEASURING SPEED IS BY SURROUNDING TRAFFIC. THIS CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR MOTORCYCLE DRIVERS, ESPECIALLY ON EXPRESSWAYS AND URBAN ENVIRONMENTS WHERE THE SPEED LIMIT CHANGES BY LOCATION. *JS
THE DIGITAL LCD SPEEDOMETER IS UNREADABLE IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CHECK YOUR SPEED OR ODOMETER READING. EXCESSIVE OR IMPROPER SPEEDS ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO MONITOR SAFELY ENDANGERING THE RIDER, THE OTHER DRIVERS THAT MAY BE INVOLVED IN ANY SPEED RELATED ACCIDENTS, AND THE PATROL OFFICERS ISSUING THE TICKET THAT CO…
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THE DIGITAL LCD SPEEDOMETER IS UNREADABLE IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CHECK YOUR SPEED OR ODOMETER READING. EXCESSIVE OR IMPROPER SPEEDS ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO MONITOR SAFELY ENDANGERING THE RIDER, THE OTHER DRIVERS THAT MAY BE INVOLVED IN ANY SPEED RELATED ACCIDENTS, AND THE PATROL OFFICERS ISSUING THE TICKET THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. YAMAHA HAS INDIRECTLY ADMITTED THE DEFAULT BY REPLACING THE SPEEDOMETER ON THE 2015 MODELS WITH A READABLE ONE. MY GREATEST CONCERN IS THE FACT THAT THIS A ENTRY LEVEL, AFFORDABLE MOTORCYCLE THAT MANY INEXPERIENCED RIDERS HAVE ALREADY PURCHASED. AN INEXPERIENCED RIDER OFTEN HAS DIFFICULTY GAUGING THE PROPER SPEEDS FOR CURVES AND WET CONDITIONS UNTIL THEY GAIN THE PROPER EXPERIENCE. THEY TEND TO RELY ON THE SPEEDOMETER BECAUSE THEY HAVE NOT YET DEVELOPED A FEEL FOR RIDING. IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE FAULTY SPEEDOMETER IS GOING TO COST SOMEONE THEIR LIFE. *TR
THE VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT PERFORM AS NEEDED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO OPERATOR. ILLUMINATION OF SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY IS NOT SUFFICIENT ENOUGH DURING TIMES OF DAY WHERE SUNLIGHT IS BRIGHT. THE SPEEDOMETER IS A DIGITAL DISPLAY BEHIND GLASS THAT APPEARS TO BE TINTED. NO METHOD FOR OPERATOR TO ADJUST OR ANY AUTOMATIC MEANS OF …
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THE VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT PERFORM AS NEEDED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO OPERATOR. ILLUMINATION OF SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY IS NOT SUFFICIENT ENOUGH DURING TIMES OF DAY WHERE SUNLIGHT IS BRIGHT. THE SPEEDOMETER IS A DIGITAL DISPLAY BEHIND GLASS THAT APPEARS TO BE TINTED. NO METHOD FOR OPERATOR TO ADJUST OR ANY AUTOMATIC MEANS OF ADJUSTMENT OF READOUT FOR CONDITIONS EXISTS. OPERATORS ARE AT RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER READOUT CANNOT BE READ TO ADJUST THEIR SPEED TO RECOMMENDED SPEEDS POSTED TO SAFELY NAVIGATE DANGEROUS ROADS, RAMPS, CURVES, ROUGH ROAD AND OTHER CONDITIONS. MANY OTHER CONDITIONS EXIST WHERE THE IMPORTANCE FOR OPERATORS TO TRAVEL AT SAFE POSTED SPEEDS IS PARAMOUNT FOR THE OPERATOR'S AND OR THE PUBLIC'S HEALTH AND SAFETY. BECAUSE THIS SPEEDOMETER CANNOT BE READ IT PUTS THE OPERATOR AND THE PUBLIC AT RISK. *TR
YAMAHA DESIGN FLAW IN SPEEDOMETER. CANNOT BE SEEN IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT. CAN PUT RIDER IN DANGEROUS SITUATIONS TRYING TO SEE WHAT SPEED THAT ARE TRAVELING. YAMAHA HAS UPGRADED THE METER FOR THE 2015 MODELS BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING FOR THE 2014 MODEL OWNERS. *TR
THE SPEEDOMETER IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE IN SUNLIGHT. I SAW A POLICE OFFICER LOOKING FOR PEOPLE SPEEDING AND I COULDN'T TELL WHAT SPEED I WAS TRAVELING!! I HAD TO TAKE MY EYES OFF THE ROAD FOR EXTENDED PERIODS OF TIME. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL NOW!!! *TR
THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY ON THIS BIKE COMPLETELY WASHES OUT IN THE BRIGHT SUN MAKING IT HARD TO SEE THE SPEED YOU ARE TRAVELING. WITH ADDITION IN NOT BEING ABLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER YOU HAVE ISSUES SEEING ANY INDICATOR LIGHT (BLINKER, FUEL LIGHT ETC..) THIS COMPLAINT COMES FROM ALL YAMAHA BOLT OWNERS. *TR
THE SPEEDOMETER DISPLAY ON THIS BIKE COMPLETELY WASHES OUT IN THE BRIGHT SUN MAKING IT HARD TO SEE THE SPEED YOU ARE TRAVELING. WITH ADDITION IN NOT BEING ABLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER YOU HAVE ISSUES SEEING ANY INDICATOR LIGHT (BLINKER, FUEL LIGHT ETC..) THIS COMPLAINT COMES FROM ALL YAMAHA BOLT OWNERS. *TR
SPEEDOMETER IS VERY DIFFICULT TO READ. REQUIRES TILTING MY HEAD UP OR DOWN AND/OR LEANING FORWARD OR BACK TO BE ABLE TO READ EVERY TIME, REGARDLESS OF SUN ORIENTATION. TURN SIGNALS AND THE ODOMETER HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THIS ISSUE REQUIRES THAT I TAKE MY EYES AND CONCENTRATION OFF OF DRIVING TO BE ABLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER. TH…
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SPEEDOMETER IS VERY DIFFICULT TO READ. REQUIRES TILTING MY HEAD UP OR DOWN AND/OR LEANING FORWARD OR BACK TO BE ABLE TO READ EVERY TIME, REGARDLESS OF SUN ORIENTATION. TURN SIGNALS AND THE ODOMETER HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THIS ISSUE REQUIRES THAT I TAKE MY EYES AND CONCENTRATION OFF OF DRIVING TO BE ABLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER. THE ISSUE IS MORE PRONOUNCED WHEN WEARING SUNGLASSES AS I ALWAYS DO WHEN RIDING. THIS IS MADE EVEN WORSE BY MY HELMET'S BUILT IN VISOR WHICH I USE OCCASIONALLY. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME I RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE. *TR
Official recalls
113V298000 · Electrical System
Jul 8, 2013
Yamaha Motor Company (Yamaha) is recalling certain model year 2014 XVS950CU (Bolt) motorcycles manufactured March 2013 through June 2013. Slack or sag in the wiring harness may allow it to contact the exhaust manifold causing the wires to melt, and possibly short circuit.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the wires short circuit, the fuses will blow which may cause the engine to stall. An engine stall while riding, increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Yamaha will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness and secure it away from the exhaust. If the wiring harness is damaged, it will first be replaced. The recall began on August 2, 2013. Owners may contact Yamaha at 1-800-962-7926.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.