IllustrationVEHICLE METER IS DANGEROUSLY DIM. NOT VISIBLE DURING DAYLIGHT DUE TO GLARE. ONLY 2014 YAMAHA BOLT MODELS ENCOUNTER THIS ISSUE. THE SPEED CAN NOT BE DETERMINED WHILE RIDING NOR ANY OTHER INFORMATION DISPLAYED ON THE METER.
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
Exterior Lighting complaints
7 reportsSPEEDOMETER CAN'T BE SEEN WHEN TRAVELING INTO THE SUN OR ANY TIME THE SUN IS AT THE WRONG ANGLE THAT IT CREATES A NON READABLE DISPLAY, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE ALMOST ANY TIME THE SUN IS OUT. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD NOT BEING ABLE TO READ YOUR SPEED AS WELL AS POSSIBLY CAUSING SPEEDING TICKETS.
WHEN RIDING THE YAMAHA BOLT TOWARDS THE SUN, THE SPEEDOMETER IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. BECAUSE OF THE POSITIONING OF THE SPEEDOMETER, AND THE GRAPHIC INTERFACE THAT IS USED, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. THIS HAS CAUSED ME GREAT DIFFICULTY WHILE RIDING. IF I CANNOT READ MY SPEED ACCURATELY, I HAVE NO IDEA OF MY RATE OF TRAVEL. THIS IS …
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WHEN RIDING THE YAMAHA BOLT TOWARDS THE SUN, THE SPEEDOMETER IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. BECAUSE OF THE POSITIONING OF THE SPEEDOMETER, AND THE GRAPHIC INTERFACE THAT IS USED, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. THIS HAS CAUSED ME GREAT DIFFICULTY WHILE RIDING. IF I CANNOT READ MY SPEED ACCURATELY, I HAVE NO IDEA OF MY RATE OF TRAVEL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND POSES RISK TO MYSELF, MY PROPERTY, AND THOSE SURROUNDING ME. THIS SPECIFICALLY HAPPENS WHILE IN MOTION, RIDING TOWARDS THE SUN.
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 ENSURE ADHERENCE TO SPEED LIMITS. THE USE OF POLARIZED SUNGLASSES OR LENSES MAKES THE VISIBILITY OF THIS DISPLAY EVEN MORE DIFFICULT. *TR
THE OEM LCD SPEEDOMETER BACKLIGHT IS NOT PROPERLY DESIGNED AND UNDER MOST CONDITIONS WHETHER IT BE DURING DAYTIME, NIGHTTIME, SUNLIGHT, CLOUDY SKIES, RAIN, SNOW, TUNNELS, IN A GARAGE, WHATEVER THE CONDITIONS, THE LCD DISPLAY CAN NOT BE SEEN. MOST OWNERS OF THE BIKE KNOW THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM, HAVE DISCUSSED IT AMONGST THEMSE…
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THE OEM LCD SPEEDOMETER BACKLIGHT IS NOT PROPERLY DESIGNED AND UNDER MOST CONDITIONS WHETHER IT BE DURING DAYTIME, NIGHTTIME, SUNLIGHT, CLOUDY SKIES, RAIN, SNOW, TUNNELS, IN A GARAGE, WHATEVER THE CONDITIONS, THE LCD DISPLAY CAN NOT BE SEEN. MOST OWNERS OF THE BIKE KNOW THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM, HAVE DISCUSSED IT AMONGST THEMSELVES, SOME HAVE SAID THAT YAMAHA IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE (HEARSAY). I WANTED TO ADD TO THE ONLY THREE COMPLAINTS HERE IN THE NHTSA (SAFECAR.GOV) SITE AND ONLY HOPE THAT ALL OF THE OWNERS FOLLOW SUIT SO THAT YAMAHA CAN TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION TO CORRECT THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION ASAP. THIS IS NOT A, "WE WILL WAIT AND SEE" PROBLEM. IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED, ANALYZED BY THE YAMAHA ENGINEERS AND A PERMANENT FIX ISSUED BY YAMAHA. OR, ARE WE WAITING FOR AN ACCIDENT TO OCCUR BEFORE THIS ISSUE IS LOOKED INTO? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 YAMAHA BOLT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER EXHIBITED DARK COLORS AND WHEN DRIVING UNDER THE SUN, THE SPEEDOMETER COULD NOT BE READ BECAUSE IT WAS TOO DIM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 YAMAHA BOLT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER EXHIBITED DARK COLORS AND WHEN DRIVING UNDER THE SUN, THE SPEEDOMETER COULD NOT BE READ BECAUSE IT WAS TOO DIM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100.
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.