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
What owners actually said
82 reports
2 miles · Feb 23, 2016
Unknown Or Other
DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS THE SPEEDOMETER IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. I HOPE NHTSA WILL REQUIRE YAMAHA TO REPLACE ALL AFFECTED SPEEDOMETERS AS IT IS A SAFETY DEFECT THAT COULD LEAD TO INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE NEW. IT IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM, THE MOTORCYCLE ARRIVE…
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DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS THE SPEEDOMETER IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. I HOPE NHTSA WILL REQUIRE YAMAHA TO REPLACE ALL AFFECTED SPEEDOMETERS AS IT IS A SAFETY DEFECT THAT COULD LEAD TO INJURY OR EVEN DEATH. THIS HAS HAPPENED SINCE NEW. IT IS NOT A NEW PROBLEM, THE MOTORCYCLE ARRIVED IN THIS CONDITION. I HAVE TALKED TO YAMAHA AND THEY ARE AWARE OF THE CONDITION (MANY COMPLAINTS) BUT THEY ARE CHOOSING NOT TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA ODI #10837872
350 miles · Dec 23, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control
IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT, I CAN NOT SEE THE SPEEDOMETER. IT IS A BLACK CIRCLE. DOESN'T SEEM TO MATTER WHETHER THE SUN IS IN FRONT OR BEHIND ME. THIS IS A HAZARD AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. THIS WILL CAUSE ME TO GET A SPEEDING TICKET OR, WORSE, GET INTO A CRASH BECAUSE I CAN NOT JUDGE MY SPEED.
NHTSA ODI #10811998
2,045 miles · Dec 16, 2015
Electrical System
CANNOT SEE IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT, DIGITAL DISPLAY DISAPPEARS. FAILURE TO SEE TRAVEL SPEED. WAS PULLED OVER FOR 68MPH IN A 60MPH IN THE AFTERNOON SUN. ONLY A WARNING... BUT NEXT TIME MAYBE NOT SO LUCKY....
NHTSA ODI #10810783
4 miles · Oct 3, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control
THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT VISABLE AT ALL WHILE RIDING INTO THE SUN
NHTSA ODI #10779533
100,000 miles · Sep 14, 2015
Visibility/wiper
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 YAMAHA BOLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DIGITAL ODOMETER WAS NOT VIEWABLE DURING THE DAYLIGHT DUE TO A GLARE. AS A RESULT, THE SPEED WAS NOT MONITORED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ODOMETER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE M…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 YAMAHA BOLT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DIGITAL ODOMETER WAS NOT VIEWABLE DURING THE DAYLIGHT DUE TO A GLARE. AS A RESULT, THE SPEED WAS NOT MONITORED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ODOMETER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10763590
950 miles · Aug 10, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control
THE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH TO PROVIDE CURRENT SPEED IN DAYLIGHT CONDITIONS AND CREATES AN INABILITY TO KNOW YOUR CURRENT SPEED.
NHTSA ODI #10747456
95 miles · Jul 10, 2015
Electrical SystemStructure
WHEN RIDING IN BRIGHT DAYLIGHT IT WAS HARD TO SEE MY DRIVING SPEED. I WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE ONE HAND FROM HANDLEBARS TO SHADE THE SPEEDOMETER TO BE ABLE TO SEE, GIVING ME LESS CONTROL. IT CAUSED ME TO BE UNABLE TO TELL HOW FAST I WAS GOING AND IF I WAS IN COMPLIANCE WITH POSTED SPEED LIMITS. UPDATED 09/17/15*LJ
NHTSA ODI #10733341
57 miles · Jun 30, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control
SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY MOTORCYCLE I NOTICED THAT WHEN IT IS BRIGHT OUTSIDE I CAN NOT READ MY SPEEDOMETER. THERE IS A BIG BLACK CIRCLE WITH NO WAY FOR ME TO SEE HOW FAST I AM GOING. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO LEAN FORWARD, CHANGE BODY POSITIONS AND COVER THE SPEEDOMETER WITH MY HAND TO SEE IT AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE EVEN FROM…
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SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY MOTORCYCLE I NOTICED THAT WHEN IT IS BRIGHT OUTSIDE I CAN NOT READ MY SPEEDOMETER. THERE IS A BIG BLACK CIRCLE WITH NO WAY FOR ME TO SEE HOW FAST I AM GOING. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO LEAN FORWARD, CHANGE BODY POSITIONS AND COVER THE SPEEDOMETER WITH MY HAND TO SEE IT AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE EVEN FROM A FEW INCHES AWAY FROM IT. THIS POSES A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN. TO MY KNOWLEDGE ALL VEHICLES ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE A WORKING SPEEDOMETER AND THIS MOTORCYCLE'S SPEEDOMETER ONLY WORKS PART OF THE TIME. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE RIDING IN THE HILLS WHEN IT'S A BRIGHT DAY AS THERE ARE NUMEROUS CURVES THAT REQUIRE YOU TO SLOW DOWN FROM 45 OR 50 MPH TO LESS THAN 30 MPH TO SAFELY NAVIGATE THE CURVES. IT IS EXTREMELY EASY TO MISJUDGE YOUR SPEED FOR THESE CURVES BECAUSE YOU CAN'T SEE THE SPEEDOMETER. I HAVE CAME CLOSE TO CRASHING A COUPLE TIMES AND OTHER TIMES I ABOUT GOT RAN OVER BECAUSE I SLOWED DOWN TO MUCH. THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED.
NHTSA ODI #10731364
400 miles · Jun 27, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control
THE SPEEDOMETER SCREEN IS UNREADABLE AND IS A HAZARD.
NHTSA ODI #10730752
2 miles · Jun 25, 2015
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control
WHILE RIDING THE YAMAHA BOLT DURING THE DAYTIME IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER DUE TO GLARE. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS DUE TO THE GLASS OVER THE LCD ITSELF, BUT UNLESS I TAKE MY EYES OFF OF THE ROAD AND COVER THE GLASS WITH MY HAND I CANNOT GET AN ACCURATE VIEW OF MY SPEED. THIS LEAVES ME VULNERABLE TO ACCIDENTS, S…
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WHILE RIDING THE YAMAHA BOLT DURING THE DAYTIME IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER DUE TO GLARE. I DO NOT KNOW IF IT IS DUE TO THE GLASS OVER THE LCD ITSELF, BUT UNLESS I TAKE MY EYES OFF OF THE ROAD AND COVER THE GLASS WITH MY HAND I CANNOT GET AN ACCURATE VIEW OF MY SPEED. THIS LEAVES ME VULNERABLE TO ACCIDENTS, SPEEDING TICKETS AND MANY OTHER SITUATIONS THAT ARE DUE TO THIS DISTRACTION. I HOPE YAMAHA WILL ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2014 Yamaha Bolt Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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