Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 7 of 9 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
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.
Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Structure. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 2 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
9 reports
14,800 miles · Nov 22, 2020
Power Train
I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF INSTALLING NEW CLUTCH PLATES WHEN I NOTICED THAT MY CLUTCH BASKET WAS CRACKED IN TWO PLACES. AFTER A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH, I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT CRACKING CLUTCH BASKETS ARE A COMMON ISSUE WITH MY FIRST GENERATION FZ09. I HAD TO LEAVE MY MOTORCYCLE AT MY FRIENDS HOUSE BECAUSE OF THIS AND CANNOT PRO…
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I WAS IN THE PROCESS OF INSTALLING NEW CLUTCH PLATES WHEN I NOTICED THAT MY CLUTCH BASKET WAS CRACKED IN TWO PLACES. AFTER A QUICK GOOGLE SEARCH, I WAS DISAPPOINTED TO SEE THAT CRACKING CLUTCH BASKETS ARE A COMMON ISSUE WITH MY FIRST GENERATION FZ09. I HAD TO LEAVE MY MOTORCYCLE AT MY FRIENDS HOUSE BECAUSE OF THIS AND CANNOT PROVIDE PICTURES AT THE MOMENT. THERE IS NO TELLING WHEN THE BASKET CRACKED.
NHTSA ODI #11375850
Mileage unknown · May 18, 2019
Suspension
THE REAR SUSPENSION SHOCK ABSORBER IS RUSTED AT ALL OF THE REAR WELDED POINTS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGED AND IS IN A LOW HUMIDITY DESERT OF ARIZONA. THE RUST FROM THE WELDS HAS TRAVELED UP ALONG WHERE TWO PARTS OF THE SHOCK ASSEMBLY IS CONNECTED. THERE IS NO WAY TO DISASSEMBLE THE SHOCK TO CLEAN OFF THE RUST AND REFINISH IT. …
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THE REAR SUSPENSION SHOCK ABSORBER IS RUSTED AT ALL OF THE REAR WELDED POINTS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGED AND IS IN A LOW HUMIDITY DESERT OF ARIZONA. THE RUST FROM THE WELDS HAS TRAVELED UP ALONG WHERE TWO PARTS OF THE SHOCK ASSEMBLY IS CONNECTED. THERE IS NO WAY TO DISASSEMBLE THE SHOCK TO CLEAN OFF THE RUST AND REFINISH IT. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, ONLY THE 2015 MODEL YEAR IS AFFECTED, SINCE YAMAHA CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE REAR SHOCK ASSEMBLY FROM 2016.
NHTSA ODI #11208440
17,000 miles · Aug 28, 2017
EnginePower Train
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 50MPH WHEN A ANIMAL CAME OUT OF THE DITCH. I THEN PULLED CLUTCH IN SO I COULD BRAKE. ONCE I DID THIS THE BIKE STALLED. TO GET THE BIKE GOING AGAIN I RELEASED THE CLUTCH, BUT ONCE I DID THIS THE BIKE JUST LOCKED THE BACK TIRE. I THEN PULLED CLUTCH IN AGAIN AND THEN IT STARTED. I ATTEMPTED TO PULL TO THE S…
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DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 50MPH WHEN A ANIMAL CAME OUT OF THE DITCH. I THEN PULLED CLUTCH IN SO I COULD BRAKE. ONCE I DID THIS THE BIKE STALLED. TO GET THE BIKE GOING AGAIN I RELEASED THE CLUTCH, BUT ONCE I DID THIS THE BIKE JUST LOCKED THE BACK TIRE. I THEN PULLED CLUTCH IN AGAIN AND THEN IT STARTED. I ATTEMPTED TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE CLUTCH WAS NOT DISENGAGING I KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG. GOT THE BIKE BACK HOME, AND PULLED THE CLUTCH CASE OFF TO FIND TWO CLUTCH DISKS HAD SHATTERED. THIS ALSO CAUSED THE CLUTCH BASKET TO BREAK. NOW THERE IS METAL FLOATING ALL AROUND MY MOTOR.
NHTSA ODI #11020180
34,500 miles · Apr 18, 2017
EnginePower Train
CLUTCH BASKET CUSH BUMPERS PREMATURELY WEARING OUT, CAUSING FREEPLAY BETWEEN RING GEAR AND BASKET. ANY PLAY WHATSOEVER IS ABNORMAL AND WILL CAUSE EXCESSIVE VIBRATIONS. VIBRATIONS WITHIN THE CLUTCH ASSEMBLY WILL CAUSE PLATES TO BREAK POTENTIALLY CAUSING A CRASH.
NHTSA ODI #10979181
28,000 miles · Nov 7, 2016
Power Train
CLUTCH HOUSING AND FRICTION PLATES BREAK WITHOUT NOTICE, CAN CAUSE WHEEL LOCKUP AND/OR ENGINE SEIZURE RESULTING IN CRASH
NHTSA ODI #10924904
Mileage unknown · May 8, 2016
Structure
SINCE DAY ONE OF OWNING MY BRAND NEW 2015 YAMAHA FZ09 (BUILD DATE 01/2015) I HAVE NOTICED A SMALL CRACK ON THE FRAME OF THE BIKE. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST A SURFACE DEFECT. AFTER TALKING WITH OTHER OWNERS WITH BIKES THAT WERE BUILT NEAR THE SAME TIME AS MINE, WE HAVE REALIZED THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME CRACK. ONE MEMBER HA…
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SINCE DAY ONE OF OWNING MY BRAND NEW 2015 YAMAHA FZ09 (BUILD DATE 01/2015) I HAVE NOTICED A SMALL CRACK ON THE FRAME OF THE BIKE. I ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST A SURFACE DEFECT. AFTER TALKING WITH OTHER OWNERS WITH BIKES THAT WERE BUILT NEAR THE SAME TIME AS MINE, WE HAVE REALIZED THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME CRACK. ONE MEMBER HAS COMPLAINED TO YAMAHA, AND HAD THEIR FRAME REPLACED MAKING US THINK THAT THIS COULD BE A LARGER ISSUE. THIS IS A CRACK IN THE FRAME WHICH COULD PROPAGATE AND CAUSE A WRECK. THE CRACK GOES THROUGH THE FRAME MEMBER AND CAN BE SEN ON THE OTHER SIDE. CURRENTLY IT HAS CAUSED NO HARM, BUT MOTORCYCLES GET TOTALED OUT BY INSURANCE COMPANIES EACH DAY FOR HAVING TINY CRACKS IN THE FRAME.
NHTSA ODI #10863794
18,000 miles · May 6, 2016
Structure
CRACK THROUGH MID-FRAME.
NHTSA ODI #10863621
20 miles · May 6, 2016
SteeringStructureSuspension
BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2015 YAMAHA FZ-09 IN YEAR 2016. MY BIKE AND MANY OTHERS HAVE A DEFECT IN THE FRAME, AND I CHOSE TO DIG DEEPER TO SEE IF IT WAS A CRACK OR CASTING MARK. YAMAHA HAD THE DEALERSHIP TAKE THE TANK OFF AND AND LOOK ON THE INSIDE, AND SURE ENOUGH, IT WAS CRACKED IN THE SAME AREA SAME PLACE ONLY ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE…
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BOUGHT A BRAND NEW 2015 YAMAHA FZ-09 IN YEAR 2016. MY BIKE AND MANY OTHERS HAVE A DEFECT IN THE FRAME, AND I CHOSE TO DIG DEEPER TO SEE IF IT WAS A CRACK OR CASTING MARK. YAMAHA HAD THE DEALERSHIP TAKE THE TANK OFF AND AND LOOK ON THE INSIDE, AND SURE ENOUGH, IT WAS CRACKED IN THE SAME AREA SAME PLACE ONLY ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE MAIN FRAME AS WELL. TO MAKE SURE THE DEALERSHIP TOOK IT TO AN AUTO BODY FACILITY TO SAND BLAST THE AREA, AND THAT CONFIRMED THAT IT WAS INDEED A CRACK. MANY MANY MORE 2015'S HAVE THE SAME ISSUE, AND TWO OF THE SHOWROOM BRAND NEW 2015'S JUST LIKE MINE HAVE THE SAME MARKINGS.
NHTSA ODI #10863611
1,200 miles · Jul 1, 2015
Service Brakes
ANY TIME THE VEHICLE EXCEEDS 70 MPH THE FRONT BRAKE LEVER BECOMES DIFFICULT TO APPLY AND THE FRONT BRAKES DO NOT WORK. THE BRAKE LEVER REQUIRES MULTIPLE CYCLES OF SQUEEZE AND RELEASE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE AGAIN.
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (Yamaha) is recalling certain 2015-2017 FJ-09, FZ-09, and XSR900 motorcycles. The lower handlebar holder may loosen due to a painting issue and the inadequate application of the thread-locking agent.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the handlebars are not properly secured to the motorcycle, a loss of vehicle control may result, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Yamaha will notify owners, and dealers will replace the lower handlebar holder, free of charge. The recall began April 13, 2017. Owners may contact Yamaha customer service at 1-800-962-7926. Yamaha's number for this recall is 990114.
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA (Yamaha) is recalling certain model year 2015 FJ-09 (FJ09F/FC), FZ-09 (FZ09F/FC), FZ6R (FZ6RF/FC), Super Tenere (XTZ12F/FC), Super Tenere ES (XTZ12EF/EFC), and R6 (YZF-R6) motorcycles manufactured September 1, 2014, to November 17, 2014. The affected motorcycles may have an incorrectly manufactured shift cam segment stopper, having a sharp edge on the inside of the bend instead of a smooth radius. As a result, the stopper can crack and possibly fracture at this sharp edge.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the stopper fractures, the transmission may not shift properly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Yamaha will notify owners, and dealers will replace the shift shaft assembly with a new one, free of charge. The recall began on April 6, 2015. Owners may contact Yamaha customer service 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.
2015 Yamaha FZ-09 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year