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: 2 of 7 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 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Suspension. Review the 1 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
7 reports
19,000 miles · Dec 7, 2018
Power Train
WHILE RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE IN DEC 2015 ON STATE HIGHWAY 67. I HEAR A NOISE THAT WAS A NEW NOISE I NEVER HEAR BEFORE AND THEN THE MOTOR RPM RACED HIGHER, AT THAT TIME I PROMPTLY PULLED OVER, I COULD NOT PHYSICALLY SEE ANYTHING OR HEAR ANY ISSUES, SO I RETURNED TO THE ROAD, AND AS I WAS SHIFTING GEARS, WHEN I GOT TO WHAT SHOULD HA…
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WHILE RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE IN DEC 2015 ON STATE HIGHWAY 67. I HEAR A NOISE THAT WAS A NEW NOISE I NEVER HEAR BEFORE AND THEN THE MOTOR RPM RACED HIGHER, AT THAT TIME I PROMPTLY PULLED OVER, I COULD NOT PHYSICALLY SEE ANYTHING OR HEAR ANY ISSUES, SO I RETURNED TO THE ROAD, AND AS I WAS SHIFTING GEARS, WHEN I GOT TO WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN 5TH GEAR THERE WAS NOTHING, IT RESPONDED AS IF I WERE IN NEUTRAL. WHEN I FINALLY RETURNED HOME, I START RESEARCH AND FIND THERE IS A MANUFACTURER RECALL #990021 AND NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 03V309000 FOR ON MY MOTORCYCLE THROUGH THE VIN NUMBER ID. AT THIS TIME I CALL AND I TAKE IT TO A YAMAHA CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AND THEY HAVE TROUBLE THEY SAY WITH MY VIN # THROUGH THE YAMAHA DIRECT LINE, SO I GOOGLE IT MYSELF AND SHOW THEM THE RECALL AND PARTS EFFECTED, SO AFTER HE DEALERSHIP HAD IT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THEM ALSO TRYING TO GET YAMAHA TO MAKE GOOD ON THEIR RECALL SAYS THEY WILL NOT BECAUSE IT NO LONGER VIABLE COMPONENT AND THAT IT WAS OBSOLETE, I'M NOT SURE HOW A PART IN A RECALL BECOMES OBSOLETE WHEN THE RECALL IS INCOMPLETE, BUT I NEED THIS BIKE REPAIRED. THE MECHANIC AT THE REPAIR SHOP TOLD ME TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS TO PUT THE BIKE BACK ON THE ROAD. I WENT TO WORK OVERSEAS IN JAN OF 2016 AND RETURNED BACK TO THE US IN MAY OF 2018 AND RELOCATED TO NM, AND TRIED TO PERUSE GETTING MY RECALL COMPLETED AND HAVE HAD ONLY TROUBLE FROM YAMAHA NOT WANTING TO DO THE RIGHT THING AND COMPLETE THE RECALL.
NHTSA ODI #11156750
Mileage unknown · Jun 8, 2004
Power Train
CONSUMER HAS BEEN ON A WAITING LIST FOR OVER 3 MONTHS TO HAVE THE REAR WHEEL LOCK UP RECALL 03V309000 REPAIRS PERFORMED. THE PARTS HAVE NOT BEEN AVAILABLE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED IT MAY BE ANOTHER 8 WEEKS BEFORE THE RECALL IS PERFORMED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10075888
12,500 miles · May 18, 2004
Suspension
2002 YAMAHA ROYAL STAR VENTURE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER (AIR ADJUSTABLE) FAILED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL 1999 TO PRESENT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10072809
Mileage unknown · May 5, 2004
Power Train
IN JANUARY 2004, I RECEIVED A RECALL FROM YAMAHA, STATING THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT THEY WILL FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE, AND THAT I SHOULD NOT RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE UNTIL THE WORK IS DONE. AS OF MARCH, THEY STILL DID NOT HAVE PARTS AT THE DEALER AND I WROTE YAMAHA WITH MY CONCERNS. THEY ASSURED ME THAT PARTS AR…
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IN JANUARY 2004, I RECEIVED A RECALL FROM YAMAHA, STATING THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT THEY WILL FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE, AND THAT I SHOULD NOT RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE UNTIL THE WORK IS DONE. AS OF MARCH, THEY STILL DID NOT HAVE PARTS AT THE DEALER AND I WROTE YAMAHA WITH MY CONCERNS. THEY ASSURED ME THAT PARTS ARE COMING SOON. NOW IT IS MAY, FIVE MONTHS LATER, AND I OWN A MOTORCYCLE THAT I CAN'T RIDE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10068334
Mileage unknown · Mar 3, 2004
Power Train
NHTSA RECALL O3V309000 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO DO RECALL REPAIRS. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10061281
Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2004
Power Train
2002 YAMAHA ROAD STAR TRANSMISSION RECALL. MY BIKE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE 1/27/04 WAITING FOR A TRANSMISSION KIT. I AM BEING TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO KITS AVAILABLE AND THEY MIGHT GET PARTS THE MIDDLE TO LATE APRIL, 04. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! I HAVE ONLY 4,000 MILES ON THIS BIKE PURCHASED IN JUNE '02. YAMAHA SHOULD EITHER HAVE …
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2002 YAMAHA ROAD STAR TRANSMISSION RECALL. MY BIKE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE 1/27/04 WAITING FOR A TRANSMISSION KIT. I AM BEING TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO KITS AVAILABLE AND THEY MIGHT GET PARTS THE MIDDLE TO LATE APRIL, 04. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! I HAVE ONLY 4,000 MILES ON THIS BIKE PURCHASED IN JUNE '02. YAMAHA SHOULD EITHER HAVE TO FIX MY BIKE ASAP OR BUY IT BACK AT THE ORIGINAL PRICE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10058992
Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2004
Power Train
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 03V309000 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE, AND HAD NO INFORMATION WHEN THE PARTS WILL COME IN. *AK
IN THE TRANSMISSION ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE SECOND/THIRD PINION GEAR MAY BE INCORRECTLY MACHINED WHICH COULD CAUSE ABNORMAL WEAR THAT EVENTUALLY RESULTS IN A BROKEN RETAINER CIRCLIP.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE CIRCLIP BREAKS, THE TRANSMISSION COULD LOCK UP, WHICH WOULD ALSO CAUSE THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK UP. THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy: YAMAHA WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION GEARS AND SHAFTS WITH NEW ONES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT YAMAHA AT 1-800-88-YAMAHA OR VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.YAMAHA-MOTOR.COM.
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.
2002 Yamaha Midnight Star Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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