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2003 Yamaha Road Star Warrior

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Compare all Road Star Warrior years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

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: 14 of 26 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 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. 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.

1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

26 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2004
Power Train

RE: 2003 YAMAHA WARRIOR MOTORCYCLE RECALL YAMAHA CORP. ISSUED A RECALL DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH MAY CAUSE THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK UP AND CAUSE DEATH. YAMAHA DEALERS ARE SAYING THAT CORP. IS "...DRAGGING THEIR FEET, NOT ALLOWING US TO STOCK THE PART, CASE BY CASE ONLY, WEEKS IF NOT MONTHS UNTIL REPAIR POSSIBLE..…

Read full complaint

RE: 2003 YAMAHA WARRIOR MOTORCYCLE RECALL YAMAHA CORP. ISSUED A RECALL DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH MAY CAUSE THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK UP AND CAUSE DEATH. YAMAHA DEALERS ARE SAYING THAT CORP. IS "...DRAGGING THEIR FEET, NOT ALLOWING US TO STOCK THE PART, CASE BY CASE ONLY, WEEKS IF NOT MONTHS UNTIL REPAIR POSSIBLE..." MEANWHILE, CORP. IS SAYING "...DO NOT USE, DEATH MAY RESULT." IF NHTSA COULD PRESSURE YAMAHA CORP. TO ALLOW THE DEALERS TO STOCK THE PART NECESSARY TO REMEDY THE RECALL, IT WOULD CREATE A SAFER SITUATION. THANK YOU. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10058683

1,600 miles · Feb 21, 2004
Power Train

YAMAHA ROAD STAR WARRIOR RECALL, THE MOTORCYCLE WILL NOT BE FIXED FOR MORE THAN 30 DAYS AND STILL COUNTING BOUGHT NEW IN JULY 2003 AT WILLY WORLD IN JOLIET ILL. FROM WHAT I HAVE GATHERED CAN I HAVE YAMAHA FORCED TO BUY MY BIKE BACK, ACCORDING TO LEMON LAWS, YAMAHA DID NOT LET ME KNOW THIS, AND I CANT RIDE THE BIKE BECAUSE IT S…

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YAMAHA ROAD STAR WARRIOR RECALL, THE MOTORCYCLE WILL NOT BE FIXED FOR MORE THAN 30 DAYS AND STILL COUNTING BOUGHT NEW IN JULY 2003 AT WILLY WORLD IN JOLIET ILL. FROM WHAT I HAVE GATHERED CAN I HAVE YAMAHA FORCED TO BUY MY BIKE BACK, ACCORDING TO LEMON LAWS, YAMAHA DID NOT LET ME KNOW THIS, AND I CANT RIDE THE BIKE BECAUSE IT STATES IN THE RECALL LETTER I MUST NOT , ITS UNSAFE, NO INFO FROM DEALERSHIP WHEN IT CAN BE FIXED , THEY SAY THEY ARE WAITING ON YAMAHA TO GET OUT PARTS AND WHO KNOWS WHEN THAT WILL BE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10058634

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 2004
Power Train

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 03V309000 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE AND CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE BECAUSE YAMAHA HAD NOT SENT THEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10058012

Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2004
Power Train

I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FROM YAMAHA CORP. U.S.A. CONCERNING A PROBLEM WITH MY 2002 YAMAHA ROADSTAR WARRIOR MOTORCYCLE. THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH COULD RESULT IF THE BIKE IS OPERATED ACCORDING TO YAMAHA. I CALLED THREE LOCAL YAMAHA DEALERS AND ALL OF THEM INFORMED ME THAT YAMAHA…

Read full complaint

I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE FROM YAMAHA CORP. U.S.A. CONCERNING A PROBLEM WITH MY 2002 YAMAHA ROADSTAR WARRIOR MOTORCYCLE. THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH COULD RESULT IF THE BIKE IS OPERATED ACCORDING TO YAMAHA. I CALLED THREE LOCAL YAMAHA DEALERS AND ALL OF THEM INFORMED ME THAT YAMAHA CORPORATION U.S.A. HAD NOT PROVIDED THEM WITH THE PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. ONE DEALER SAID EXPECT TO WAIT UNTIL ABOUT JUNE OR JULY BECAUSE ONCE THEY GOT THE PARTS THEY COULD FIX ONLY ABOUT TWO OR THREE MOTORCYCLES A WEEK. I FEEL YAMAHA SHOULD BUY THE BIKE BACK OR ISSUE A REFUND. SINCE THEY CANNOT COMPLY AND FIX THE PROBLEM IN A TIMELY MANNER.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10056656

17,488 miles · Feb 4, 2004
Power Train

CONSUMER WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF RECALL 03V309000 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. AFTER CONSUMER CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND GOT THAT ISSUE RESOLVED DEALERSHIP DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO PERFORM REPAIRS. RECALL LETTER INDICATED NOT TO DRIVE THE MOTORCYCLE UNTIL RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10057483

8,000 miles · Feb 4, 2004
Power Train

REGARDING: YAMAHA WARRIOR CAMPAIGN#03V309000. I LEARNED ON YOUR WEBSITE THAT RECALL STARTED AUG 03, YET I WAS NOTIFIED JAN 04. YAMAHA DEALER SAID PARTS NOT AVAILABLE TILL MARCH. I DO NOT CONSIDER THIS TO BE RECTIFYING A SAFETY PROBLEM "IN A TIMELY FASHION". *AK

NHTSA ODI #10056518

Official recalls

1

03V309000 · Power Train:manual Transmission

Aug 26, 2003

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

1

PE03038 · Unintended Rear Wheel Lockup

Opened Aug 11, 2003 · Closed Nov 6, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:manual Transmission

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

Additional source detail variants (2)

Power Train:manual Transmission

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

Power Train:manual Transmission

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