IllustrationWHILE DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION MADE NOISE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE DRIVE ASSEMBLY AND OIL PUMP GEAR. THE NOISE NO LONGER EXIST. *AK *CB *NLM
2001 Yamaha Road Star
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 Road Star 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: 16 of 57 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 47 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
Power Train complaints
47 reportsI AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE NUMBER OF TRANSMISSION LOCK UPS IN ROAD STARS. I OWN A 2001 MIDNIGHT, STAR AND TRANSMISSION IS VERY NOISY DURING SHIFTS.*AK
CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED TRANSMISSION SLUGGISH GOING INTO GEAR. CONSUMER REPLACED CLUTCH, BUT VEHICLE STILL HAS THE PROBLEM. *AK
THE TRANSMISSION IS MAKING AN UNKNOWN KNOCKING SOUND ALL THE TIME INCLUDING COLD START. THE CAUSE HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. *AK
I'M FILING THIS OVER CONCERN ABOUT MY 2001 YAMAHA ROADSTAR, WHICH HAS HAD SOME LOUD INTERMITTENT KNOCKING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I NOTICED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURES OCCURRING IN THESE ROADSTARS AS POSTED ON THE ROADSTAR RIDER'S FORUM AND OTHER SITES. AS MUCH AS I WORK TO MAIN…
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I'M FILING THIS OVER CONCERN ABOUT MY 2001 YAMAHA ROADSTAR, WHICH HAS HAD SOME LOUD INTERMITTENT KNOCKING SOUNDS COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I NOTICED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURES OCCURRING IN THESE ROADSTARS AS POSTED ON THE ROADSTAR RIDER'S FORUM AND OTHER SITES. AS MUCH AS I WORK TO MAINTAIN MY BIKE AND RIDE SAFELY, I'D HATE TO THINK THAT MY TRANSMISSION MAY SOMEDAY LOCK-UP, AS IT HAS ON OTHER'S BIKES. DEPENDING ON THE SPEED AND TIMING OF A LOCK-UP, MY PASSENGER AND I COULD BE KILLED OR SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO A KNOWN DESIGN FLAW. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP, RAM. *AK
CONCERNED ABOUT TANSMISSION FAILURE ON YAMAHA ROADSTAR MOTORCYLES FROM 1999-2001. I HAVE HEARD THROUGH DIFFERENT FORUMS ON THE INTERNET OF SUDDEN FAILURES OF THE TRANY'S ON THIS BIKE, SOME RESULTING IN DEATH. THE FAILURE APPEARS TO HAVE HAPPENED BETWEEN 9,000 AND 10,000 MILES. MY BIKE HAS OVER 10,000 MILES AND I AM CONCERNED …
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CONCERNED ABOUT TANSMISSION FAILURE ON YAMAHA ROADSTAR MOTORCYLES FROM 1999-2001. I HAVE HEARD THROUGH DIFFERENT FORUMS ON THE INTERNET OF SUDDEN FAILURES OF THE TRANY'S ON THIS BIKE, SOME RESULTING IN DEATH. THE FAILURE APPEARS TO HAVE HAPPENED BETWEEN 9,000 AND 10,000 MILES. MY BIKE HAS OVER 10,000 MILES AND I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AS WELL AS THE SAFETY OF ANY PASSENGER THAT MIGHT BE ABOARD AT THE TIME, IF SUCH FAILURE SHOULD HAPPEN. YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER IS APPECIATED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND WHEN SHIFT GEAR MANUAL TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. *AK
ON THE WAY BACK FROM STURGIS, SD MY TRANSMISSION ON MY 2001 YAMAHA ROAD STAR 1600 LOCKED UP WITH MY WIFE AND I ON THE BIKE. IT LOCKED UP THE REAR TIRE. THE BIKE WOULD NOT MOVE. MY WIFE AND I WERE 12 HOURS FROM HOME AND HAD TO RENT A UHAUL TO GET THE BIKE HOME. MY EXTENTED WARRANTY PAID FOR ALL OF THE REAPIRS BUT THE CLUTCH. I T…
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ON THE WAY BACK FROM STURGIS, SD MY TRANSMISSION ON MY 2001 YAMAHA ROAD STAR 1600 LOCKED UP WITH MY WIFE AND I ON THE BIKE. IT LOCKED UP THE REAR TIRE. THE BIKE WOULD NOT MOVE. MY WIFE AND I WERE 12 HOURS FROM HOME AND HAD TO RENT A UHAUL TO GET THE BIKE HOME. MY EXTENTED WARRANTY PAID FOR ALL OF THE REAPIRS BUT THE CLUTCH. I THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST A FREAK THING AND DIDN'T THINK MUCH ABOUT IT UNTIL 13 OTHERS THAT I KNOW OF LOCKED UP CAUSE ONE PERSON TO GET HURT REAL BAD. I KNOW MINE WAS REAPIRED RIGHT BUT I AM CONCERNED ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE RIDING A ROAD STAR IN THE WORLD. THANK JESUS THAT MY WIFE AND I WERE NOT HURT IN THE TRANNY LOCK UP. YAMAHA NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. CAN YOU HELP WITH A RECALL OR SOMETHING? THANKS. *AK
GRINDING NOISE IN TRANSMISSION WHEN DRIVING DOWN ROAD. *AK
I OWN A 2001 YAMAHA ROAD STAR MOTORCYCLE. THERE SEEMS TO BE A RATHER HIGH INCEDENCE OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES WHICH CAUSES THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK UP. THIS CAN CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. EVEN THOUGH I HAVEN'T HAD THE LOCK UP, I'VE BECOME AFRAID TO RIDE THIS BIKE. THERE IS NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER WHEN THE LOCK OCCURS. I…
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I OWN A 2001 YAMAHA ROAD STAR MOTORCYCLE. THERE SEEMS TO BE A RATHER HIGH INCEDENCE OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES WHICH CAUSES THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK UP. THIS CAN CAUSE A VERY SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. EVEN THOUGH I HAVEN'T HAD THE LOCK UP, I'VE BECOME AFRAID TO RIDE THIS BIKE. THERE IS NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER WHEN THE LOCK OCCURS. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE HAVE BEEN UP TO 15 KNOWN FAILURES FROM INFORMATION GATHERED FROM THE ROAD STAR RIDERS INTERNET FORUM. SINCE I HAVEN'T HAD THE FAILURE, I HAVEN'T REPORTED TO YAMAHA MOTOR CO. OR THE SELLING DEALER. BUT I FEEL THAT SENDING THIS COMPLAINT TO YOU IS NECESSARY BECAUSE MY MOTORCYCLE IS IN THE DANGER ZONE. *AK
Official recalls
206V397000 · Power Train:manual Transmission
Oct 17, 2006
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, CERTAIN TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS MAY NOT MEET YAMAHA QUALITY-CONTROL STANDARDS, WHICH COULD ALLOW ABNORMAL WEAR THAT EVENTUALLY RESULTS IN A BROKEN RETAINING 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 WITH INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE CERTAIN TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS WITH NEW ONES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 30, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT YAMAHA AT 1-800-88-YAMAHA OR VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.YAMAHA-MOTOR.COM.
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
1PE03038 · 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
SUMMARY: ON AUGUST 22, 2003 YAMAHA NOTIFIED THE AGENCY THAT IT WAS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR2001 XV1600 ?ROAD STAR? MODEL MOTORCYCLES TO ADDRESS TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN THOSE VEHICLES.ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD FAIL DUE TO EXCESSIVE BUSHING WEAR ON THE 4TH PINION GEAR.BASED ON ITS ANALYSIS OF FAILED TRANSMISSIONS FROM THE FIELD, THE COMPANY FOUND ?UNEVEN CONTACT BETWEEN THE ENGAGEMENT DOGS ON THE 2ND/3RD PINION GEAR.WHEN IN 4TH GEAR, THESE UNEVEN SURFACES CAUSED UNEVEN BUSHING WEAR IN THE 4TH GEAR BUSHING.THIS WEAR WOULD EVENTUALLY CAUSE THE 4TH GEAR RETAINING CIRCLIP TO FAIL, LEADING TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE.?THIS COULD RESULT IN BOTH TRANSMISSION AND REAR WHEEL LOCKUP AND YAMAHA CONCLUDED A SAFETY RECALL SHOULD BE CONDUCTED TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.YAMAHA IS LIMITING THE RECALL?S SCOPE TO THOSE MOTORCYCLES BUILT BETWEEN NOVEMBER 30, 2000 AND JANUARY 24, 2001 BASED UPON THE FOLLOWING:1. YAMAHA U.S. REPORTED FIELD FAILURES (INVOLVING BIKES BUILT IN DECEMBER, 2000) TO YAMAHA JAPAN.2.YAMAHA JAPAN INVESTIGATED AND VALIDATED THE CAUSE DESCRIBED ABOVE.3.YAMAHA JAPAN IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM WAS RELATED TO THE ENGAGEMENT DOG ON THE 2ND/3RD PINION GEAR.4. YAMAHA JAPAN RECORDS INDICATED THAT THE JIG USED TO PRODUCE THE 2ND/3RD PINION GEAR WAS RE-CALIBRATED ON JANUARY 13, 2001.5.PARTS PRODUCED BEFORE NOVEMBER 30,2000 AND AFTER JANUARY 13, 2001 WERE SAMPLED AND FOUND TO BE WITHIN SPECIFICATION (THE RECALL WAS EXTENDED BEYOND JANUARY 13 BUILD AS A PRECAUTION).WITH YAMAHA?S RECALL, WE ARE CLOSING THIS INVESTIGATION BUT WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE FIELD PERFORMANCE OF ALL ROAD STAR MODEL MOTORCYCLES TO ASSESS THE PERFORMANCE OF THOSE BIKES NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL.SHOULD THE FACTS WARRANT ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION, WE WILL PROCEED ACCORDINGLY.
Power Train:manual Transmission
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