IllustrationRECALL 03V309000 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. MOTORCYCLE HAD BEEN IN DEALER'S SHOP FOR OVER THIRTY DAYS. THE CONSUMER WAS ON A WAITING LIST, BUT THE DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE.*AK
2002 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
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
350–25K
025–50K
150–75K
075–100K
0100–150K
0150K+
36 reports with mileage · 51 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.
- Power Train. Review the 82 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 →
- Equipment. 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
87 reports2002 YAMAHA ROAD STAR TRANSMISSION RECALL. MY BIKE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE 1/10/04 WAITING FOR A TRANSMISSION KIT. I AM BEING TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO KITS AVAILABLE AND WILL LIKELY STRETCH INTO APRIL, 04. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS BIKE FOR 6 MONTHS. YAMAHA SHOULD EITHER HAVE TO FIX MY BIKE ASAP OR BUY I…
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2002 YAMAHA ROAD STAR TRANSMISSION RECALL. MY BIKE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE 1/10/04 WAITING FOR A TRANSMISSION KIT. I AM BEING TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO KITS AVAILABLE AND WILL LIKELY STRETCH INTO APRIL, 04. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! I HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS BIKE FOR 6 MONTHS. YAMAHA SHOULD EITHER HAVE TO FIX MY BIKE ASAP OR BUY IT BACK AT THE ORIGINAL PRICE. THIS TYPE OF DELAY IS NOT ACCEPTED IN ANY OTHER ARENA... WHY IS IT ACCEPTED HERE?!!!*AK
YAMAHA HAS RECALLED MY MOTORCYCLE ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY DESCRIPTION OF RECALLED BIKES (ROAD STAR 2002, WHICH WAS CONFIRMED BY MY DEALER). WHEN I ASKED MY DEALER TO ORDER THE PARTS THEY REFUSED SAYING THAT YAMAHA DEMANDS A LETTER ACCOMPANY THE REQUEST FOR PARTS. I EXPLAINED THAT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE LETTER FROM YAMAHA AND I…
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YAMAHA HAS RECALLED MY MOTORCYCLE ACCORDING TO THE COMPANY DESCRIPTION OF RECALLED BIKES (ROAD STAR 2002, WHICH WAS CONFIRMED BY MY DEALER). WHEN I ASKED MY DEALER TO ORDER THE PARTS THEY REFUSED SAYING THAT YAMAHA DEMANDS A LETTER ACCOMPANY THE REQUEST FOR PARTS. I EXPLAINED THAT I HAVE NOT RECEIVED THE LETTER FROM YAMAHA AND I AM UNABLE TO REACH CUSTOMER SERVICE AS IT IS KEEPING ME ON HOLD FOR UP TO 25". THEY WILL NOT SCHEDULE THE REPAIR OR ORDER PARTS UNTIL I GET A LETTER. THERE ARE 27 BIKES ALREADY SCHEDULED FOR REPAIRS, AND THE LIST GROWS LONGER. AS THE BIKES CAN'T BE RIDDEN UNTIL REPAIRED, IT WILL TAKE MONTHS FOR MY DEALER TO GET TO MY BIKE, TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. I ALSO HEARD THAT YAMAHA IS NOT WARRANTING THE LABOR FOR RIPPING DOWN THE ENGINE ONLY THE PART THEY ARE REPLACING, IF TRUE THIS IS ABSURD. HAVING THEM RIP DOWN THE ENGINE FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS THEIR FAULT, AND NOT STAND BEHIND THE ENGINE REPAIR IS RIDICULOUS.*AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE, BUT NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. YAMAHA, US 6555, KATELLA AVENUE, CYPRESS, CA 90630. 1 800 962 7926, SERVICE MANAGER, DANNY.*AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. YAMAHA, 6555 KATELLE AVE, CYPRESS CA, 90630, 714-7617300. *AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 03V309000 ON JANUARY 9, 2004 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE, AND THERE WAS NO DATE AS TO WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. *AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 03V309000/ON JANUARY 9, 2004 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED HIM THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. ALSO, THEY DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE IN. *AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 03V309000 ON FEBRUARY 1, 2004 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER TOOK MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT PARTS WOULD NOT BE IN FOR AN EXTENSIVE PERIOD OF TIME.*AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK
CONSUMER STATED THAT ARIZONA MOTOR SPORTS WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALL DEALING WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE OWNER OF THE YAMAHA MOTORCYCLE TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 1/04/2004. *AK
Official recalls
103V309000 · 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
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.
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
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.