IllustrationCONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. YAMAHA, US 6555, KATELLA AVENUE, CYPRESS, CA 90630. 714-761-7300 SERVICE MANAGER VICTOR. *AK
2003 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
360–25K
125–50K
150–75K
075–100K
0100–150K
0150K+
38 reports with mileage · 67 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 100 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. 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
Power Train complaints
100 reportsCONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. YAMAHA, US 6555, KATELLA AVENUE CYPRESS CA 90630. 714-761-7300. SERVICE MANAGER DANNY.*AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 03V309000 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR MOTORCYCLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE. ALSO, THERE WAS NO PROJECTED DATE WHEN THE PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE. *AK
THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE PARTS TO PERFORM THE RECALL WERE ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER. NO DATE WAS PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER AS TO WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. RECALL# 03V309000 SUBJECT: REAR WHEEL LOCK UP. *NM *SC
FILING COMPLAINT BECAUSE YAMAHA IS UNABLE TO RESOLVE RECALL ISSUE IN A TIMELY MANNER. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN JAN. 2004 NOT TO RIDE MOTORCYCLE DUE TO A POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I CALLED MY DEALER AND HE SAID HE WOULD ORDER THE PARTS AND NOW HE IS TELLING ME THAT THERE IS NO RELEASE DATE ON THE PARTS TO FIX MY BIKE. I…
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FILING COMPLAINT BECAUSE YAMAHA IS UNABLE TO RESOLVE RECALL ISSUE IN A TIMELY MANNER. I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN JAN. 2004 NOT TO RIDE MOTORCYCLE DUE TO A POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I CALLED MY DEALER AND HE SAID HE WOULD ORDER THE PARTS AND NOW HE IS TELLING ME THAT THERE IS NO RELEASE DATE ON THE PARTS TO FIX MY BIKE. I CANNOT USE MY MOTORCYCLE BUT I AM STILL OBLIGATED TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT I CANNOT USE. I FEEL THAT THIS HAS NOT BEEN HANDLED IN A TIMELY MANNER. I JUST WANT MY BIKE FIXED. I HAVE HEARD ABOUT SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE WORK COMPLETED AND MY DEALER HASN'T EVEN GOTTEN THE FIRST REPAIR KIT. *AK
YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION HAS ISSUED A RECALL AND AFTER OVER A MONTH OF WAITING STILL NO PARTS TO FIX THE MOTORCYCLE. (ROAD STAR 3003) LOCAL DEALER IN FORT WALTON BEACH HAS LIED TO ME FOR OVER A MONTH. SAID I WAS FIRST ON THE LIST TO BE REPAIRED THEN SATURDAY I FIND OUT THAT I AM ACTUALLY 30TH ON THE LIST AFTER HE DOES THE BIK…
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YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION HAS ISSUED A RECALL AND AFTER OVER A MONTH OF WAITING STILL NO PARTS TO FIX THE MOTORCYCLE. (ROAD STAR 3003) LOCAL DEALER IN FORT WALTON BEACH HAS LIED TO ME FOR OVER A MONTH. SAID I WAS FIRST ON THE LIST TO BE REPAIRED THEN SATURDAY I FIND OUT THAT I AM ACTUALLY 30TH ON THE LIST AFTER HE DOES THE BIKES HE SOLD FIRST.*AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 03V309000/REAR CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR MOTORCYCLE WERE UNAVAILABLE. ALSO, THERE WAS NO PROJECTED DATE WHEN PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE.*AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. HOWEVER, NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. BERTS MEGA MALL, 1151 NORTH AZUSA AVENUE, COVINA, CA 91722. 626 974 6600. SERVICE MANAGER MARK. *AK
RECEIVED RECALL FROM YAMAHA ON CIRCLIP THAT DIDN'T MEET QUALITY CONTROL STANDARDS. CONTACTED DEALER FOR APPOINTMENT, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT PARTS AREN'T AVAILABLE AND WILL BE PLACED ON WAITING LIST AS SOON AS PARTS WERE RECEIVED. *LA PARTS WEREN'T AVAILABLE UNTIL LATE FEBRUARY. CONSUMER CALLED CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT …
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RECEIVED RECALL FROM YAMAHA ON CIRCLIP THAT DIDN'T MEET QUALITY CONTROL STANDARDS. CONTACTED DEALER FOR APPOINTMENT, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT PARTS AREN'T AVAILABLE AND WILL BE PLACED ON WAITING LIST AS SOON AS PARTS WERE RECEIVED. *LA PARTS WEREN'T AVAILABLE UNTIL LATE FEBRUARY. CONSUMER CALLED CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEPARTMENT OF YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FACTS GIVEN BY DEALER WAS CORRECT. *LA
CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 03V309000 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR VEHICLE WERE UNAVAILABLE. ALSO, THERE WAS NO PROJECTED DATE AS TO WHEN THEY MAY BECOME AVAILABLE. *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
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
Power Train:manual Transmission
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