IllustrationMOTORCYCLE WILL NOT UP SHIFT TO THIRD GEAR. *AK
2003 Yamaha Roadster
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
Other model years Selected year
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: 0 of 5 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 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. 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
Power Train complaints
4 reportsCONCERN OVER TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAVE A 2003, MIDNIGHT STAR, AND NO CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE TRANSMISSIONS SEINCE THE FIRST REPORTS OF THIS TROUBLE. I AM JUST CONCEINED THAT I TOO MAY BE SUBJECTED TO INJURY OR EVEN DEATH.*AK
CONCERNS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN 2003 YAMAHA ROADSTAR 1600CC MOTORCYCLE. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS TRANNY FAILURES IN 2000, 2001, AND 2002 MODEL YEARS AFTER MOTORCYCLE GETS OVER 8K ON THE ODOMETER. 2003 HAVE NOT BEEN OUT LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE THAT TYPE OF MILEAGE BUT THERE HAVE BEEN NO MODIFICATION TO THE TRANSMISSION SINCE TH…
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CONCERNS OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN 2003 YAMAHA ROADSTAR 1600CC MOTORCYCLE. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS TRANNY FAILURES IN 2000, 2001, AND 2002 MODEL YEARS AFTER MOTORCYCLE GETS OVER 8K ON THE ODOMETER. 2003 HAVE NOT BEEN OUT LONG ENOUGH TO HAVE THAT TYPE OF MILEAGE BUT THERE HAVE BEEN NO MODIFICATION TO THE TRANSMISSION SINCE THE PRODUCTION 2000. YAMAHA CORPORATION REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM. TRANNY FAILURE RESULTS IN REAR WHEEL LOCK-UP WHEN SHIFTING INTO 4TH OF 5TH GEAR. THIS LOCKUP HAS RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURIES AND COULD RESULT IN DEATH.*AK
I RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW 2003 YAMAHA ROAD STAR - SILVERADO MOTORCYCLE FROM ENGELHART CENTER, MADISON, WI. SINCE THE DAY I DROVE IT HOME IT HAS HAD A PERSISTENT KNOCK, WHICH I IDENTIFIED FOR THE MECHANICS AT THE 600 MILE SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL, BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS. I AM ALSO VERY CONCERNED AFTER LEARN…
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I RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW 2003 YAMAHA ROAD STAR - SILVERADO MOTORCYCLE FROM ENGELHART CENTER, MADISON, WI. SINCE THE DAY I DROVE IT HOME IT HAS HAD A PERSISTENT KNOCK, WHICH I IDENTIFIED FOR THE MECHANICS AT THE 600 MILE SERVICE. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NORMAL, BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE IT IS. I AM ALSO VERY CONCERNED AFTER LEARNING ON THE ROAD STAR FORUMS WEBSITE THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMREOUS TRANSMISSION FAILURES AND LOCKUPS AT ANY TIME WITH 2000 AND 2001 ROADSTARS. IT IS DISTRESSING THAT YAMAHA HAS NOT RECALLED ALL ROADSTARS TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED. PLEASE HELP US!*AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.