Illustration3RD GEAR IN TRANSMISSION STARTED WITH A WHINNING NOISE AND NOW IT SOUNDS LIKE A BUNCH OF ROCKS INSIDE LIKE GEARS THAT HAVE BROKEN SLOSHING AROUND. I SEE THAT ON THE WEB THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 3RD GEAR ON YAMAHA ROADLINERS. IS THIS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM? *TR
2006 Yamaha Stratoliner
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 Stratoliner 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: 18 of 19 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 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 2 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
19 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 YAMAHA STRATOLINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN IN THIRD GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 YAMAHA STRATOLINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN IN THIRD GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
AS I WAS RIDING, SHIFTING GEARS I HEAR A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA ON 3RD GEAR, , NOW IS MORE EVIDENT THATS THE SOMETHING AFTER ABOUT 60 MILES AND LOUDER NOISE WILE ON 3RD GEAR THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG, NOW AFTER A LIGHT INTERNET RESEARCH, IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON THIS PARTICULAR YEAR AND MODEL OF A BIKE. *TR
THIRD GEAR BEGAN MAKING A NOISE THAT CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. IT IS NOW SUCH A LOUD CLATTERING SLAPPING NOISE THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNUSABLE FOR FEAR OF DRIVE TRAIN LOCK-UP AND POSSIBLE FATALITY. YAMAHA IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND HAS A REPLACEMENT PART: GEAR, 3RD PINION, P/N 99999-03864-00 (REPLACES 1D7-17131-01-00). *TR
NOTHING HAPPENED JUST EXCESSIVE NOISE WHEN SHIFTING TO AND FRO THIRD GEAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 YAMAHA STRATOLINER MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IDLE AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAG…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 YAMAHA STRATOLINER MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IDLE AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. *TR
THE MOTORCYCLE IS MAKING KNOCKING NOISES WHILE DOWNSHIFTING THRU 3RD AND 2ND GEARS. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO SEEMS TO HOWL WHILE AT LOW SPEED IN 3RD GEAR. I AM AFRAID TO RIDE FOR THE FEAR OF TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP!!!! *TR
I NOTICED A LOUD NOISE WHEN I AM IN THIRD GEAR. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT IT IS A BAD THIRD GEAR. *TR
THIRD GEAR STARTED TO BECOME VERY NOISY, SOMETHING THAT OTHER STRATOLINER OWNERS HAVE NOTICED. THE PROBLEM IS WITH A GEAR THAT WAS NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED. WHEN I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALER BEFORE THE 5 YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED I WAS TOLD THE MECHANIC COULD NOT HEAR THE NOISE. THE NOISE IS QUITE OBVIOUS. THE SERVICE MA…
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THIRD GEAR STARTED TO BECOME VERY NOISY, SOMETHING THAT OTHER STRATOLINER OWNERS HAVE NOTICED. THE PROBLEM IS WITH A GEAR THAT WAS NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED. WHEN I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALER BEFORE THE 5 YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED I WAS TOLD THE MECHANIC COULD NOT HEAR THE NOISE. THE NOISE IS QUITE OBVIOUS. THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED YAMAHA AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE MODIFICATIONS WERE DONE (AN AFTERMARKET BELT AND PULLEY AND REAR TIRE) THAT WAS THE CAUSE. MIND YOU, THIS IS A MOTORCYCLE THAT IS RODE ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH QUITE A FEW TRIPS FROM OHIO TO FLORIDA. WELL OVER 90% OF THE RIDING IS IN 5TH GEAR. I SEE NO REASON FOR THE BELT/PULLEY CHANGE OR REAR TIRE TO AFFECT 3RD GEAR AND NONE OF THE OTHERS. YAMAHA NOW LISTS A DIFFERENT PART NUMBER FOR A REPLACEMENT 3RD GEAR WHICH I WAS TOLD COMES FROM A DIFFERENT VENDOR. I FEAR THAT A GEAR FAILURE WILL RESULT IN THE REAR WHEEL LOCKING UP, SOMETHING THAT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL.
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.