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: 3 of 3 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 2 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 reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
3 reports
50,000 miles · Sep 16, 2016
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 YAMAHA XVS11AR-S. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE NUT SHEARED OFF OF THE MID SHAFT AND THE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE …
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 YAMAHA XVS11AR-S. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE NUT SHEARED OFF OF THE MID SHAFT AND THE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
NHTSA ODI #10907229
16,000 miles · Aug 11, 2011
Unknown Or OtherCrashInjury
I WAS RIDING DOWN I-25 NORTH GETTING OFF ONTO THE I-70 WEST EXIT. I WAS GOING TO MY MECHANIC BECAUSE I HEARD A "METAL BOUNCING AROUND" NOISE IN THE BACK OF MY BIKE. WHEN I GOT ONTO THE EXIT MY TIRE LOCKED UP AND I SKID TO THE SIDE WHERE MY BIKE WENT DOWN. AFTER I GOT TO MY MECHANIC WE TOOK THE BACK APART AND FOUND OUT MY MIDDLE …
Read full complaint
I WAS RIDING DOWN I-25 NORTH GETTING OFF ONTO THE I-70 WEST EXIT. I WAS GOING TO MY MECHANIC BECAUSE I HEARD A "METAL BOUNCING AROUND" NOISE IN THE BACK OF MY BIKE. WHEN I GOT ONTO THE EXIT MY TIRE LOCKED UP AND I SKID TO THE SIDE WHERE MY BIKE WENT DOWN. AFTER I GOT TO MY MECHANIC WE TOOK THE BACK APART AND FOUND OUT MY MIDDLE DRIVE SHAFT BROKE. AS I WAS LOOKING FOR PARTS I WAS INFORMED THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT. I NEED THIS INVESTIGATED. IT WILL COST ME $3250 TO FIX THE BIKE.
NHTSA ODI #10419091
103,500 miles · Aug 2, 2011
Power Train
FAILURE OF THE MIDDLE DRIVE LINE INSIDE THE MOTOR. *KB
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYLES, THE ORIGINAL REPLACEMENT MOUNTING HARDWARE HOLDING THE PASSENGER SEAT TO THE FENDER COULD BREAK IF THE MOUNTING HARDWARE IS OVER TIGHTENED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE HARDWARE BREAKS, THE PASSENGER SEAT CAN FALL OFF THE REAR FENDER. THE PASSENGER COULD LOSE BALANCE AND FALL, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy: OWNERS MAY ALREADY HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM YAMAHA DATED MARCH 3, 2005, ABOUT THIS DEFECT. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE AN IMPROVED REMEDY TO THE REPAIR OF THE PREVIOUS RECALL, YAMAHA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES AGAIN. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HARDWARE HOLDING THE PASSENGER SEAT TO THE FENDER WITH COMPONENTS OF A DIFFERENT TYPE THAT WILL NOT ALLOW THE SEAT TO FALL OFF. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 15, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT YAMAHA AT 1-800-88-YAMAHA.
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE MOUNTING HARDWARE HOLDING THE PASSENGER SEAT TO THE FENDER COULD LOOSEN DUE TO THE PASSENGER'S WEIGHT SHIFTING ON THE SEAT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE MOUNTING HARDWARE BECOMES LOOSE ENOUGH TO FALL OFF, THE PASSENGER SEAT CAN FALL OFF THE REAR FENDER. A PASSENGER ON THE MOTORCYCLE COULD LOSE BALANCE AND FALL, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT'S MOUNTING HARDWARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 4, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT YAMAHA AT 1-800-227-5963.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2003 Yamaha XVS11 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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