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: 4 of 4 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 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. 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
4 reports
38,000 miles · Jul 20, 2016
Power Train
FINAL DRIVE FAILURE (DIFFERENTIAL) WHILE MOVING ON A STRAIGHT COUNTRY ROAD, LOCKING UP BRIEFLY AT 38,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE. AND PINION BEARINGS FAILED AT 30,000 MILES. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 650 V-STARS, SOME KNOWN TO FAIL UNDER 15,000 MILES OFTEN CAUSING REAR END LOCK UP AT HI…
Read full complaint
FINAL DRIVE FAILURE (DIFFERENTIAL) WHILE MOVING ON A STRAIGHT COUNTRY ROAD, LOCKING UP BRIEFLY AT 38,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER WITH REGULAR MAINTENANCE. AND PINION BEARINGS FAILED AT 30,000 MILES. THIS APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH 650 V-STARS, SOME KNOWN TO FAIL UNDER 15,000 MILES OFTEN CAUSING REAR END LOCK UP AT HIGH SPEEDS.
NHTSA ODI #10886103
16,000 miles · Apr 25, 2016
Power Train
BIKE DRIVE FAILED AT 16000 MILES REMOVED TIRE AND REAR DRIVE ASSEMBLY TO INSPECT DRIVE SHAFT AND COUPLING. COUPLING AND REAR GEAR ASSEMBLY WERE COMPLETELY STRIPPED AND LACKING ANY SIGNS OF HAVING EVER BEEN LUBED EVEN AT THE FACTORY.
NHTSA ODI #10861282
28,000 miles · Apr 14, 2013
Power Train
AS MANY HAVE WITNESSED, A BEARING IN THE HOUSING OF THE FINAL DRIVE HAS BASICALLY DISAPPEARED DUE TO THE DESIGN FLAW/INCORRECT BEARING USED. I LEAKED OIL, THANKFULLY, AND NOTICED BEFORE THE REAR WHEEL SEIZED UP. WHY IS THIS ITEM NOT ON RECALL?!?!?! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10508171
5,325 miles · Jul 12, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline
2004 YAMAHA V-STAR 650 MOTORCYCLE, RIDING AT 55 MPH WHEN GAS CAP FELL APART AND THE TOP OF THE CAP FLEW UP AND STRUCK RIDER IN THE CHEST. MILAGE ON THE MOTORCYCLE IS 5328 MILES. HAVE REMOVE PARTS FROM INTERIOR OF GAS TANK AND AM TRYING TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. LIGHT TRAFFIC, RIDER WAS VERY STARTLED, CAUSED BIKE TO SWERVE. *TT
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.
2004 Yamaha XVS65 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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