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: 5 of 8 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 →
Wheels. Review the 2 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.
2 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports
What owners actually said
8 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 2008
SeatsInjury
CONSUMER PASSENGER SEAT CAME A LOOSE AND CONSUMER FELL OFF WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH. *NJ THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM YAMAHA ON APRIL 16, 2007 BUT THE LETTER WAS DATED MARCH 3, 2005. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE RECALL WAS SENT TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BIKE WAS PURCHASED FROM A YAMAHA DEAL…
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CONSUMER PASSENGER SEAT CAME A LOOSE AND CONSUMER FELL OFF WHILE TRAVELING AT 55 MPH. *NJ THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FROM YAMAHA ON APRIL 16, 2007 BUT THE LETTER WAS DATED MARCH 3, 2005. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THE RECALL WAS SENT TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BIKE WAS PURCHASED FROM A YAMAHA DEALER SO THEIR NAMES SHOULD HAVE LISTED AS THE NEW OWNERS. RECALL 05V067000 *JB
NHTSA ODI #10249230
7,000 miles · May 15, 2006
Wheels
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED WOBBLING WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED OFF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE SPOKES WERE LOOSE ON THE REAR RIM. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC RECOMMENDED TAKING THE MOTORCYCLE TO A SERVICE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, …
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE MOTORCYCLE STARTED WOBBLING WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MOVED OFF THE ROAD AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE SPOKES WERE LOOSE ON THE REAR RIM. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC RECOMMENDED TAKING THE MOTORCYCLE TO A SERVICE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT NO ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE WITH THE DEALER.
NHTSA ODI #10157570
Mileage unknown · May 15, 2006
Wheels
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55MPH EIGHTEEN OF THE REAR WHEEL SPOKES SNAPPED. ALTHOUGH, THE VEHICLE WOBBLED IT WAS DRIVEN SAFELY FROM THE ROAD. THE SHORT SPOKES BECAME LOOSE PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT AND WERE TIGHTENED AT AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. AFTER THE INCIDENT THE WHEEL WAS REPLACED BY THE MECHANIC. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10157564
20,000 miles · Oct 30, 2004
Structure
THE FRONT FENDER ON MY 2001 YAMAHA V-STAR CLASSIC [XVS650AN(C)] STARTED MAKING A SQUEAKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT FENDER AREA. WHEN I STARTED LOOKING FOR THE REASON FOR THE NOISE I NOTICED THAT THE FENDER HAD DEVELOPED A CRACK ON THE RIGHT SIDE RIGHT BEHIND THE SHOCK. I'M SURE THAT THE CRACK OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THE VIBRATION OF TH…
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THE FRONT FENDER ON MY 2001 YAMAHA V-STAR CLASSIC [XVS650AN(C)] STARTED MAKING A SQUEAKING NOISE FROM THE FRONT FENDER AREA. WHEN I STARTED LOOKING FOR THE REASON FOR THE NOISE I NOTICED THAT THE FENDER HAD DEVELOPED A CRACK ON THE RIGHT SIDE RIGHT BEHIND THE SHOCK. I'M SURE THAT THE CRACK OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THE VIBRATION OF THE FRONT FENDER DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10098028
4,000 miles · May 10, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury
I WAS TRAVELING AT >30 MPH ON PAVED SURFACE ROAD. I HAD JUST MADE A LEFT TURN AND WAS GOING THROUGH GEARS TO ACCELERATE TO CRUISING SPEED. A DOG ENTERED THE ROADWAY AND I APPLIED BOTH BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN. REAR BRAKE IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO A LOCKUP SITUATION AND WOULDN'T RELEASE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE A…
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I WAS TRAVELING AT >30 MPH ON PAVED SURFACE ROAD. I HAD JUST MADE A LEFT TURN AND WAS GOING THROUGH GEARS TO ACCELERATE TO CRUISING SPEED. A DOG ENTERED THE ROADWAY AND I APPLIED BOTH BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN. REAR BRAKE IMMEDIATELY WENT INTO A LOCKUP SITUATION AND WOULDN'T RELEASE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND THE BROKEN LEG I AM STILL FIGHTING. I HAVE RIDDEN MOTORCYCLES SINCE 1973 AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS HAS EVER HAPPENED TO ME. *LA
NHTSA ODI #10072323
29,000 miles · Nov 28, 2003
Power TrainCrash
REAR AXLE HUB BROKE OFF WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 MPH, CAUSING THE MOTORCYCLE TO HIT THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10048789
30,000 miles · Sep 19, 2003
Power Train
I HAVE A 2001 YAMAHA V-STAR 650 CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE. OVER TIME I BEGAN TO HEAR A "MAJOR" HOWL COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. YAMAHA CLAIMED THEY HAD NO INFO. ON ANY HOWL PROBLEM!! LATER, ON THE YAMAHA V-STAR FORUM, I LEARNED THAT THERE WAS A BATCH OF 5TH GEARS FOR THE TRANSMISSION, THAT WERE NOT HEAT TREATED CORRECTLY. AS THE GE…
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I HAVE A 2001 YAMAHA V-STAR 650 CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE. OVER TIME I BEGAN TO HEAR A "MAJOR" HOWL COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA. YAMAHA CLAIMED THEY HAD NO INFO. ON ANY HOWL PROBLEM!! LATER, ON THE YAMAHA V-STAR FORUM, I LEARNED THAT THERE WAS A BATCH OF 5TH GEARS FOR THE TRANSMISSION, THAT WERE NOT HEAT TREATED CORRECTLY. AS THE GEARS GOT OLDER... THE HOWL BEGAN. MANY FOLKS WERE FORCED TO HAVE THE REPAIRS DONE AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE MFG. DEFECT!!! AFTER THE DEFECT WAS UNCOVERED... YAMAHA STILL WOULD ONLY PAY FOR THE "PARTS" !! PARTS ARE WORTH MAYBE $100... COMPARED TO THE TOTAL BILL OF $1,500 OR MORE. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT, SO PLEASE ADD ME TO YOUR LIST OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM. THE SAD PART IS THAT YAMAHA STILL REFUSES TO ADMIT ANYTHING!!! MANY PEOPLE ARE PAYING LARGE REPAIR BILLS BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP IN THIS MATTER. WAYNE CORNELL. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10039156
Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 2003
Power Train
FIFTH GEAR HAD TO BE REPLACED ON MY 2001 YAMAHA V STAR 650 CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE AT 7000 MILES. WHILE CRUISING IN FIFTH GEAR YOU WOULD HEAR A LOUD CHATTERING SOUND COMING FROM BENEATH THE BIKE. THE DEALER WHO DID THE REPAIR STATED THAT THE GEAR AND THE DRIVE GEAR WERE DEFORMED AS IF SOMETHING HAD RAN THROUGH THEM. THERE WAS NEVER A…
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FIFTH GEAR HAD TO BE REPLACED ON MY 2001 YAMAHA V STAR 650 CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE AT 7000 MILES. WHILE CRUISING IN FIFTH GEAR YOU WOULD HEAR A LOUD CHATTERING SOUND COMING FROM BENEATH THE BIKE. THE DEALER WHO DID THE REPAIR STATED THAT THE GEAR AND THE DRIVE GEAR WERE DEFORMED AS IF SOMETHING HAD RAN THROUGH THEM. THERE WAS NEVER AN ACCIDENT BUT THE DEALER WARNED ME THAT IT COULD LOCK UP. COST OF REPAIR 545.00. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10037124
Official recalls
0
No 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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2001 Yamaha XVS650 Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year