YAMAHA Complaints

THE NOW INFAMOUS 3RD GEAR ISSUES FOR 2006-7 STAR ROADLINER/STRATOLINER HAS AFFLICTED MY BIKE SINCE 2009. I HAD FULL EXTENDED WARRANTY AT THE TIME AND THE DEALER DID NOT RECOGNIZE THE 3RD GEAR CHATTER AS A PROBLEM. ALMOST EVERYONE I HAVE EVER MET THAT OWNS ONE HAS THE 3RD GEAR PROBLEM AND HAS GOTTEN HOSED OVER IT. YAMAHA NEEDS TO OWE UP TO THIS DEBACLE AND RECALL AND FIX THIS ISSUE. *TR

UNLESS THE SUN IS DIRECTLY BEHIND RIDER OR NIGHT TIME, SPEEDOMETER IS UNREADABLE. *TR

SPEEDOMETER JUST STARTED READING ABOUT THREE TIMES THE ACTUAL SPEED OF THE MOTORCYCLE. I NOW HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING THE ACTUAL SPEED OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

WITH THE SUN SHINING THE SPEEDOMETER TURNS COMPLETELY BLACK MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO READ YOUR SPEED! *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 YAMAHA FZ09. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIMING TENSIONER ON THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE REPAIRED TWICE. EACH TIME THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THE TENSIONER WAS TIGHTENED; HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO AN UNKNOWN MANUFACTURER RECALL. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

MOTORCYCLE WILL, AT RANDOM, SIMPLY DIE WHILE AT A STANDSTILL. THE TIMES THIS HAS HAPPENED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, THERE IS A GREAT POSSIBILITY THAT SOMEONE IN A CAR BEHIND, MIGHT REAREND ME. MOTORCYCLE WILL ALSO DIE, AT RANDOM, DURING NORMAL COURSE OF RIDING. THIS HAS HAPPENED DURING DOWNSHIFTING MOSTLY. SHOULD THIS HAPPEN WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY, THERE CAN BE DEVASTATING CONSEQUENCES. A LOT OF YAMAHA FZ 07 OWNERS ARE FACING SIMILAR ISSUES. *JS

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR TO LOUD CLUNKS FROM TRANSMISSION AND THEN A GRINDING NOISE. PAYING 3600$ TO FIX, 3RD AND 1ST GEAR SEVERELY DAMAGED AND DEBRIS ENTERED OIL PUMP DAMAGING IT AS WELL. *TR

THE YAMAHA STAR BOLT SPEEDOMETER IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ IN CERTAIN LIGHTING CONDITIONS. THAT IS, WITH A BRIGHT SUN OVERHEAD. THE POLARIZED GLASS IN THE LCD READOUT BECOMES BLACK, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY WHEN I DRIVE THROUGH SCHOOL ZONES. AT TIMES, IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THE DISPLAY AND CAN CAUSE ME TO DRIVE AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ENCROACHING ON THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN. OTHER TIMES, I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER, RESULTING IN A TAILGATING SITUATION WITH OTHER AGGRESSIVE DRIVERS WHO THINK I'M GOING SLOW ON PURPOSE WHEN IN REALITY, I'M TRYING TO SAFELY NEGOTIATE THE ROAD AT THE CORRECT POSTED SPEED LIMIT AND HAVING TO USE MY 'GUT' FEELING RATHER THAN A CALIBRATED, USEFUL INSTRUMENT (THE SPEEDOMETER). YAMAHA, FIX THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED OR KILLED OVER IT. RECALL, NOT AN UPGRADE AS YOU'VE INDICATED THROUGH THE STAR MOTORCYCLES HOTLINE (800.656.7695). YOU'RE HIDING BEHIND WORDS. I KNOW BECAUSE I'VE CALLED YOU AND THAT WAS YOUR EXPLANATION. *TR

WHILE CHECKING OUT THE BIKE AROUND THE BLOCK AFTER RECEIPT FROM THE DEALER, I DECELERATED TO MAKE THE FIRST TURN. THE THROTTLE STUCK, AND WHILE LEANING OVER FOR THE TURN, THE REAR WHEEL POWERED THE MOTORCYCLE AROUND AND THREW ME TO THE PAVEMENT AND THE VEHICLE INTO THE DITCH. UPON CRASHING AND LYING ON IT'S SIDE, THE ENGINE AND REAR WHEEL WERE RACING AT AN ELEVATED SPEED. I TURNED THE KILL SWITCH ON AND STOPPED THE ENGINE. UPON RECENT RETURN TO THE GARAGE, I VERIFIED THAT THE THROTTLE WAS STICKY, AND DOES NOT SPRING BACK EASILY. *TR

THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER ON THE 2014 BOLT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ UNDER CERTAIN LIGHT. I CONTACTED YAMAHA TO ASK ABOUT THIS AFTER READING MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS AND SEEING THAT THEY HAD FIXED THE SPEEDOMETER ON THE 2015 MODEL AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE 2014 SPEEDOMETER, THEY KNOW IT CAN BE HARD TO READ IN CERTAIN LIGHT BUT THEY DON'T CONSIDER THAT A SAFETY HAZARD OR DEFECT. I BELIEVE NOT BEING ABLE TO TELL MY CURRENT SPEED IS A DEFECT CONSIDERING THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT A SPEEDOMETER IS DESIGNED TO DO. ALSO, IT CAN BE A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE IT LEAVES YOU LOOKING DOWN AT YOUR SPEEDOMETER LONGER INSTEAD OF WATCHING WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND YOU. *TR