YAMAHA Complaints

I NOTICED A LOUD NOISE WHEN I AM IN THIRD GEAR. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT IT IS A BAD THIRD GEAR. *TR

THE FUEL TANK CAP ASSEMBLY ALLOWS WATER TO LEAK BY THE RUBBER GASKET INTO THE VENT PIPE. THIS PIPE IS MADE IN SUCH A WAY SO AS TO TRAP WATER IN IT WHEN WASHING OR RIDING IN RAIN. THIS IS THEN EVIDENCED BY A GURGLING SOUND COMING FROM THE FUEL TANK CAP AREA. IF THE PROBLEM IS NOT CORRECTED IT COULD, OVER TIME, CAUSE THE VENT PIPE TO RUST THROUGH. THIS WOULD THEN ALLOW WATER TO ENTER THE FUEL TANK AND CONTAMINATE THE FUEL, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STOP SUDDENLY. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS BEING RIDDEN IT COULD RESULT IN A CRASH CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH. A TEMPORARY FIX IS TO REMOVE THE FUEL TANK CAP ASSEMBLY AND USE HIGH PRESSURE AIR TO BLOW THE WATER OUT OF THE VENT PIPE. THIS MUST BE DONE EACH TIME THE AREA IS EXPOSED TO WATER. THERE IS NOT A REPLACEMENT GASKET AVAILABLE FROM YAMAHA. CURRENTLY, THE ONLY OPTION FOR OWNERS IS TO PURCHASE A NEW FUEL TANK CAP ASSEMBLY, FOR OVER $100, AND HOPE THIS FIXES THE PROBLEM. *JS

WHILE RUNNING THE ENGINE AT AN IDLE AFTER AN OIL CHANGE, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WAS DETECTED. THE OIL FILL POINT, A REMOTE TANK, IS UNDER THE SEAT. ALSO UNDER THE SEAT THERE IS A SECOND FUEL TANK, OR SECONDARY TANK THAT HOUSES THE ELECTRIC PUMP USED TO PROVIDE PRESSURIZED FUEL FOR THE FUEL INJECTION. THERE ARE MULTIPLE PORTS IN THE TOP OF THE PUMP HOUSING TOP. THE SMALLEST ONE IS FACING STRAIGHT UP, THIS ONE WAS CRACKED AND LEAKING FUEL. A SEARCH OF THE WEB REVEALED OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE HAVE SEEN THE SAME ISSUE. ONE OWNER EVEN STATED A NEW PART FROM YAMAHA BOUGHT AS A REPLACEMENT TO ADDRESS THE CONCERN WAS ALSO BROKEN IN THE SAME LOCATION IN AN INTACT BOX. THE PUMP IS USED ON 2002 TO 2009 YAMAHA ROAD STAR WARRIOR MODELS. THIS COULD VERY EASILY BECOME A FIRE HAZARD. *JS

WHEN IT IS HOT OUT, THE FUEL PUMP STOPS WORKING. THIS HAPPENS ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAS BEEN SITTING OUTSIDE IN THE SUN. IT WILL INITIALLY START AND THEN, WHEN THE BIKE GETS WARMED UP, IT JUST SHUTS OFF. THEN, WHEN YOU TRY TO START IT, YOU DO NOT HEAR THE PUMP PRESSURIZE AND IT WILL NOT START FOR ANYWHERE FROM AN HOUR TO SEVERAL HOURS. *JS

BRAND NEW BRIDGESTONE FRONT MOTORCYCLE TIRE SIZE 120/70 ZR 17. BRAND BATTLAX BT-021. MOTORCYCLE BOUGHT NEW FROM DEALER WITH STANDARD ISSUED TIRES IN AUGUST 2010. FRONT TIRE WORN SO BADLY AT 2900 MILES HAD TO REPLACE IT. REPLACED BY DEALER WITH SAME EXACT NEW BRIDGESTONE TIRE. THAT TIRE HAS 4300 MILES ON IT AND IS WORN SO BAD I CANNOT DRIVE IT ANYMORE. CENTER TIP OF THE TIRE IS FINE, THE REST OF THE TIRE IS BALD AND LOOKS LIKE A SANDER WAS TAKEN TO IT. FEELS LIKE RIDING ON A TIGHTROPE. DEALER INSPECTED FRONT END ALIGNMENT AND FOUND NO ISSUES. ROADS I TRAVEL ARE MOSTLY FLAT AND VERY FEW CORNERS. I RIDE WITHIN POSTED SPEED LIMITS. I CONTACTED BRIDGESTONE HEADQUARTERS IN NASHVILLE TN IN FEB 2012. SPOKE TO A MAN A FEW TIMES AND HE CHECKED INTO THE PROBLEM. I TOLD HIM I WOULD SEND THE TIRES TO HIM FOR PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL INSPECTION. HE DECLINED TO LOOK AT THEM. HE GOT BACK TO ME A FEW DAYS LATER AND SAID, "SPORT TOURING BIKES GO THROUGH A LOT OF TIRES." I TOLD HIM THE TIRES ARE DANGEROUS AND MY LIFE IS AT RISK TO SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH DUE TO THIS PRODUCT. AGAIN, NO HELP FROM THIS COMPANY REPRESENTATIVE. I FEEL THAT THE BRIDGESTONE TIRE COMPANY HAS A DANGEROUS PRODUCT THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED. THE COMPLAINT IS WIDESPREAD ON THE FORUMS. A FRONT MOTORCYCLE TIRE WHEN USED PROPERLY SHOULD LAST MORE THAN A FEW THOUSAND MILES. I WOULD LIKE TO FORMALLY REGISTER A COMPLAINT AGAINST BRIDGESTONE TIRE. I DEEM THIS PARTICULAR MODEL OF TIRE TO BE BOTH DANGEROUS AND COSTLY TO THE CONSUMERS WHO PURCHASE THIS PRODUCT. IF ONE LIFE OR ACCIDENT CAN BE PREVENTED BY A RECALL ON THIS MOTORCYCLE TIRE, IT WILL BE WORTH MY EFFORTS TO STAND UP AGAINST THIS INFERIOR PRODUCT. THANK YOU. *TR

I WAS DOWNSHIFTING AND HEARD A REALLY LOAD NOISE FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE NOISE IS PREVALENT IN 3 RD GEAR ONLY WHEN DOWNSHIFTING. IT IS WORSE AS IT CAN BE HEARD WHEN ACCELERATING NOW. ONLY 3RD GEAR IS EFFECTED. I CANNOT USE 3RD GEAR AT ALL AT THIS TIME. THE NOISE CAN BE HEARD WHEN RIDING THE BIKE OR STANDING NEAR WHEN DRIVING BY. *TR

BIKE HAS HAD THE FACTORY RECALL THAT CONNECTS A MORE DIRECT PATH OF BATTERY GROUND TO THE S 4 BUSS. HOWEVER, THIS ONLY HELPED WITH LOAD ON THE COMPONENTS OF THE S4 CONNECTOR. MY LIGHTS WENT OUT BECAUSE THE DOWN STREAM FROM THE S4 CONNECTOR, THE S6 (HAD BURNED CONTACTS) WHICH THE FEED THE S7 CONNECTOR FOR THE LH HEAD LIGHT AND THE S8 CONNECTOR FOR THE RH HEADLIGHT. THE COMBINATION OF CURRENT FROM BOTH LIGHTS THRU ONE PIN AT THE S6 CONNECTOR CAUSE THE CONNECTOR TO BUILD UP HEAT DAMAGE AND KILL THE GROUND PATH FOR BOTH HEADLIGHTS AT THE SAME TIME. *TR

YAMAHA 2011 550 GRIZZLY WITH 16 HOURS ON IT -REAR PLASTIC BRAKE DUST SHIELD CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER RIDING IT FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES-SINCE DECEMBER 2011 THE SMELL OF BURNING PLASTIC COULD BE DETECTED AFTER RIDING THE GRIZZLY BUT I COULD NOT DETECT THE SOURCE-AFTER THE 15 MINUTE RIDE THE PLASTIC SHIELD CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY 5-7 MINUTES. *TR

WHILE RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE ON A STRAIGHT & LEVEL ROAD, DRY, DAYTIME, CRUISING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH (WITH MY WIFE ON BACK), BIKE SUDDENLY AND COMPLETELY QUIT, INCLUDING ALL INSTRUMENTATION AND BLINKERS. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER (PULLED CLUTCH IN AND COASTED OUT OF LANE) WITH TRAFFIC RIGHT ON MY BACK, AS NO FLASHERS OR BRAKE LIGHTS WERE FUNCTIONING. THANK GOD IT DIDN'T HAPPEN ON THE FREEWAY. ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, I FOUND ALL FUSES GOOD AND AFTER AN HOUR OF ROADSIDE DIAGNOSIS, GOT A TOW TRUCK. BIKE COULD NOT BE JUMPED EITHER - BATTERY WAS GOOD, BUT 100% ELECTRICAL FAILURE. TOWED IT HOME. I SPENT AN HOUR OR SO PERFORMING ELECTRICAL DIAGNOSIS WITH WIRING DIAGRAM - FOUND THAT WHEN IGNITION SWITCH WAS BYPASSED, EVERYTHING WORKED FINE! REALIZED THAT LARGE GAUGE WIRING GOES TO IGNITION SWITCH (PRACTICALLY ALL ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS) WHICH DOESN'T SEEM LIKE A GOOD IDEA WITHOUT A RELAY. IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED AS FAILURE CAUSING THIS SAFETY CONCERN. AN INVESTIGATION ON THE INTERNET REVEALED 2006-NEWER FJR1300'S HAVE IGNITION SWITCH RECALL FOR SAME/SIMILAR FAILURE AND SAME SAFETY CONCERN (COMPLETE FAILURE AT SOME RANDOM MOMENT.) I CONTACTED YAMAHA CORP. CUST. RELATIONS WHO STATED THAT MY BIKE IS NOT UNDER RECALL AND THEY HAVE NOT HAD SIGNIFICANT REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE. I MADE A FORMAL REPORT WITH YAMAHA. I HAVE ORDERED PARTS, WHICH ARE NOW ON BACK-ORDER. (IS THERE A PROBLEM YAMAHA) - THIS SWITCH (ON DISCOUNT) IS NEARLY $200, PLUS SEVERAL HOURS OF MY TIME, AS THE TAMPER-PROOF (THEFT-RESISTANT) BOLTS MAKE THIS A REAL BEAR TO REPLACE. YAMAHA CORP. COULD NOT TELL ME IF THE NEW REPLACEMENT SWITCH THAT I HAVE ORDERED IS THE SAME SUB-PAR SWITCH THAT HAS FAILED IN MY MOTORCYCLE OR IS THE PART HAS BEEN UPDATED. I WANT USDOT TO KNOW ABOUT THIS FAILURE IN CASE THERE ARE MORE LIKE MINE! MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN WHICH FREAKED OUT MY WIFE. THANK YOU. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 YAMAHA ROAD STAR MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS HE STARTED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED FUEL LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE ENGINE WOULD BECOME HOT IN COMBINATION WITH HOT WEATHER TEMPERATURES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REMEDY FOR THE DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10.