2014 Yamaha BOLT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
82 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
85 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2014 model year. Data snapshot: . 65 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 34 of 82 complaints (41.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 2 | 2.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 34 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 23 |
| Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel | 22 |
| Exterior Lighting | 7 |
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 4 |
| Steering | 3 |
| Visibility | 2 |
Electrical System: 34; Vehicle Speed Control: 23; Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel: 22; Exterior Lighting: 7; Unknown Or Other: 5; Visibility/Wiper: 4; Steering: 3; Visibility: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 64 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 64; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (64). 17 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 31 |
| 2015 | 28 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2013: 12; 2014: 31; 2015: 28; 2016: 4; 2017: 4; 2018: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10513911 · 2013-05-28 (May 28, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 YAMAHA BOLT MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DIGITAL SPEEDOMETER EXHIBITED DARK COLORS AND WHEN DRIVING UNDER THE SUN, THE SPEEDOMETER COULD NOT BE READ BECAUSE IT WAS TOO DIM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100.
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10513911 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10514152 · 2013-05-29 (May 29, 2013)
THE SPEEDOMETER IS UNREADABLE DURING THE DAY UNLESS THE SUN IS DIRECTLY SHINING ON IT. IT IS FINE AT NIGHT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4 miles reported. Look up ODI 10514152 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10514163 · 2013-05-29 (May 29, 2013)
THE SPEEDOMETER ON MY YAMAHA BOLT IS ILLEGIBLE IN WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING ON IT CREATING A HAZARDOUS SITUATION ON THE ROAD FOR ME AND OTHERS. *TR ## VIN FAILED ##
Owner-reported narrative. 79 miles reported. Look up ODI 10514163 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10522125 · 2013-06-27 (June 27, 2013)
WHEN HEADING INTO THE SUN THE SPEEDOMETER IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE, ALL YOU SEE IS A BLACK CIRCLE. THIS CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS SINCE YOU CAN NOT TELL YOU SPEED AT ALL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 5 miles reported. Look up ODI 10522125 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10534300 · 2013-08-08 (August 8, 2013)
WHEN RIDING INTO THE SUN THE SPEEDOMETER IS IMPOSSIBLE TO READ. IF THE SUN IS BEHIND YOU OR AT NIGHT THE SPEEDOMETER IS OK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10534300 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10534402 · 2013-08-08 (August 8, 2013)
I LOVE THE MACHINE, HOWEVER, AT NIGHT, YOU CANNOT SEE THE SPEEDOMETER. IT DOESN'T LIGHT UP, AND THE NUMBERS ARE HARD TO SEE. WHICH COULD BE A SAFETY CONCERN NOT KNOWING HOW FAST YOU ARE GOING, ESPECIALLY ON A MOTORCYCLE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 601 miles reported. Look up ODI 10534402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10536496 · 2013-08-21 (August 21, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 YAMAHA BOLT STAR MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING IN SUN LIGHT, IT WAS HARD TO READ THE SPEEDOMETER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO REMEDY THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75.
Owner-reported narrative. 75 miles reported. Look up ODI 10536496 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10547748 · 2013-10-13 (October 13, 2013)
THE OEM LCD SPEEDOMETER BACKLIGHT IS NOT PROPERLY DESIGNED AND UNDER MOST CONDITIONS WHETHER IT BE DURING DAYTIME, NIGHTTIME, SUNLIGHT, CLOUDY SKIES, RAIN, SNOW, TUNNELS, IN A GARAGE, WHATEVER THE CONDITIONS, THE LCD DISPLAY CAN NOT BE SEEN. MOST OWNERS OF THE BIKE KNOW THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM, HAVE DISCUSSED IT AMONGST THEMSELVES, SOME HAVE SAID THAT YAMAHA IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE (HEARSAY). I WANTED TO ADD TO THE ONLY THREE COMPLAINTS HERE IN THE NHTSA (SAFECAR.GOV) SITE AND ONLY HOPE THAT ALL OF THE OWNERS FOLLOW SUIT SO THAT YAMAHA CAN T…
Owner-reported narrative. 1 miles reported. Look up ODI 10547748 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
13V298000 · Electrical System
Reported: 2013-07-08 (July 8, 2013)
Yamaha Motor Company (Yamaha) is recalling certain model year 2014 XVS950CU (Bolt) motorcycles manufactured March 2013 through June 2013. Slack or sag in the wiring harness may allow it to contact the exhaust manifold causing the wires to melt, and possibly short circuit.
Consequence: If the wires short circuit, the fuses will blow which may cause the engine to stall. An engine stall while riding, increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Yamaha will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wiring harness and secure it away from the exhaust. If the wiring harness is damaged, it will first be replaced. The recall began on August 2, 2013. Owners may contact Yamaha at 1-800-962-7926.
NHTSA campaign record ↗