2002 Yamaha MIDNIGHT STAR: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
15,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Power Train:Manual Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 7 complaints (71.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 71.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 5 |
| Power Train | 1 |
| Suspension:Rear:Shock Absorber | 1 |
Power Train:Manual Transmission: 5; Power Train: 1; Suspension:Rear:Shock Absorber: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 5 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2004: 6; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Manual Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 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 10057788 · 2004-02-10 (February 10, 2004)
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 03V309000 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE, AND HAD NO INFORMATION WHEN THE PARTS WILL COME IN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10057788 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10058992 · 2004-02-25 (February 25, 2004)
2002 YAMAHA ROAD STAR TRANSMISSION RECALL. MY BIKE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP SINCE 1/27/04 WAITING FOR A TRANSMISSION KIT. I AM BEING TOLD THAT THERE ARE NO KITS AVAILABLE AND THEY MIGHT GET PARTS THE MIDDLE TO LATE APRIL, 04. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE! I HAVE ONLY 4,000 MILES ON THIS BIKE PURCHASED IN JUNE '02. YAMAHA SHOULD EITHER HAVE TO FIX MY BIKE ASAP OR BUY IT BACK AT THE ORIGINAL PRICE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10058992 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10061281 · 2004-03-03 (March 3, 2004)
NHTSA RECALL O3V309000 CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO DO RECALL REPAIRS. DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE PARTS WERE ON BACK ORDER.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10061281 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10068334 · 2004-05-05 (May 5, 2004)
IN JANUARY 2004, I RECEIVED A RECALL FROM YAMAHA, STATING THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT THEY WILL FIX IT FREE OF CHARGE, AND THAT I SHOULD NOT RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE UNTIL THE WORK IS DONE. AS OF MARCH, THEY STILL DID NOT HAVE PARTS AT THE DEALER AND I WROTE YAMAHA WITH MY CONCERNS. THEY ASSURED ME THAT PARTS ARE COMING SOON. NOW IT IS MAY, FIVE MONTHS LATER, AND I OWN A MOTORCYCLE THAT I CAN'T RIDE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10068334 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072809 · 2004-05-18 (May 18, 2004)
2002 YAMAHA ROYAL STAR VENTURE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER (AIR ADJUSTABLE) FAILED. THIS APPEARS TO BE A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL 1999 TO PRESENT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 12,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072809 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075888 · 2004-06-08 (June 8, 2004)
CONSUMER HAS BEEN ON A WAITING LIST FOR OVER 3 MONTHS TO HAVE THE REAR WHEEL LOCK UP RECALL 03V309000 REPAIRS PERFORMED. THE PARTS HAVE NOT BEEN AVAILABLE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED IT MAY BE ANOTHER 8 WEEKS BEFORE THE RECALL IS PERFORMED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10075888 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11156750 · 2018-12-07 (December 7, 2018)
WHILE RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE IN DEC 2015 ON STATE HIGHWAY 67. I HEAR A NOISE THAT WAS A NEW NOISE I NEVER HEAR BEFORE AND THEN THE MOTOR RPM RACED HIGHER, AT THAT TIME I PROMPTLY PULLED OVER, I COULD NOT PHYSICALLY SEE ANYTHING OR HEAR ANY ISSUES, SO I RETURNED TO THE ROAD, AND AS I WAS SHIFTING GEARS, WHEN I GOT TO WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN 5TH GEAR THERE WAS NOTHING, IT RESPONDED AS IF I WERE IN NEUTRAL. WHEN I FINALLY RETURNED HOME, I START RESEARCH AND FIND THERE IS A MANUFACTURER RECALL #990021 AND NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 03V309000 FOR ON MY MOTORC…
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11156750 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.
03V309000 · Power Train:Manual Transmission
Reported: 2003-08-26 (August 26, 2003)
IN THE TRANSMISSION ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE SECOND/THIRD PINION GEAR MAY BE INCORRECTLY MACHINED WHICH COULD CAUSE ABNORMAL WEAR THAT EVENTUALLY RESULTS IN A BROKEN RETAINER CIRCLIP.
Consequence: IF THE CIRCLIP BREAKS, THE TRANSMISSION COULD LOCK UP, WHICH WOULD ALSO CAUSE THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK UP. THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy: YAMAHA WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION GEARS AND SHAFTS WITH NEW ONES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 9, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT YAMAHA AT 1-800-88-YAMAHA OR VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.YAMAHA-MOTOR.COM.
NHTSA campaign record ↗