2012 Yamaha XT1200Z: complaints, problems and recalls

2012 YAMAHA XT1200Z SUPER TENERE. AT LEAST THREE TIMES A MONTH INTERMITTENTLY WHEN STARTING ENGINE IT WILL INSISTENTLY RAMP UP TO 3000 RPM. I NEED TO SHUT IT OFF AND RECYCLE THE KEY TWO TO THREE TIMES BEFORE IT STARTS AND SUSTAINS AT NORMAL 1100RPM, MY FEAR IT WILL DAMAGE THE ENGINE AT SOME POINT. THE DANGER TO RIDER LIVES ISSUE IS: AT LEAST THREE TIMES A MONTH AGAIN INTERMITTENT WHILE SITTING STATIONARY AT A LIGHT THE RPM WILL SIMPLY DROP OFF AND DIE AND WILL NOT START AND WHEN IT DOES THE RPM WILL JUMP AGAIN TO 3000RPM, MORE THAN ONCE THIS …

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10991165 at NHTSA ↗

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, MY 2012 YAMAHA XTZ1200 SUPER TENERE HAS FAILED TO DECELERATE WHEN I COMPLETELY SHUT THE THROTTLE. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV AT OVER 3,000RPMS AND THE MOTORCYCLE MAINTAINED APPROXIMATELY 40MPH, WITHOUT THROTTLE INPUT. THIS MOTORCYCLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH CRUISE CONTROL. BRAKING TO STOP REQUIRED ME TO OVERCOME THE TORQUE OF THE ENGINE POWERING THE BIKE FORWARD AT OVER 3,000 RPMS IN ADDITION TO THE VELOCITY OF THE MACHINE ITSELF. WHEN I WAS ABLE TO FIND A SAFE PLACE TO STOP AND SHUT THE BIKE OFF, IT RESTARTED WITH THE S…

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11001233 at NHTSA ↗

THIS MOTORCYCLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN I ENGAGE THE CLUTCH. IT SOMETIMES IDLES HIGH WHEN MY HANDS ARE OFF THE THROTTLE. BOTH OF THESE CONDITIONS THAT HAVE PUT ME IN DANGER AS THEY OCCUR WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC AND PUT ME IN A POSITION WHERE I HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. IF YOU LOOK AT THE YAMAHA FORUMS ([VIN removed].COM) YOU'LL SEE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OWNERS. YOU WILL EVEN FIND VIDEOS OF THIS YEAR AND MODEL MOTORCYCLE MAINTAINING FREEWAY SPEED WHEN THE DRIVER HAS NO HAND ON THE THROTTLE. I'M AFRAID TO RIDE MY MOTORCY…

Owner-reported narrative. 20 miles reported. Look up ODI 11051629 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL FAULTS RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER WHILE RIDING AND IDLE SPEED SURGES, RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING WITHOUT WARNING. THE SURGE OF ACCELERATION CAUSED ME TO REAR END A VEHICLE UNDER NORMAL BRAKING, WHEN DOWN SHIFTING CAUSED THE BIKE TO LURCH FORWARD WITH AN IDLE SPEED ABOVE 4000 RPM, IMPACTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE BEFORE IMPACT SO THERE WAS ONLY SUPERFICIAL SCRATCHES FOUND. THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSED A LOSS OF CONTROL WHICH RESULTED IN THE IMPACT. I HAVE…

Owner-reported narrative. 52,486 miles reported. Look up ODI 11083185 at NHTSA ↗

MOTORCYCLE WILL FOR NO REASON DIE OR IDLE FAST AROUND 3,500 RPM. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN LETTING OFF THE THROTTLE TO TURN AROUND A CORNER AND THE BIKE DOES NOT SLOW DOWN. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME ABOUT 5 DIFFERENT RIDE DAYS. IT WOULD STALL WHEN LETTING OFF THE GAS OR ACCELERATE. I ALWAYS WAS ABLE TO LET THE BIKE REST START STOP THE MOTOR 5 TO 30 TIMES AND IT WOULD GO BACK TO NORMAL. I ALMOST WENT OF THE ROAD IN THE MOUNTAINS WHEN IT 1ST HAPPENED. LET OFF THE GAS FOR A TIGHT CORNER AND THE BIKE DID NOT SLOW IT SPEED UP. *TT *CN

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11083979 at NHTSA ↗

I HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKES ON MY BIKE. I WAS RIDING IT AND WHEN APPLYING THE REAR BRAKES THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN AND DID NOT ENGAGE, IT DID NOT SLOW ME DOWN. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF POSSIBLE FAILURES ON PREVIOUS USAGE OF THE BRAKES. I HAVE TAKEN MY BIKE TO TWO AUTHORIZED YAMAHA DEALERS AS THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIME IN TOTAL. THE ABS PUMP IS FAILING AND INJECTING AIR INTO THE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM. THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN BLEED SEVERAL TIMES, THE ABILITY RETURNED BUT IT FAILED AGAIN. EVERY PART ON THE BRAKES HAVE EITHER BEEN REPAIRED OR…

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11121738 at NHTSA ↗

The ABS pump has failed nearly causing a life threatening incident. This is a known issue with ABS systems on the 2012 and 2013 Yamaha XTZ1200 which are classified as Generation 1 machines. This problem was addressed and apparently remedied on the 2014 - 2023 model bikes comprising Generation 2 machines. Yamaha needs to address this issue and recall every 2012 & 2013 XTZ1200 for ABS pump replacement .

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11507745 at NHTSA ↗

On 15 JUN 2023, my Super Tenere experienced total loss of rear brakes during vehicle operation in traffic, almost resulting in an accident. There was no vehilce annunciation of loss of brakes or ABS failure. Vehicle-specific forums show that this has happened to at least 5 other operators since 2014. The vehicle anti-lock braking system (ABS) pump fails in a manner that allows air ingression in the rear brake hydraulic fluid path, resulting in loss of braking. The vehicle has been serviced (by myself - brake bleed) three times, each time the …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11530664 at NHTSA ↗