Yamaha ROAD STAR WARRIOR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
117 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
4,900 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 to 2004 model years. Data snapshot: . 51 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Manual Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 70 of 117 complaints (59.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 58 | 49.6% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.6% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 0.9% |
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 | 70 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 22 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 7 |
| Electrical System | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 4 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 3 |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
Power Train:Manual Transmission: 70; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 22; Engine And Engine Cooling: 7; Electrical System: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 4; Electrical System:Wiring: 3; Unknown Or Other: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 49 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 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: 49; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 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 (49). 66 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 9 |
| 2004 | 95 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2003: 9; 2004: 95; 2006: 8; 2007: 1; 2009: 2; 2014: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Manual Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 58 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 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.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10025162 · 2003-06-30 (June 30, 2003)
YAMAHA 2002 ROAD STAR TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE REAR WHEEL TO ALSO LOCK UP AT BETWEEN 45-50 MPH WITH LITTLE WARNING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 23,634 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025162 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10025658 · 2003-07-08 (July 8, 2003)
YAMAHA ROADSTAR 2002 MIDNIGHT STAR MFTG DATE 7/01 HAS FAULTY TRANSMISSION WHICH CAN CAUSE INJURY TO THE RIDER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025658 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004147 · 2003-01-17 (January 17, 2003)
THE MOTORCYCLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED AND WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED TO STOP AT A LIGHT. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *TS *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10028536 · 2003-07-17 (July 17, 2003)
I OWN A 2002 YAMAHA ROAD STAR WARRIOR. THE FUEL "QUICK DISCONNECTS" ARE IN MY OPINION, DESIGNED & ENGINEERED VERY POORLY. THEY VIBRATE OFF THE SEAT. THEY HAVE NEVER LEAKED FUEL, THE LOCKING TAB MAKES IT STAY LOCKED SO IT WON'T LEAK. HOWEVER, WHEN IT IS AGAINST THE LOCKING TAB, IT MOVES OFF ITS SEAT ABOUT 3/16" AND RESULTS IN NO FUEL FLOW FROM THE UPPER TANK TO THE LOWER TANK WHERE THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP IS. THAT RESULTS IN A "STALL" SITUATION. I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT WAITING FOR IT TO TURN GREEN, I STARTED OUT AS I ALWAYS DO. I WAS AT 8 M…
Owner-reported narrative. 507 miles reported. Look up ODI 10028536 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029100 · 2003-07-24 (July 24, 2003)
I HAVE A 2002 YAMAHA ROAD STAR WARRIOR. I BOUGHT THE MOTORCYCLE NEW FROM THE DEALER AS A 2002 LEFTOVER IN MAY OF 2003. A FEW WEEKS AFTER I BOUGHT THE MOTORCYCLE, I WAS RIDING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE BIKE STARTED TO SLOW DOWN ON ITS OWN. BEING A FEW MILES FROM A FRIEND'S HOUSE, I DECIDED IT WOULD BE SAFER TO STOP THERE, SO I CONTINUED ON TO HIS HOUSE. WHEN I PULLED IN THE DRIVEWAY, I NOTICED MY REAR BRAKE ROTOR WAS GLOWING RED AND THE WHOLE CALIPER WAS SMOKING AND HOT. THE BRAKE LINE MELTED AND LEAKED FLUID ON THE HOT CALIPER AND THEN CAUGHT …
Owner-reported narrative. 750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029100 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060068 · 2004-03-01 (March 1, 2004)
YAMAHA ROADSTAR GAS TANK WASHER AND TRANSMISSION RECALLS. I PURCHASED MY MOTORCYCLE IN JUNE 2003. I LATER FOUND OUT ABOUT A RECALL TO THE GAS TANK WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF ON MY BIKE BEFORE SALE. I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE TO THIS DATE. *AK MY BIGGEST COMPLAINT HOWEVER IS THAT APPARENTLY THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS BIKE FOR TRANSMISSION BACK IN AUGUST 2003. I GOT A LETTER IN FEBRUARY 2004. THIS MAJOR WORK IS TO BE DONE AT A DEALERSHIP. NO WARRANTY HAS BEEN OFFERED. NO PARTS TO REPAIR ARE AVAILABLE TILL MARCH/APRIL. YAMAHA HAVE…
Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060068 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10285560 · 2009-09-28 (September 28, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 YAMAHA ROAD STAR WARRIOR MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE NEEDLE ON THE GAUGE BEGAN SWINGING BACK AND FORTH, THEN THE MOTORCYCLE SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE MOTORCYCLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE STARTER WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE CONTACT WAS ONLY ABLE TO RESTART THE MOTORCYCLE BY USING A PORTABLE BATTERY. T…
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10285560 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 0 |
2002: 2; 2003: 1; 2004: 0