Yamaha ROAD STAR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
317 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
6,115 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 to 2009 model years. Data snapshot: . 134 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Manual Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 162 of 317 complaints (51.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 198 | 62.5% |
| Engine operation | 10 | 3.2% |
| Braking behavior | 3 | 0.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 0.9% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 0.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 0.3% |
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 | 162 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 74 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 15 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System | 5 |
| Structure:Frame And Members | 5 |
Power Train:Manual Transmission: 162; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 74; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 15; Fuel System, Gasoline: 6; Power Train: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System: 5; Structure:Frame And Members: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 118 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 8 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 118; 25,000 to 49,999: 8; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (118). 183 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 |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 45 |
| 2004 | 205 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 8 |
| 2007 | 11 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2001: 4; 2002: 9; 2003: 45; 2004: 205; 2005: 8; 2006: 8; 2007: 11; 2008: 2; 2009: 5; 2010: 4; 2011: 3; 2012: 4; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 3; 2018: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Manual Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 198 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 10 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 3 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 10172967 · 2006-11-08 (November 8, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, #06V397000, REGARDING THE POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE SERVICE DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL WORK. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BIKE IS BEING FIXED. UPDATED 12/05/06. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 20,385 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172967 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10244790 · 2008-09-30 (September 30, 2008)
1999 YAMAHA 1600 ROADSTAR RECALL FOR TRANSMISSION. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE BIKE WAS RETURNED TO HIM AFTER HAVING THE RECALL WORK DONE ON THE TRANSMISSION, IT WAS LOCKING UP IN 2ND GEAR. WHEN THE CONSUMER RETURNED TO THE DEALER, HE WAS TOLD TO COME BACK AT A LATER TIME. THE CONSUMER DID NOT RETURN TO THE DEALER UNTIL THE SPRING AND WAS TOLD TOO MUCH TIME HAD ELAPSED FROM THE ORIGINAL WORK DATE AND THERE WERE TOO MANY MILES ON THE MOTORCYCLE. RECALL 06V397000. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10244790 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10736151 · 2015-07-23 (July 23, 2015)
DRIVING 75MPH ON HIGHWAY, LOSS OF POWER, LOUD BANG! REAR TIRE LOCKED UP FOR A SECOND. ALMOST CAUSED ME TO CRASH. ENGINE WOULD NOT START. VEHICLE PUSHED TO SIDE OF ROAD AND TRAILERED HOME. TOOK ENGINE APART TO FIND OIL PUMP GEAR BROKEN. VERY COMMON ISSUE BUT NO RECALL FROM YAMAHA! IF YOU HAVE A 99-2002 ROAD STAR YOU ARE AFFECTED! THANKS FOR NOTHIN YAMAHA!
Owner-reported narrative. 28,654 miles reported. Look up ODI 10736151 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 891662 · 2001-06-29 (June 29, 2001)
VEHICLE STALLS AT AROUND 55 MPH, CARBURETOR LOADS UP WITH FUEL, WHEN ACCELERATING IT POPS. DEALER HAS ADMITTED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH CARBURETOR, BUT NO REMEDY AT THIS TIME. *AK *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 891662 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10075466 · 2004-06-01 (June 1, 2004)
FRONT/REAR BRAKES WORE OUT PREMATURELY. CONSUMER WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE EVERY 4,000 MILE. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM ONCE, BUT THE CONSUMER IS STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS. *AK .. ..*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10075466 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044260 · 2003-10-20 (October 20, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH MOTORCYCLE'S FRONT BRAKE CALIPERS FELL OFF. AS A RESULT, DRIVER LOSTS ALL BRAKING ABILITY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044260 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10123720 · 2005-06-20 (June 20, 2005)
DT: MOTORCYCLE HAS 7,000 MILES ON IT, AND IT HAS A RUSTY HOLE ON TOP OF THE GAS TANK. DEALER SAID HE SHOULD HAVE IT REPLACED. CONSUMER CALLED YAMAHA, AND THEY REFUSED TO DEAL WITH HIM. THEY WANTED THE DEALER TO COMPENSATE HIM FOR REPAIRS. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT MOTORCYCLE IS ALWAYS IN THE GARAGE AND IS IN BEAUTIFUL CONDITION OTHER THEN WHAT IS GOING ON.*SB
Owner-reported narrative. 6,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10123720 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125689 · 2005-06-17 (June 17, 2005)
DT: FUEL TANK VENT ROLLOVER VALVE IS PLUNGING UP, CAUSING VACUUM TO COLLAPSE FUEL TANK. IT IS ALSO SUCKING WATER INSIDE. REAR WHEEL ALIGNMENT, MARKS ARE INCORRECT. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THREE YEARS. MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO REMOVE FUEL CAP. ALSO, SUCKING WATER INSIDE UP THE TUBE IN RAINING WEATHER. THE MODEL IS ROADSTAR.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125689 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10231299 · 2008-06-17 (June 17, 2008)
I LEARNED OF THE YAMAHA 1999 ROADSTAR RECALL AND TOOK MY BIKE IN TO A YAMAHA DEALER TO BE FIXED. MY BIKE HAD BEEN RUNNING GREAT WITH NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER. THE DEALER HAS HAD THE BIKE NOW FOR 8 WEEKS. THEY GOT THE BIKE BACK TOGETHER A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND IT FIRED UP. I WENT TO RIDE IT HOME AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD COUGH AND BLOW BLACK SMOKE, BUT TO KEEP ON RIDING IT. IT DIED OUT ON ME AFTER ABOUT 20 MILES AND I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALER HAS GIVEN US THE RUN AROUND THE ENTIRE TIME THEY HAVE HA…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10231299 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 884212 · 2001-03-26 (March 26, 2001)
FRONT TIRE WAS PLACED ON MOTOR CYCLE BACKWARDS. ARROW INDICATED DIRECTION TIRE SHOULD BE. TIRE HAD A KNOT IN IT. STEERING WOULD SHAKE. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP, AND WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC IT WAS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 884212 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 |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
1999: 1; 2000: 1; 2001: 2; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2004: 0; 2005: 0; 2006: 0; 2007: 0; 2008: 0; 2009: 0