2003 Yamaha Road Star
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Yamaha › Road Star › 2003
These records cover every 2003 Yamaha Road Star. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
2 recalls name the 2003 Yamaha Road Star. Newest first.
Yamaha IS recalling certain accessory yamaha double "t" fat handlebars , part numbers str-5px75-12-00 and str-4wm75-12-00, manufactured from august 1, 2008 through july 31, 2009, to be used on model year 2002-2009 xv1700pc warrior, 1999-2003 vx1600 and 2004-2010 xv1700 road star motorcycles. these handlebars may have tubing thinner than designed where the…
Risk and remedy
Risk
The affected handlebars could be weak enough in the area to break. should this breakage occur while the motorcycle IS being operated, the operator could lose control of the motorcycle which could result in a crash.
Remedy
Yamaha will notify owners of record and dealers will replace the affected handlebars free of charge. the safety recall began on august 31, 2010. owners may contact yamaha toll-free at 1-800-962-7926.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
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.
Owner complaints
105 complaints
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Suspension › Front › Shock absorber
TL* the contact owns a 2003 yamaha roadstar. He experienced difficulty when attempting to raise the vehicle using the jack. Upon further inspection he noticed that the shock spring assembly mount had fractured. He called several dealerships and was told that the failure was never reported. He…
TL* the contact owns a 2003 yamaha roadstar. He experienced difficulty when attempting to raise the vehicle using the jack. Upon further inspection he noticed that the shock spring assembly mount had fractured. He called several dealerships and was told that the failure was never reported. He called the manufacturer and was not provided with assistance because the warranty expired. No repairs were made. the current and failure mileages were approximately 29,500.
- Suspension › Rear
Tl*the contact owns a 2003 yamaha road star. while driving 55 mph, the rear tire struck the top of the rear fender. the dealer stated that the rear shock mount caused the failure; as of november 19, 2007, the dealer had not repaired the vehicle. the current and failure mileages were 59,000. updated 12/04/07
- Fuel system, gasoline › Carburetor system
Carburetor on 2003 yamaha roadstar (xv1600) will spit gas out on hot cylinder heads and crankcase unpredictably. happens when restarting engine after engine has been stopped for a short period after coming in from a ride. ride can be short or long; unpredictable. was checked by dealer during…
Carburetor on 2003 yamaha roadstar (xv1600) will spit gas out on hot cylinder heads and crankcase unpredictably. happens when restarting engine after engine has been stopped for a short period after coming in from a ride. ride can be short or long; unpredictable. was checked by dealer during first few months when new and carb needle was replaced. problem has persisted and occurs every few months thereafter and IS only resolved by turning off fuel valve before stopping so carb empties. numerous other riders have seen same problem. last event for me shown below in incident date. *jb
- Power train › Manual transmission
While riding m y 2003 yamaha roadstar I had problems getting it to shift into 4TH gear. I checked the internet for any recalls on the bike. When I found that there IS a recall I took the bike to my local dealer, the ran the vin# and said that it had already been done. The recall states that after…
While riding m y 2003 yamaha roadstar I had problems getting it to shift into 4TH gear. I checked the internet for any recalls on the bike. When I found that there IS a recall I took the bike to my local dealer, the ran the vin# and said that it had already been done. The recall states that after the modifications are complete stamp a "*" above the a on the vin#. My bike does not have the stamp, the dealer said that don't matter because he knows it was done. I do not feel safe riding the bike since the recall states do not ride serious injury or death will result. If the bike shifted properly I would feel more confident that the work was completed. *Jb
- Power train › Automatic transmission
2003 yamaha roadster was recalled for possible transmission problem. consumer contacted dealer for six weeks for recall repair, but dealer weren't able to do so because recall kit hasn't been provided by the manufacturer. (nar) *la *cb
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Requested help to get yahama to expedite the recall process on the yamaha roadstar. (nar) *ph *cb
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Requested help to get yamaha roadstar transmission recall performed in a reasonable amount of time. (nar) *ph *cb
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Complaint on the length of time it took yamaha to repair the consumer's 2003 yamaha roadstar due to transmission recall. (nar) *ph *cb
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Consumer received recall letter for 2003 yamaha roadstar which indicated repairs would take 2 days. After contacting the dealership, he was informed the parts wouldn't be available to them until the end of feb. Or early march. (nar) *ph *cb
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Consumer was informed that the dealer would have the parts for 2003 yamaha roadstar recall n 7 to 10 days but was later informed it would be another month before they received parts to correct the locking transmission. (nar) *ph *cb
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Nhtsa recall 03v309000 regarding transmission failure. after having recall repairs done, a week later, consumer heard a loud noise, and took it back to the dealer for inspection. *Ak
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Consumer received recall 03v309000 concerning transmission failure. consumer had the recall notice since january, and dealer had not received the parts as of yet.*ak
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Consumer was waiting for recall 03v309000 repair parts for 8 months. The recall letter stated motorcycle was not to be driven until repaired. dealership had not resolved the problem. *ak
- Power train › Manual transmission
4TH pinion gear exchange kit.*mr the consumer received recall notice 03v-309000. the consumer was unable to ride the vehicle for 90 days because the part was not available. *nm
- Power train › Manual transmission
Consumer received nhtsa recall 03v309000 concerning transmission failure in january 2004. consumer contacted the dealer, and was told that parts needed to repair the motorcycle were not yet available. Parts were coming in ,but at a very slow pace. *Ak
- Power train › Manual transmission
Recall repairs could not be performed because parts were not available. *mr *la
- Power train › Manual transmission
Parts to perform recall 03v309000 repairs were not available for 4 months.*ak
- Power train › Manual transmission
Consumer was informed that due to the backlog of motorcycles that need repairs, it would be a while before his motorcycle receive the recall repair needed. *ph
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Complaint relative to the unreasonable length of time consumer has to wait to have recall performed. *ph
- Power train › Manual transmission
Consumer received yamaha recall on transmission componets. *ph *jb
- Power train › Manual transmission
Yamaha failure to replace transmission part(s) that was recalled over three months ago. *ph consumer seeking reimbursement for the repair and obtain the needed replacement part for motorcycle. *la
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Consumer received a recall notice for replacement of transmission. No parts were available. Service manager sarah. *ak
- Power train › Manual transmission
Yamaha unable to repair the motorcycle in a reasonable time frame. *ph *sc recall #03v309000. *jb
- Power train › Manual transmission
The consumer dissatified with the lack of availability of parts to perform recall. *ph the consumer was informed of the possibility of a broken circlip. *sc *jb recall 03v309000.
- Power train › Manual transmission
Yamaha dealers didn't know when they would receive the parts to perform recall. *ph *la *jb
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Unintended rear wheel lockup
Summary: on august 22, 2003 yamaha notified the agency that it was recalling certain model year2001 xv1600 ?road star? Model motorcycles to address transmission failure in those vehicles.according to the company, the transmission would fail due to excessive bushing wear on the 4TH pinion gear.based on its analysis of…
Summary: on august 22, 2003 yamaha notified the agency that it was recalling certain model year2001 xv1600 ?road star? Model motorcycles to address transmission failure in those vehicles.according to the company, the transmission would fail due to excessive bushing wear on the 4TH pinion gear.based on its analysis of failed transmissions from the field, the company found ?uneven contact between the engagement dogs on the 2nd/3rd pinion gear.when in 4TH gear, these uneven surfaces caused uneven bushing wear in the 4TH gear bushing.this wear would eventually cause the 4TH gear retaining circlip to fail, leading to transmission failure.?this could result in both transmission and rear wheel lockup and yamaha concluded a safety recall should be conducted to address the problem.yamaha IS limiting the recall?s scope to those motorcycles built between november 30, 2000 and january 24, 2001 based upon the following:1. Yamaha u.s. Reported field failures (involving bikes built in december, 2000) to yamaha japan.2.yamaha japan investigated and validated the cause described above.3.yamaha japan identified the problem was related to the engagement dog on the 2nd/3rd pinion gear.4. Yamaha japan records indicated that the jig used to produce the 2nd/3rd pinion gear was re-calibrated on january 13, 2001.5.parts produced before november 30,2000 and after january 13, 2001 were sampled and found to be within specification (the recall was extended beyond january 13 build as a precaution).with yamaha?s recall, we are closing this investigation but will continue to monitor the field performance of all road star model motorcycles to assess the performance of those bikes not covered by the recall.should the facts warrant additional investigation, we will proceed accordingly.
Every Yamaha Road Star model year
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