Yamaha Road Star Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 310 consumer complaints across the 7 model years of the Yamaha Road Star (1999–2007) that have at least 5 complaints. 2003 has the most, with 105. Across all years, the part named most often is transmission and drivetrain (245 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
Best and worst Road Star years →
All Road Star model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 7 | 12,266 | 0 | 1 | — | Not enough data |
| 2004 | 21 | 8,000 | 0 | 0 | — | Falling |
| 2003 | 105 | 4,000 | 1 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2002 | 87 | 6,000 | 1 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2001 | 57 | 8,700 | 2 | 0 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 18 | 16,000 | 1 | 0 | — | Stable |
| 1999 | 15 | 59,000 | 1 | 0 | — | Stable |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Transmission and drivetrain245 80%
- Engine cooling27 8.8%
- Fuel system13 4.2%
- Body and structure9 2.9%
- Suspension7 2.3%
- Wheels3 1.0%
- Engine2 0.6%
- Electrical system2 0.6%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2004: “The transmission did the same thing that the transmission on the 2003 did. With only 46000 miles, the transmission started having trouble. O was on my way home from work when the transmission, started acting like it had come apart and. Gears were trying to mesh. I immediately stopped the bike and called my wife to bring the traijer and come get me and my bike.”
NHTSA complaint #11322548, filed 2020-04, 46 miles2007: “This has happened for 2 years already and everytime I take it to get it fixed they say that's just the way the bike is. But every summer I ride the bike and its hot it just shuts down and when I go to restart it pours gas all over the pipes and wont start. I have had to tow it several times. It wont do it in the spring but when temps get 80 and above it will die out.”
NHTSA complaint #10462869, filed 2012-06, 20,000 miles2003: “Yamaha motor corporation has issued a recall and after over a month of waiting still no parts to fix the motorcycle. (Road Star 3003) local dealer in fort walton beach has lied to me for over a month. Said I was first on the list to be repaired then saturday I find out that I am actually 30th on the list after he does the bikes he sold first.”
NHTSA complaint #10058953, filed 2004-02, 14,000 milesOther Yamaha models
173 complaintsYamaha YZFR1
156 complaintsYamaha FJR1300
122 complaintsYamaha Road Star Warrior
117 complaintsYamaha Bolt
82 complaintsYamaha Road Star Silverado
74 complaintsYamaha XV1700
56 complaintsYamaha FZ6
48 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology