2003 Yamaha Road Star Problems

What owners report

Most sampled complaints for this model year concern recall campaign 03V309000, which covers a possibly mis-machined second/third pinion gear in the transmission; owners mainly describe long waits for replacement parts rather than the failure itself. Nearly all of these complaints were filed in early 2004 on motorcycles with only a few thousand miles. A handful of later complaints describe carburetor fuel spit on warm restarts and a cracked rear shock mount.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission recall parts unavailable (rear wheel lock-up)

   • 88 complaints (84%)
   • median 4,000 mi at 1.4 yrs old (30 state mileage)
   • filed 2003–2007

   Owners received recall 03V309000, which describes a second/third pinion gear that may have been machined incorrectly, can wear abnormally, and can eventually break a retainer circlip, with the notice warning of possible rear wheel lock-up. Most complaints are about the remedy: dealers and the manufacturer could not say when parts would arrive, owners were put on waiting lists, and some were told not to ride the motorcycle in the meantime. A few report the bike sitting at a dealer for weeks or months, and some say they were told that customers who bought from that dealer were served first. Mostly reported in the first months of 2004 on motorcycles showing roughly 150 to 12,000 miles.

   Recall 03V309000

   What to check: Ask for paperwork showing that recall 03V309000 was completed on this specific motorcycle, and have a dealer verify it rather than relying on the owner's word. If it has not been done, confirm parts availability and who will cover the work before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 miles

   “Recall - there are no parts available to fix my bike, and Yamaha is not doing enough in my opinion. I would be more satisfied if they could simply give me a date when the parts would be to my dealer. Instead I get the following response we are not sure when the parts will be available, but they should all be out by the end of april. But that is not a hard date, so please do not take that as a hard date what the heck does that mean. And they also refuse to give any compensation for loss of use. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10062315, filed 2004-03
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Recall repair delays and warranty or loss-of-use concerns

   • 35 complaints (33%)
   • median 4,000 mi at 1.4 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • filed 2003–2004

   A subgroup of owners describe the practical fallout of the recall backlog: months without the motorcycle while still making loan and insurance payments, difficulty getting reimbursement for a repair already paid for, and questions about whether extended coverage or towing benefits apply. Some also note that the delay kept them from putting break-in miles on the bike before the warranty period ended. Filed in early to mid 2004, generally within the first several thousand miles.

   Recall 03V309000

   What to check: Ask how long the bike was out of service and whether any repair was paid for out of pocket; keep all recall and service paperwork in case reimbursement questions come up later.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Yamaha's lack of parts has made it impossible for me to put additional break-in miles on the bike before my warranty will expire. According to Yamaha 5000-8000 miles are required to break in a new motorcycle.”

   NHTSA complaint #10057986, filed 2004-03, 21,000 miles

   “The owner received a recall notice (NHTSA recall# 03v 309 000/rear wheel lockup) from the manufacturer on january 15, 2004. The owner has an extended warranty, the yes plan, which includes coverage of up to 150.00 toward a replacement vehicle. Yamaha is not acknowledging it.”

   NHTSA complaint #10059374, filed 2004-02, 4,600 miles

Buying note. The main thing to settle on this model year is the transmission recall: confirm with a dealer, by VIN, that campaign 03V309000 was actually completed. On higher-mileage examples, also look over the rear shock mount and check the carburetor for fuel seepage on warm restarts.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.