NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Yamaha Road Star Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 Yamaha Road Star has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 105 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Yamaha dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Yamaha Road Star. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

2003 Yamaha Road Star owner complaints

Owners have filed 105 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Yamaha Road Star, describing incidents dated October 17, 2003 to October 28, 2009.

Most-cited components

Power Train 100 complaints
Suspension 2 complaints
Air Bags 1 complaint
Fuel/Propulsion System 1 complaint
Service Brakes 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10296134 · Filed December 16, 2009
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…
ODI #10209317 · Filed November 19, 2007
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…
ODI #10186611 · Filed March 31, 2007
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…

Read all 105 complaints

Owner-reported

2003 Yamaha Road Star mileage at failure

38 of the 105 complaints on file for the 2003 Yamaha Road Star give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
Component	Median	Middle half	Based on
Power Train	Median 4,000 miles	Middle half 2,000–5,000 miles	Based on 34 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2003 Yamaha Road Star in 1 investigation. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE03-038: UNINTENDED REAR WHEEL LOCKUP
Closed November 6, 2003
- Recall 03V-309
- Recall 06V-397

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

ACCESSORY HANDLEBARS

NHTSA #10E041000 · Equipment · NHTSA notice

Reported August 23, 2010 · YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION, USA

Potentially affected: 300 vehicles

Owners notified August 31, 2010

Defect description

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 BARS NARROW FOR THE SWITCH HOUSINGS AND GRIPS.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

YAMAHA/MOTORCYCLES/REAR WHEEL LOCK UP

NHTSA #03V309000 · Power Train — Manual Transmission · NHTSA notice

Reported August 26, 2003 · YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION, USA

Potentially affected: 29,139 vehicles

Yamaha campaign M2004-001 · Owners notified September 2, 2003 · Vehicles built November 1, 2000 – December 31, 2003 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

ALSO, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2003 Yamaha Road Star. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

105 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Yamaha Road Star.

Suspension

ODI #10296134

Incident: October 28, 2009 · Filed: December 16, 2009

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

ODI #10209317

Incident: October 4, 2007 · Filed: November 19, 2007

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

ODI #10186611

Incident: January 4, 2007 · Filed: March 31, 2007

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

ODI #10183407

Incident: October 15, 2006 · Filed: February 24, 2007

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

ODI #10083947

Incident: May 20, 2004 · Filed: July 30, 2004

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

ODI #10083898

Incident: January 10, 2004 · Filed: July 30, 2004

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

ODI #10080095

Incident: January 8, 2004 · Filed: June 29, 2004

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

ODI #10074026

Filed: May 20, 2004

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

ODI #10073671

Filed: May 14, 2004

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

ODI #10073383

Filed: May 7, 2004

RECALL REPAIRS COULD NOT BE PERFORMED BECAUSE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. *MR *LA

Other Yamaha Road Star model years

Check your 2003 Yamaha Road Star VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Yamaha Road Star at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Yamaha VIN