NHTSA vehicle safety data

2005 Yamaha XVS11 Recalls & Complaints

The 2005 Yamaha XVS11 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 9 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 2005 Yamaha XVS11. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2005 Yamaha XVS11 owner complaints

Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Yamaha XVS11, describing incidents dated April 24, 2008 to July 1, 2015.

Most-cited components

Power Train 9 complaints

Newest complaints

ODI #10732843 · Filed July 9, 2015
I BEGAN ACCELERATING ON TO THE HIGHWAY WHEN I NOTICED A RATTLING WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE MOTORCYCLE ONCE AS I APPROACHED AN EXIST TO INSPECT THE MOTORCYCLE MY REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP . ONCE I HAD IT TOWED HOME COME TO FIND OUT THE MIDDLE GEAR SHAFT NUT HAD BROKEN OFF WITH PART OF…
ODI #10389608 · Filed March 9, 2011
I HAVE A 2005 YAMAHA 1100 VSTAR CLASSIC. AT ABOUT 23,000 MILES A NUT HOLDING THE MIDDLE GEAR IN THE TRANSMISSION BROKE OFF CAUSING CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF $2,000 + TO REPAIR IT. EVEN THO THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF…
ODI #10354189 · Filed September 7, 2010
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 YAMAHA XVS11. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH HE NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS READING A SPEED OF 0 MPH. HE CONTINUED DRIVING AND BEGAN TO HEAR A CLANKING NOISE. AS HE CONTINUED DRIVING THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY LUNGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN…

Read all 9 complaints

PASSENGER SEAT MOUNTING HARDWARE MODIFICATION

NHTSA #05V256000 · Seats — Motorcycle · NHTSA notice

Reported June 1, 2005 · YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION, USA

Potentially affected: 46,000 vehicles

Yamaha campaign M2005-010 · Owners notified June 15, 2005 · Vehicles built May 1, 1997 – May 31, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYLES, THE ORIGINAL REPLACEMENT MOUNTING HARDWARE HOLDING THE PASSENGER SEAT TO THE FENDER COULD BREAK IF THE MOUNTING HARDWARE IS OVER TIGHTENED.

Safety consequence

IF THE HARDWARE BREAKS, THE PASSENGER SEAT CAN FALL OFF THE REAR FENDER. THE PASSENGER COULD LOSE BALANCE AND FALL, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Manufacturer remedy

OWNERS MAY ALREADY HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM YAMAHA DATED MARCH 3, 2005, ABOUT THIS DEFECT. IN ORDER TO PROVIDE AN IMPROVED REMEDY TO THE REPAIR OF THE PREVIOUS RECALL, YAMAHA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES AGAIN. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HARDWARE HOLDING THE PASSENGER SEAT TO THE FENDER WITH COMPONENTS OF A DIFFERENT TYPE THAT WILL NOT ALLOW THE SEAT TO FALL OFF. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 15, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT YAMAHA AT 1-800-88-YAMAHA.

Notes

CUSTOMERS 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 HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

PASSENGER SEAT MOUNTING HARDWARE

NHTSA #05V067000 · Seats — Motorcycle · NHTSA notice

Reported March 3, 2005 · YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION, USA

Potentially affected: 179,042 vehicles

Yamaha campaign M2005-003 · Owners notified March 4, 2005 · Vehicles built January 1, 1995 – February 25, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE MOUNTING HARDWARE HOLDING THE PASSENGER SEAT TO THE FENDER COULD LOOSEN DUE TO THE PASSENGER'S WEIGHT SHIFTING ON THE SEAT.

Safety consequence

IF THE MOUNTING HARDWARE BECOMES LOOSE ENOUGH TO FALL OFF, THE PASSENGER SEAT CAN FALL OFF THE REAR FENDER. A PASSENGER ON THE MOTORCYCLE COULD LOSE BALANCE AND FALL, CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PASSENGER SEAT'S MOUNTING HARDWARE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 4, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT YAMAHA AT 1-800-227-5963.

Notes

CUSTOMERS 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 HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2005 Yamaha XVS11. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

9 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Yamaha XVS11.

Power Train

ODI #10732843

Incident: July 1, 2015 · Filed: July 9, 2015

I BEGAN ACCELERATING ON TO THE HIGHWAY WHEN I NOTICED A RATTLING WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE MIDDLE OF THE MOTORCYCLE ONCE AS I APPROACHED AN EXIST TO INSPECT THE MOTORCYCLE MY REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP . ONCE I HAD IT TOWED HOME COME TO FIND OUT THE MIDDLE GEAR SHAFT NUT HAD BROKEN OFF WITH PART OF THE SHAFT INSIDE AND FEEL IF THOUGH REPLACING IT AND MAY CAUSE ME SERIOUS INJURY.

Power Train

ODI #10389608

Incident: June 10, 2010 · Filed: March 9, 2011

I HAVE A 2005 YAMAHA 1100 VSTAR CLASSIC. AT ABOUT 23,000 MILES A NUT HOLDING THE MIDDLE GEAR IN THE TRANSMISSION BROKE OFF CAUSING CATASTROPHIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I HAD THE MOTORCYCLE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF $2,000 + TO REPAIR IT. EVEN THO THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY TO HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT HAPPEN WITH ONLY THAT MANY MILES ON A VEHICLE IS UNACCEPTABLE. I PERSONALLY CONTACTED YAMAHA CORP. BY LETTER AND BY PHONE AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO HELP. I HAD THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT CONTACT YAMAHA AND AGAIN WAS TOLD SORRY. THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED EVENT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY FAILURES OF THIS KIND AND MY LOCAL DEALER SAID THEY HAVE HAD HALF A DOZEN OR MORE BUT YAMAHA KNOWING ABOUT THE ISSUE FAILS TO INITIATE A RECALL OR HELP ANY OWNERS WITH THE PROBLEM. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10354189

Incident: August 24, 2010 · Filed: September 7, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 YAMAHA XVS11. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH HE NOTICED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS READING A SPEED OF 0 MPH. HE CONTINUED DRIVING AND BEGAN TO HEAR A CLANKING NOISE. AS HE CONTINUED DRIVING THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY LUNGE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 23,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

Power Train

ODI #10341090

Incident: April 24, 2008 · Filed: July 2, 2010

I HAVE A 2005 YAMAHA VSTAR 1100 WITH 5.000 MILES. WHEN I WAS DRIVING IT ON THE INTERSTATE THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO WINE AND THEN STARTED TO MAKE A TAPING NOISE. I FOUND THE MIDDLE DRIVE GEAR IS BROKE ITS GOING COST ME 1600 DOLLARS TO FIX IT WITH ME TAKING THE MOTOR OUT AND REINSTALLING IT IN MOTORCYCLE. YAMAHA WILL NOT FIX IT EVEN KNOW THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH MIDDLE DRIVE GEAR. I'M JUST LUCKY IT DID NOT LOCK UP ON ME ON THE INTERSTATE! *TR

Power Train

ODI #10292826

Incident: November 18, 2009 · Filed: November 18, 2009

ON YAMAHA 1100 VSTAR MOTORCYCLES IN THE MIDDLE DRIVE GEAR WHERE THE UNIVERSAL YOKE CONNECTS TO THE SHAFT THE SHAFT IS PRONE TO BREAKAGE CAUSING THE NUT AND END OF THE SHAFT TO BECOME CAUGHT IN THE UNIVERSAL JOINT WHICH AT 55MPH CAN BE DEVASTATING. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS CIRCUMSTANCES OF THIS DEFECT. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10292122

Incident: November 9, 2009 · Filed: November 13, 2009

MOTORCYCLE IS A 2005 YAMAHA V-STAR 1000 WITH 23,000 MILES ON IT, AND IT BEGAN MAKING A LOUD WHINING NOISE, WHICH SEEMED TO BE AT IT WORST DURING THE FIRST 2-3 MILES OF OPERATION. AFTER CONSULTING WITH A WEB FORUM DEDICATED TO THESE MOTORCYCLES, I DISCOVERED THE THREADED END OF THE INTERMEDIATE DRIVESHAFT HAD BROKEN, AND THE NUT WHICH RETAINS THE U-JOINT YOKE WAS FREE TO MOVE AROUND INSIDE THE U-JOINT. THERE WAS ALSO LIMITED DAMAGE TO THE U-JOINT YOKE, WHICH WAS CAUSED BY THE NUT MOVING AROUND WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE WAS OPERATING. THIS APPEARS TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM AMONG THESE YAMAHA MOTORCYCLES, AND CAN LEAD TO MAJOR REPAIR WORK IF THE SHAFT GETS BENT FROM NOT BEING SECURED CORRECTLY. OF THE THREE OPTIONS RECOMMENDED ON THIS FORUM FOR REPAIRING THE PROBLEM, I CHOSE THE CHEAPEST AND FASTEST TO REPAIR OPTION OF DRILLING AND TAPPING THE END OF THE SHAFT TO ACCEPT A BOLT IN LIEU OF REMOVING THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION TO REPLACE THE BROKEN SHAFT. I WAS ABLE TO SMOOTH OUT THE DAMAGED AREAS ON THE U-JOINT YOKE. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10284216

Incident: September 12, 2009 · Filed: September 16, 2009

DRIVE SHAFT FAILURE ON A YAHAMA 1100 VSTAR... FAILURE DUE TO NUT BACKING OFF DRIVE SHAFT YOKE .. SEVERE WHINING ,VIBRATION... BAD DESIGN BY YAHAMA , COULD CAUSE LOCK UP OF REAR TIRE RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH FOR THE RIDER... *TR

Power Train

ODI #10281889

Incident: August 20, 2009 · Filed: August 26, 2009

I FIRST NOTICED A PROBLEM WHEN THE SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING AND THEN WHILE DRIVING HOME THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD A GRINDING NOISE UPON RELEASING THE THROTTLE. THE BIKE WAS TAKEN TO REPAIR AND THE NUT THAT HOLDS THE DRIVE SHAFT IN PLACE CAME OFF AND THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS LOOSE. I HAVE A YAMAHA VSTAR 1100 CLASSIC 2005 WITH 7800 MILES ON IT. *TR

Power Train

ODI #10237605

Incident: August 8, 2008 · Filed: August 10, 2008

MIDDLE DRIVE SHAFT RETAINING NUT SNAP.*TR

Other Yamaha XVS11 model years

Check your 2005 Yamaha XVS11 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Yamaha XVS11 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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