VehicleVerdict

2003 Yamaha Road Star transmission problems

The 2003 Yamaha Road Star has 100 transmission complaints filed with NHTSA — 95% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

100

Transmission complaints

95%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Transmission complaints by year

Road Star transmission complaints by model year100 complaints1999: 4 complaints2000: 7 complaints2001: 49 complaints2002: 82 complaints2003: 100 complaints2004: 4 complaints2007: 1 complaints2008: 1 complaints
Road Star transmission complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

03V309000TransmissionAugust 26, 2003 · 29,139 units

Defect

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.

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.

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.

What owners report

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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · February 25, 2004

Common questions

How many transmission complaints does the 2003 Yamaha Road Star have?

NHTSA has 100 complaints about the 2003 Yamaha Road Star transmission — 95% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2003 Yamaha Road Star transmission?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the transmission: 03V309000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.