2006 YAMAHA XVS1100 Power Train Problems

The contact owns a 2006 Yamaha XVS1100 Motorcycle. The contact stated that while riding approximately 60 MPH, there was a loud whining sound coming from the rear of the motorcycle. The contact stated that moments later the rear wheel locked up and the motorcycle became inoperable. The motorcycle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the mid driveshaft within the transmission had fractured and the engine needed to be replaced. The motorcycle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 24,000.

Mileage: 24,000

2006 VSTAR WITH 15,750 MILES. WHILE SLOWING DOWN AT APPX 45 MPH, METALLIC WHINING FROM TRANSMISSION STARTED. HAD NEVER HEARD THIS NOISE BEFORE. AFTER INITIAL INCIDENT, ANY TIME I DECELERATED OR DOWNSHIFTED, SAME NOISE WAS MADE. AS LONG AS I WAS ON THE ACCELERATOR, SEEMED RUN FINE. AS SOON AS I LET OFF THE GAS, GRINDING/WHINING STARTED. SPOKE WITH A DEALER, HAD NO CLUE WHAT I WAS DESCRIBING. SHOWED THEM A PAGE FROM THIS WEBSITE, SUDDENLY "HAD HEARD OF" BUT WERE UNFAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM. DECIDED THEY WOULD NEED TO TEAR DOWN TRANS TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON. WANTED $1,100 JUST TO DIAGNOSE. SAID IT MAY BE A $100 FIX OR $3K. SEEMS TO BE RELATED TO MIDDLE GEAR SHAFT NUT THAT HAS LOOSENED, BUT NOT BROKEN OFF YET.

Mileage: 15,750

MY 2006 YAMAHA V STAR STARTED MAKING NOISE ON DECELERATION. IT APPEARS TO BE THE MIDDLE SHAFT DRIVE NUT HAS COME LOOSE OR SHEARED OFF. I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET, HAD JUST EXITED THE CREEPY.

Mileage: 40,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 YAMAHA XVS1100. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A LOUD GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DRIVESHAFT FAILED. THE DEALER REPLACED A FEW PARTS WITHIN THE DRIVESHAFT WITH NEW DESIGN PARTS; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT THE DID NOT HAVE THE NAME OF THE NEW DESIGN PARTS. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

Mileage: 14,000

YAMAHA V-STAR 1100 MIDDLE DRIVE SHAFT ENGINEERING DEFECT LAST SEPTEMBER, I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP TO A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 5MPH. I HEARD A LOUD CLUNK, AND LOST ALL POWER TO MY REAR WHEEL. I PUSHED MY BIKE TO A NEARBY REPAIR SHOP, WHO REPORTED THAT THE MIDDLE DRIVE SHAFT NUT HAD BECOME LOOSE , WHICH CAUSED THE SHAFT TO SHEAR COMPLETELY OFF, IN TURN CAUSING IRREPARABLE DAMAGE TO THE GEAR AND THE MIDDLE DRIVE SHAFT. IN ORDER TO REPAIR THIS ISSUE, THE ENGINE CASE WOULD HAVE TO BE SPLIT TO GET TO THE BROKEN ITEM AND REPLACE IT. AFTER SOME AMOUNT OF RESEARCH I FOUND THAT MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM WITH THE MIDDLE DRIVE SHAFT. AFTER GETTING THE REPAIRS APPRAISED AT APPROXIMATELY $2200, I CONTACTED YAMAHA AFTER FILING AN EARLIER REPORT WITH THE NHTSA AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT A REPORTED PROBLEM AND THEY WOULD NOT ISSUE A RECALL OR FIX THE DEFECT. IF THIS PROBLEM HAD OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND LIKELY BEEN INJURED OR KILLED AS A RESULT.

Mileage: 19,000

THE MIDDLE GEAR (CONNECTS TRANSMISSION TO DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLY) NUT BROKE AND WEDGED IN THE DRIVE COUPLER AND LOCKED UP THE REAR WHEEL AT 45 MPH GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. AFTER FINDING THE PROBLEM AND DOING RESEARCH I FOUND THAT THIS IS AN ON GOING PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTORCYCLE AND HAS BEEN FOR YEARS. THE REPAIR IS OVER $3295 WHICH CAN NOT BE GUARANTEED NOT TO HAPPEN AGAIN.

Mileage: 27

WHILE RIDING AT ABOUT 60 MPH, GOING UP A MOUNTAIN ROAD, MY MOTORCYCLE SUDDENLY MADE A HORRIBLE SOUND LIKE METAL PARTS GRINDING AND FLYING AROUND INSIDE MY ENGINE. I PULLED OVER AS FAST AS I COULD AND THE BACK TIRE LOCKED UP ON ME AS I DID SO - EVEN WHEN I APPLIED THE CLUTCH. I WAS FORTUNATE NOT TO SKID OUT OF CONTROL AS THE TRAFFIC THERE TRAVELS FAST AND THE ROAD IS A BIT TRECHEROUS. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO A SHOP.ONCE THEY HAD A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE PROBLEM THEY DISCOVERED THAT THE NUT ON THE MIDDLE DRIVE SHAFT WHERE THE U-JOINT ATTACHES HAD SHEARED OFF RUINING MY TRANSMISSION, SHAFT, ETC... I HAVE BEEN QUOTED AN ESTIMATE OF $3000 TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM - WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT IT COULD JUST HAPPEN AGAIN ON THIS MODEL. WHEN I CALLED YAMAHA ABOUT IT, THEY SAID THERE WERE NO REPORTED ISSUES LIKE THIS ON THAT MODEL. THEY SAID THAT THIS WAS NOT A COMMON PROBLEM. WHEN I INFORMED HER IN THAT IN 5 MINUTES OF LOOKING ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND LITERALLY DOZENS OF PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS EXACT PROBLEM SHE SAID, 'PLEASE HOLD.' I WAITED OVER 20 MINUTES AND SHE NEVER RETURNED. WHEN I CALLED BACK THEY JUST SAID, "SORRY, NO RECALLS ON THIS MODEL AND WOULD NOT HELP FURTHER." *TR

WHILE ACCELERATING, THE REAR TIRE LOCKED UP FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS OCCURRED, BOTH AT LOW SPEEDS. WHAT IS THE FIX FOR THIS BEHAVIOR? *TR

Mileage: 6,500

WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THROUGH CURVES AND HILLS, WITH VARIOUS LEVELS OF LOAD ON THE ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN, A LOUD BUZZING/WHINING NOISE WAS BEING PRODUCED FROM THE ENGINE AREA ACCOMPANIED WITH SPEEDOMETER FAILURE WHEN ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION WERE PUT UNDER LOAD. WHEN ENGINE AND DRIVE TRAIN WERE UNDER NO LOAD (COASTING), THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD OPERATE NORMALLY. INSPECTION OF ENGINE/TRANSMISSION AND FINAL DRIVE FLUIDS REVEALED EVERYTHING TO BE WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. WHEN THE MOTORCYCLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED AGAIN, THERE WAS NO NOISE PRODUCED AND APPEARED TO OPERATE NORMALLY. THREE MONTHS LATER THE SAME ISSUE PRESENTED ITSELF WITH THE SAME SYMPTOMS, BUT WENT AWAY AFTER INSPECTING THE MOTORCYCLE. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN AND THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE NUT HOLDING THE YOKE TO THE MIDDLE DRIVE SHAFT/PINION GEAR HAD LOOSENED APPROXIMATELY THREE THREADS. *TR

Mileage: 22,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 YAMAHA 1100 SILVERADO MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN LOST ALL POWER BUT DID NOT STALL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD BECOME SHREDDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 12,000. UPDATED 09/05/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVE SHAFT SHEARED IN HALF/

Mileage: 12,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 YAMAHA 1100 SILVERADO MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE THEN LOST ALL POWER BUT DID NOT STALL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE DRIVE SHAFT HAD BECOME SHREDDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 12,000. UPDATED 09/05/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVE SHAFT SHEARED IN HALF/

Mileage: 12,000

I HAD JUST STARTED OUT FROM A STOP, SHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR WHEN THE BIKE STARTED TO CLATTER. AS I HAD BEEN STOPPED AT THE LOCAL MOTORCYCLE REPAIR SHOP, I RETURNED THERE AND LEFT THE MOTORCYCLE. THE NEXT DAY I CALLED THE SHOP AND HAD THE MECHANIC CHECK THE BIKE OUT. HE TOLD ME THAT THE MIDDLE DRIVE SHAFT HAD COME APART. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THE SHAFT HAD BROKEN BEHIND THE RETAING NUT FOR THE UNIVERSAL JOINT. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED ON SEVERAL YEAR MODEL'S OF THIS MOTORCYCLE (YAMAHA V-STAR-1100) COMPLAINT'S TO NHTSA. SEVERAL REPORTS OF REAR WHEEL LOCKING UP WHEN THIS HAPPENS HAVE BEEN SUBMITED. THERE IS ONE REPORT ON 04/24/2006 OF A PERSON HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WHERE THE REAR WHEEL HAD LOCKED UP PRIOR TO A CRASH IN WHICH SHE WAS REAR-ENDED AND KILLED. IT IS UNKNKWN IF THE REAR WHEEL LOCKING UP BECAUSE OF A BROKEN MIDDLE SHAFT CAUSED THIS ACCIDENT, BUT I WOULD BE SUSPECT OF THIS. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH YAMAHA, AND THEY HAV NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS BUT THEY HAVE CHANGED THE MANFACTURE OF THIS PART, WHICH WOULD INDICATE THAT THEY WERE AWARE FO A PROBLEM. AS THE COST OF REPAIR FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART IS IN THE RANGE OF $2500.00 TO $3500.00 AND THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH FROM THE PART FAILURE, THE COMPANY SHOULD RECALL AND REPLACE THIS ON ALL MODELS AFFECTED BY IT. *TR

Mileage: 35,772

WHILE RIDING, I BEGAN TO HEAR A WHINING OR SIREN LIKE NOISE WHILE DECELERATING. WHEN I GOT HOME I EXPLORED WHERE THE NOISE SEEMED TO COME FROM AND FOUND WHEN LOOKING THROUGH THE PASSAGE WHERE THE SPEED SENSOR IS MOUNTED THAT THE NUT HAD COME OFF OF THE MIDDLE GEAR BECAUSE IT HAD NOT BEEN STAKED PROPERLY AND WAS NOT PROPERLY SECURED. FURTHERMORE IT HAS NO SAFETY, KEY, RETAINER, COTTER PIN, OR ANY OTHER DEVICE DESIGNED TO RETAIN IT SHOULD SOMETHING GO WRONG, AS IT DID IN MY CASE, AND SO SEEMS TO BE IMPROPERLY ENGINEERED OR AT THE VERY LEAST INCOMPETENTLY INSTALLED FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

Mileage: 12,000

VEHICLE BEGAN TO WHINE, THEN THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNK NOISE AND REAR WHEEL LOCKED UP. INSPECTION REVEALED THE GEAR SHAFT FROM THE TRANSMISSION TO THE UNIVERSAL JOINT HAD SHEARED.

Mileage: 14,902