2004 Yamaha FZ6

Routine

Owners filed 34 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the fuel system, gasoline › fuel injection system. It has been recalled 1 time.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
7,200 milesMedian miles at failure

30 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 010,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System9
100
Vehicle Speed Control5
001
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery5
101
Electrical System4
202
Fuel System, Other3
000
Fuel System, Other › Delivery2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine2
000
Power Train1
000
Fuel System, Other › Fuel Injection System1
000
Fuel System, Gasoline1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Equipment14E012000
Filed Apr 1, 20142,827 vehiclesOhlins Racing Ab

Defect. Ohlins Racing AB (Ohlins) is recalling certain steering dampers kits manufactured with an incorrectly machined bracket. These dampers were sold for use as aftermarket equipment on Yamaha R1, R6, and FZ6, Suzuki TL1000 R and GSX1300R, Honda CB600RR, and Ducati Monster 1000, 748, 848, 916, 996, and 998 motorcycles. Also included are universal steering damper kits with part numbers SD 000 through SD 005. The affected brackets may crack.

Risk. If there is a crack in the steering bracket, at low speeds it may cause the steering to lock, leading to personal injury or a crash.

Remedy. Ohlins will notify the distributors and provide their customers with a new bracket. The recall began in November 2013. Owners may contact Ohlins USA at 1-828-692-4525. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 13E-034.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Power Train
Filed Feb 10, 2023CA

Front drive shaft, chain sprocket ‘Nut/lock washer’ has came loose and fell off on the highway. Could have locked the chain around the wheel and cause a major crash, also could have severely damaged the engine casing. It damaged the rear swing arm and a piece piece near the stater. I replaced the nut & locking washer tab, exact replacement only To have the same issue just I didn’t allow it to spin off since I was aware of this happening. I replaced the second one with a different style but same locking washer tab same issue it comes loose within 8 to 10miles. The nut is torqued to spec as stated by Yamaha. Iv reached out to several places including Yamaha and cannot seem to find a solution. Iv joined motorcycle forums and read people with same issue I’m having and wow am I lucky one. But they have had replacement parts and labor performed because of a safety recall of the issue. Why can I not get this resolved I have no clue what els to do.!! Please help

Electrical System › IgnitionCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 1, 20063,000 milesWI

YAMAHA 2004 FZ6 BIKE RUNS GOOD FOR A WHILE, AND ALL THE SUDDEN THE ENGINE LOSES 90 % OF ITS POWER, I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY OFF, THEN BACK ON TO REGAIN POWER WHILE IN TRAFFIC, ONE TIME THIS HAPPEN I GAVE IT TO MUCH GAS TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC ,AND I FLIPPED THE BIKE OVER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. IT WAS MY LUCKY DAY NOBODY RAN OVER ME. LOOKING AT THIS WEB SITE , THERE IS A LOT OF OTHER FZ6 RIDERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, I HAVE ASKED 4 YAMAHA DEALERS IF ANYONE ELSE IS HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND THEY ALL SAID NO? WELL THEY SURE DO BY LOOKING ON THIS WEB,I HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS AS THOUGH OTHERS ON THIS SITE, AND A FACTORY RECALL IS NEEDED! SOMEONE GOING TO DIE IF NOT ALREADY THAT WE KNOW OF BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 5, 2006300 milesCA

MOTORCYCLE SHUTS OFF AFTER REDUCING THROTTLE DURING DECELERATION AND DURING SHIFTING. MANY RIDERS OF THE SAME MODEL MOTORCYCLE HAVE REPORTED THE SAME PROBLEM. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE BIKE IS W/O POWER AND SOMETIMES DURING DOWNSHIFTING THE REAR TIRE LOSES TRACTION AND CAUSES THE BIKE TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS. *NM

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jun 13, 20068,000 milesIL

(1) NO UNUSUAL EVENTS. (2) THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR FAILED CAUSING POOR GAS MILEAGE, STALLS, AND HESITATION. (3) REPLACED TPS AT A COST OF $215. *NM

Electrical SystemCrash1 injured
Filed May 16, 200612,800 milesVA

AT 9M MILES, MY 2004 YAMAHA FZ6 BEGAN TO EXHIBIT THE FOLLOWING: 1) AFTER APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES OF OPERATION, ERRATIC AND PROLONGED PERIODS OF ROUGH IDLE AT 500 RPMS INSTEAD OF THE NORMAL 1300 RPMS 2) MOTOR WOULD STALL DURING GEAR CHANGES, EVEN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS 3) DURING THESE TIMES, THE SMELL OF GASOLINE WAS NOTICEABLE. CHANGING THE SPARK PLUGS SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY, BUT THEY SOON REAPPEARED. AT 12M MILES, THE BIKE WAS TAKEN TO THE YAMAHA DEALER TO BE FIXED BUT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. I WENT NEXT TO AN INDEPENDENT MOTORCYCLE MECHANIC WHO ALSO COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. HE SUGGESTED THAT IT WAS PROBABLY AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM AND COULD BE EXPENSIVE TO FIX AND I SHOULD TAKE IT TO A DIFFERENT DEALER. HE ALSO QUESTIONED IF THE "CHECK-ENGINE" LIGHT HAD COME ON WHICH WOULD HAVE REGISTERED SPECIFIC TROUBLE CODES, BUT I TOLD HIM THAT THEY HAD NOT. AT 12800 MILES, WHILE PULLING ONTO THE ROADWAY, THE BIKE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY IN A TURN AT LOW SPEED, LOCKED THE BACK TIRE AND WENT DOWN. I SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND THE BIKE LOST A MIRROR, FOOT PEG, FRONT FAIRING, AND GENERALLY GOT BUMMED UP. SINCE THEN, I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS REPORTS OF "THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR" DEFECTS THAT HAVE CREATED SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF MOTORCYCLE. AND YET, THE DEALERS SEEM TO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT! INSTALLING A NEW TPS MAY OR MAY NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. BUT FOR NOW I'M STUCK WITH A BIKE THAT I CAN'T TRUST, HAS LITTLE RESALE OR TRADE-IN VALUE, AND PROBABLY

Electrical SystemCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 27, 20068,000 milesPA

THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO THE 2004 YAMAHA FZ6 THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. AFTER THE MOTORCYCLE WARMS UP (APPROXIMATELY 50 MILES OF RIDING), IT WILL STALL OUT AND/OR SPUTTER WHEN THE CLUTCH IS ENGAGED AND/OR SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. LAST JULY IT STALLED OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF A RIGHT HAND TURN AROUND A RED LIGHT, RESULTING IN THE BACK TIRE LOOSING TRACTION AND CAUSING A CRASH. I WAS MINIMALLY INJURED, BUT THE BIKE SUFFERED SOME EXTERIOR DAMAGE. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. THIS PART WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, BUT SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH MOST OWNERS OF THE 2004-05 FZ6.*JB

Fuel System, Other › Delivery
Filed Mar 27, 200619,840 milesCA

VEHICLE: 2004 YAMAHA FZ6 MOTORCYCLE, PURCHASE NEW 12/93. INTERMITTENTLY, THE ENGINE SURGES, CUTS OUT, LUGS, STALLS/QUITS AT VARYING TIMES AND SPEEDS/RIDING SITUATIONS. STOPPING THE BIKE, TURNING IGNITION OFF AND ON TEMPORARILY CORRECTS PROBLEM, BUT PROBLEM ALWAYS RECURS. DIFFERENT WEATHER TEMPERATURES AND FUEL GRADES HAVE NO POSITIVE EFFECT. BIKE MAY STALL AT AN INTERSECTION STOP, AT HIGHWAY SPEED, ACCELERATING OR DECELERATING, ON STRAIGHT OR CORNERS, WHICH CAN BE TERRIFYING--NOT TO MENTION POTENTIALLY FATAL. NOTE: DATE LISTED BELOW IS ONLY THE MOST RECENT--PROBLEM OCCURS ON ALMOST EVERY RIDE. *JB

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 7, 200614,000 milesFL

THE MOTORCYCLE HAD PROGRESSIVELY WORSE STALLING AT STOP-LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS. AT TIMES THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD STUTTER AND STALL WHEN TRYING TO INITIATE THE THROTTLE FROM A STOP, AND AT OTHER TIMES THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD RANDOMLY INCREASE SPEED WHILE CRUISING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE THROTTLE BECAME QUITE VARIOUS TO THE POINT IT WAS NOT SAFE TO RIDE IN TRAFFIC DUE TO NOT KNOWING HOW THE MOTORCYCLE WOULD REACT TO DIFFERENT THROTTLE INPUTS. IN ORDER TO FIX THE PROBLEM THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline › DeliveryCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 9, 20064,834 milesNY

MOTORCYCLE'S IDLE RPMS CHANGE ABRUPTLY, TO THE POINT OF STALLING WHEN AT SLOW SPEEDS. THIS ABRUPT CHANGE WAS THE SOURCE OF A REAR END COLLISION. THE BIKE HAD BEEN TAKEN IN PREVIOUSLY TO THE DEALERSHIP ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS BUT NO CORRECTIVE MEASURES WHERE TAKEN, AS THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE REPRODUCED. THE SYMPTOMS CORRELATE WITH THOSE OF OTHER FZ6 USERS AND HAS BEEN LINKED TO A FAULTY TPS. *NM

Electrical System
Filed Sep 24, 20056,500 milesOH

MOTORCYCLE RANDOMLY WILL NOT IDLE AND STALLS BETWEEN SHIFTS. HAS HAPPENED 5 OR 6 TIMES. DEALER SAYS DESCRIBED SYMPTOMS CANNOT NOT BE DIAGNOSED WITHOUT FAULT CODES. FAULT CODES ARE NOT STORED UNLESS CERTAIN "IDIOTIC LIGHTS" COME ON DURING FAILURE. *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System
Filed Sep 15, 20054,900 milesTX

BIKE IDLE DROPS (600-850 RPM) WHEN CLUTCH PULLED IN CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL AT RED LIGHTS, EXITING DRIVEWAYS ETC... POOR FUEL MILEAGE AND ROUGH IDLE. UPON CYCLING THE IGNITION KEY OFF AND ON, SYMPTOM WILL TEMPORARILY RECTIFY ITSELF ONLY TO RETURN LATER. I AM FEARFUL OF A REAR-END IMPACT FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE AT INTERSECTIONS AS A RESULT OF THIS PROBLEM. IT SEEMS THAT THE "THROTTLE SENSOR ASSY" PART NO. 5FL-85885-05-00 IS THE MAJOR CULPRIT PER OTHER OWNERS EXPERIENCES WITH THIS VEHICLE AND SAME SYMPTOMS. *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection SystemCrash
Filed Sep 7, 2005TX

'94 FZ6 - 5,000 MILES. THE BIKE HAD A HARD TIME STARTING. NOW IT CAN BE RUNNING AT A STEADY 3000-4500 RPM ON THE HIGHWAY AND START TO STUMBLE OR CUTOUT. I'VE HAD TO PULL OVER AND CUT IT OFF AND RESTART IT TO GET IT TO STOP. IT HAPPENS WHENEVER IT WANTS, NO WARNING OR REASON. IT STALLED ONCE WHILE I WAS ON THE WAY TO WORK AND I DROPPED THE BIKE BEFORE I COULD CATCH IT. I'VE HAD FRIENDS TELL ME THAT IT IS A TPS (THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR), BUT THE MOTORCYCLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO TAKE IN TO BE CHECKED. THAT WOULD BE ALMOST $100 AND THEY MAY NOT FIND IT. *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Sep 5, 20057,400 milesOR

TROTTLE CHUNKY/DELAYED/ERRATIC, MAKING MOTORCYCLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL IN CORNERS. STALLS AT STOPS, A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN CITY TRAFFIC. DOES NOT IDLE, I NEED TO KEEP THE THROTTLE SLIGHTLY ROLLED ON. RUNS ROUGH, SMELLS OF GAS, SEEMS TO MISS. PROBLEMS STARTED WITH THROTTLE DELAY AT 7000 MILES, STALLING STARTED AT 7400 MILES. *JB

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System
Filed Aug 31, 20055,615 milesCA

RIDING HOME FROM WORK ON A 2004 YAMAHA FZ6, WITH JUST OVER 5K MILES ON IT. THE BIKE BEGAN TO SURGE BY ITSELF AND WOULD EITHER GO TO A FULL OPEN THROTTLE (WITHOUT ANY USER INPUT) OR WOULD HOLD A CONSTANT RPM (REGARDLESS OF USER INPUT). THE FIRST SURGE WAS VERY VIOLENT (WHEELIE STYLE THROTTLE INPUT) AND NEARLY KICKED ME OFF THE BACK. LOST GRIP WITH MY THROTTLE HAND, BUT WAS ABLE TO GRAB CLUTCH AND AVOID AN ACCIDENT. VERY INCONSISTENT THROTTLE RESPONSE THE REST OF THE RIDE HOME (~4 MILES). SOUND FROM EXHAUST HAD ALSO DIES DOWN AND WAS VERY QUIET. UPON ARRIVAL AT HOME, I PARKED THE BIKE AND FELT THE EXHAUST AND IDLE - EVERYTHING WAS NORMAL. UPON THE SLIGHTEST THROTTLE INPUT ABOVE IDLE, THERE WOULD BE NO PRESSURE FROM THE TAIL PIPE AND THE AIR AROUND THE EXHAUST WOULD BECOME INSTANTLY SUPER HEATED. I HAD THE BIKE TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP (DEL AMO MOTORSPORTS) TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT. THEY RAN DIAGNOSTICS AND FOUND NO ERRORS. HOW CAN THERE BE NO ERRORS WHEN THE BIKE DROVE AROUND WITH A MIND OF ITS OWN? THE BIKE IS STILL AT THE DEALER, WILL UPDATE THE REPORT LATER. HAVE HAD ALL SERVICE CHECKS, BIKE HAS BEEN DOING FINE, EXCEPT FOR A ROUGH IDLE, DIAGNOSED AS A TPS PROBLEM BY TEXAS YAMAHA SOUTH OUTSIDE OF HOUSTON, TX. THIS WAS DONE AROUND THE 700 AND AGAIN AROUND THE 1200 MILE MARK. PROBLEM (ASSOCIATED WITH TPS, AS DIAG. BY TYS) STOPPED AROUND 1400 MILES THEN SHOWED UP AROUND 4700 AND HAS BEEN DOING IT EVER SINCE. *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Aug 30, 2005NY

1. BIKE STARTED AND WARMED UP FINE. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR OF RIDING BIKE WAS IDLING VERY LOW AT A STOP SIGN (800-900 RPM). POWER DELIVERY WAS CHOPPY FROM A STOP ALSO. AT THE NEXT STOP LIGHT THE BIKE STALLED, AND I NEEDED TO USE THE THROTTLE TO KEEP IT IDLING . I SHUT THE BIKE OFF AT SOME POINT, TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE BIKE WAS BACK TO NORMAL. AFTER ABOUT 10 MORE MINUTES OF RIDING THE BIKE STALLED AT ANOTHER STOP LIGHT. SINCE FIRST OCCURRENCE THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT BUT USUALLY GOES AWAY IF THE BIKE IS SHUT OFF, THEN TURNED BACK ON. . *NM

Vehicle Speed Control1 injured
Filed Aug 12, 20054,550 milesFL

BIKE STALLS WHEN CLUTCH IS PULLED IN. RPM'S DROP TO ZERO. WAS ALMOST RUN OVER BY TRAFFIC BEHIND ME WHEN ENGINE STALLS. INJURED MYSELF (FOOT/ANKLE) WHEN TRYING TO PUSH THE BIKE OFF THE ROAD (SO I WOULDN'T BE RUN OVER). I'VE BEEN TOLD BY MANY FZ6 RIDERS THAT MANY OF THE FZ6 BIKES HAVE DEFECTIVE THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSORS (TPS) AND THAT YAMAHA HAS NOT RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM. I BELIEVE IT TO BE A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. SOONER OR LATER, SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET RUN OVER BECAUSE OF THIS DEFECTIVE SENSOR. *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System
Filed Aug 12, 20057,800 milesNC

ENGINE RPM'S WOULD "STUMBLE" INCREASINGLY MORE FREQUENT, STALL AT IDLE. THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR DEFECTIVE AND NOT READILY IDENTIFIED AS DEFECTIVE BY AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP. POOR THROTTLE RESPONSE/STALLING LED TO POOR CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, EXITING RAMPS, HARD CORNERING WHERE NEED FOR IMMEDIATE THROTTLE RESPONSE WAS REQUIRED. TWO OF THESE UNITS HAVE FAILED ON MY MOTORCYCLE, A 2004 YAMAHA FZ6. *JB

Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System
Filed Jul 31, 200512,050 milesPA

I HAVE A 2004 YAMAHA FZ-6 AND I BELIEVE THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR IS BAD. THE BIKE STALLS AND RUNS VERY ERRATICALLY AT LOW RPMS. I HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TURN THE KILL SWITCH AND KEY OFF TO RESET THE SYSTEM AND THEN IT STARTED AGAIN. IF THIS WERE TO HAPPEN IN A HIGH TRAFFIC AREA THE BIKE COULD STALL AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM YET, I AM WAITING TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL ON THIS PART. I KNOW THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL MOTORCYCLE. *NM

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Jul 30, 20054,000 milesMO

I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MY YAMAHA FZ6. THE MANUAL ADVISES TO USE 87 OCTANE FUEL. I HAVE BEEN USING 87 UNTIL THE BIKE STARTED TO IDLE AT VERY VERY LOW INTERVALS. CAUSING LOSS OF POWER WHEN DRIVING, OR STOPPED. NORMAL IDLE IS 1320 RPM. IDLE WILL DROP BETWEEN 600-800 RPM WHEN STOPPED CAUSING THE BIKE TO DIE (EVERY TIME) OR WHILE DRIVING THE BIKE WILL IDLE FINE THEN THE RPM'S WILL DROP WAY DOWN , THEN BACK UP THEN DOWN THEN WAY BACK UP. I TOOK THE BIKE TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD ADJUST THE BIKES IDLE. THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR A MONTH AND THEN I BEGAN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS BEFORE. IDLE DROPPING AFTER FILLING WITH 87 OCTANE. I DECIDED TO TRY OTHER FUELING STATIONS 87 OCTANE. STILL NO CHANGE. I DECIDED TO TRY 89 OCTANE. WITH 89 OCTANE, SMALL IMPROVEMENT, WITH THE SAME ISSUES. I THEN DECIDED BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM CAUSING ME TO HAVE 4 CLOSE ACCIDENT ENCOUNTERS TO GO AHEAD AND TRY 92 (PREMIUM GRADE OCTANE). THIS SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM OF THE IDLE DROPPING WAY DOWN, HOWEVER, THE IDLE STAYS HIGHER NOW THAN THE NORMAL 1320 RPM. NOW AROUND THE 1400 RPM RANGE. THE BIKE STILL HAS A ISSUE WITH POWER CUTTING IN AND OUT WITH NO IDLE CHANGE. I'M REPORTING THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I HAVE HAD 4 ALMOST CRITICAL ENCOUNTERS WITH OTHER VEHICLES BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF IDLE/POWER WHILE EITHER BEING STOPPED OR DRIVING. I DECIDED TO POST THIS PROBLEM UP ON WWW.SPORTBIKES.NET. I FOUND THAT 5 OTHER FZ6 RIDERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT THEY TOO HAD CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH OTHER VEHI

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed Jul 21, 20055,000 milesOR

IN SEPTEMBER OF 2004 AT APPROXIMATELY 5000 MILES, THE MOTORCYCLE BEGAN IDLING POORLY AND STALLING. HAD TO TURN OFF THE KEY AND THEN BACK ON BEFORE IT WOULD START AGAIN. YAMAHA REPLACED THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR AFTER BRINGING IT TO THEM TWICE WHICH CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. I HAVE ALMOST 13000 MILES ON IT NOW AND IT IS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN. IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE IT IS DISTRACTING AND HINDERS MY ABILITY TO WATCH TRAFFIC AND FREQUENTLY STALLS AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS.

20 of 34 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2004
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20062000Routine
200514100Routine
2004 — this page34100Routine

Compare every FZ6 year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Apr 1, 2014. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.