2006 Yamaha Stratoliner

Routine

Owners filed 19 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the power train. No safety recall has been issued.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power Train13
000
Engine4
000
Fuel/Propulsion System2
000

What owners reported

Newest filings
Engine
Filed May 11, 201834,000 milesAL

ENGINE STALL WHEN I STOP IN TRAFFIC AFTER BIKE GETS WARM. DOES NOT DO IT ALL THE TIME. TO SERVICE TECH. TWICE, STILL DOES IT. HAS STALLED LEAVING ME IN HARMS WAY. THANK GOODNESS OTHER DRIVER WAS PAYING ATTENTION. HAS HAPPENED OVER A PERIOD OF 18 MONTHS OR LONGER.

Power Train
Filed Sep 13, 201630,000 milesSC

I WAS DRIVING ALONG ON MY YAMAHA SHIFTING THROUGH THE GEARS AND 3RD GEAR STARTED MAKING A RATTLING NOISE. ONLY THIRD GEAR AND SPEEDING UP OR SLOWING DOWN.

Power Train
Filed Jul 8, 201649,000 milesTN

3RD GEAR, LOUD WHINING SOUNDS COMING FROM TRANSMISSION AREA WHILE IN 3RD GEAR BETWEEN 30 AND 40 MPH. YAMAHA HAS CHANGED THEIR 3RD GEAR DESIGN AND CHANGED THEIR REPLACEMENT PART NUMBER, YET HAS NOT RECALLED AND REPAIRED OUR BIKES THAT HAVE THE OLD DESIGN. IS THIS A COVER UP BY THE MANUFACTURER OFF A WELL KNOWN CONDITION THAT CAN CAUSE THE TRANSMISSION TO LOCK UP AND THE RIDER LOOSING CONTROL CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY AND OR DEATH? PLEASE DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO ME AND MY FAMILY.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Jul 8, 201649,000 milesTN

EXTREME JERKING AND STALLING OF THE ENGINE AT HWY SPEEDS IN A CONGESTED AREA CAUSING EXTREME WORRY ABOUT BEING HIT FROM BEHIND OR BEING TOSSED OFF AND TRASHED ON I-40 CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. DURING THE MECHANICAL INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL PUMP'S PLASTIC HOUSING HAS A FLAW, THERE IS A COLD MOLD LINE IN THE PRESSURE VESSEL. THERE IS A LONG AREA OF THE HOUSING THAT IS VISIBLY FLAWED; AN EXCESSIVELY THIN WALL SECTION THAT IS A RESULT OF A MOLDING PROCESSES INABILITY TO MAINTAIN PROPER MOLD FLOW AT THE PROPER TEMP TO ASSURE A COMPLETELY SOLID PRESSURE VESSEL. THIS FLAW HAS ALLOWED THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING TO RUPTURE CAUSING RAPID CHANGES IN FUEL PRESSURE BEING SUPPLIED TO THE FUEL INJECTORS. THIS UNPREDICTABLE JERKING AND STALLING OF THE ENGINE IS A DANGER TO ALL WHO MAY HAVE THIS UNPREDICTABLE FLAW IN THEIR SYSTEM.

Power Train
Filed May 2, 201638,750 milesWI

WITH A LITTLE UNDER THIRTY NINE THOUSAND MILES ON THE ODOMETER THE TRANSMISSION FAILED.

Power Train
Filed Feb 13, 201620,000 milesPA

THE TRANSMISSION'S THIRD GEAR IS FAILING(GRINDING NOISE WHEN IN MOTION) USUALLY STARTS FROM 20 TO 50 K MILES .I CONTACTED YAMAHA AND THEY CLAIM NO KNOWLEDGE OF ANY PROBLEM. THAT STATEMENT IS A TOTAL LIE AS THEY HAVE EVEN CREATED A REPLACEMENT PART FOR THE PROBLEM GEAR , 3RD PINION, P/N 99999-03864-00 (REPLACES 1D7-17131-01-00) THE ORIGINAL GEAR WAS NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED = CAUSE FAILURE .THIS PROBLEM CAN CAUSE DRIVE TRAIN LOCKUP AND CRASHES LEADING TO FATALITIES. AS LONG AS YAMAHA CAN GET PEOPLE TO PAY FOR THIS DEFECT.( I.E. NO RECALL ) THEY WILL CONTINUE TO ENDANGER LIVES AND CAUSE CRIPPLING INJURY.

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Sep 8, 201571,000 milesTN

EXTREME JERKING AND STALLING OF THE ENGINE AT HWY SPEEDS IN A CONGESTED AREA CAUSING EXTREME WORRY ABOUT BEING HIT FROM BEHIND OR BEING TOSSED OFF AND TRASHED ON I-40. DURING THE MECHANICAL INSPECTION IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FUEL PUMP'S PLASTIC HOUSING HAS A FLAW, THERE IS A COLD MOLD LINE IN THE PRESSURE VESSEL. THERE IS A LONG AREA OF THE HOUSING THAT IS VISIBLY FLAWED; AN EXCESSIVELY THIN WALL SECTION THAT IS A RESULT OF A MOLDING PROCESSES INABILITY TO MAINTAIN PROPER MOLD FLOW AT THE PROPER TEMP TO ASSURE A COMPLETELY SOLID PRESSURE VESSEL. THIS FLAW HAS ALLOWED THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING TO RUPTURE CAUSING RAPID CHANGES IN FUEL PRESSURE BEING SUPPLIED TO THE FUEL INJECTORS. THIS UNPREDICTABLE JERKING AND STALLING OF THE ENGINE IS A DANGER TO ALL WHO MAY HAVE THIS UNPREDICTABLE FLAW IN THEIR SYSTEM.

Power Train
Filed Feb 22, 201527,000 milesOK

WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR TO LOUD CLUNKS FROM TRANSMISSION AND THEN A GRINDING NOISE. PAYING 3600$ TO FIX, 3RD AND 1ST GEAR SEVERELY DAMAGED AND DEBRIS ENTERED OIL PUMP DAMAGING IT AS WELL. *TR

Power Train
Filed Oct 25, 201427,069 milesAL

THIRD GEAR MAKING LOUD NOISE, TOLD IT MUST BE REPLACED AT CONSIDERABLE EXPENSE. *TR

Engine
Filed Oct 23, 201464,000 milesTN

AFTER SHIFTING INTO THIRD GEAR (3RD) AN UNUSUALLY SOUNDING LOUD HOWLING NOISE CAN BE HEARD UNTIL I SHIFT INTO FOURTH GEAR (4TH). THE LOUD HOWLING NOISE IS ONLY IN THIRD GEAR (3RD). *TR

Power Train
Filed Jul 22, 201423,000 milesIN

3RD GEAR IN TRANSMISSION STARTED WITH A WHINNING NOISE AND NOW IT SOUNDS LIKE A BUNCH OF ROCKS INSIDE LIKE GEARS THAT HAVE BROKEN SLOSHING AROUND. I SEE THAT ON THE WEB THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR 3RD GEAR ON YAMAHA ROADLINERS. IS THIS A MANUFACTURER PROBLEM? *TR

Engine
Filed Jul 15, 201430,000 milesMD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 YAMAHA STRATOLINER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN IN THIRD GEAR. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

Power Train
Filed Jan 21, 201433,125 milesFL

AS I WAS RIDING, SHIFTING GEARS I HEAR A NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE AREA ON 3RD GEAR, , NOW IS MORE EVIDENT THATS THE SOMETHING AFTER ABOUT 60 MILES AND LOUDER NOISE WILE ON 3RD GEAR THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG, NOW AFTER A LIGHT INTERNET RESEARCH, IS A KNOWN ISSUE ON THIS PARTICULAR YEAR AND MODEL OF A BIKE. *TR

Power Train
Filed Dec 9, 201318,124 milesFL

THIRD GEAR BEGAN MAKING A NOISE THAT CONTINUES TO GET WORSE. IT IS NOW SUCH A LOUD CLATTERING SLAPPING NOISE THAT THE VEHICLE IS UNUSABLE FOR FEAR OF DRIVE TRAIN LOCK-UP AND POSSIBLE FATALITY. YAMAHA IS AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND HAS A REPLACEMENT PART: GEAR, 3RD PINION, P/N 99999-03864-00 (REPLACES 1D7-17131-01-00). *TR

Power Train
Filed Oct 3, 201315,000 milesAZ

NOTHING HAPPENED JUST EXCESSIVE NOISE WHEN SHIFTING TO AND FRO THIRD GEAR. *TR

Engine
Filed Apr 24, 201340,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 YAMAHA STRATOLINER MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE SITTING IDLE AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. *TR

Power Train
Filed Sep 9, 201222,613 milesCA

THE MOTORCYCLE IS MAKING KNOCKING NOISES WHILE DOWNSHIFTING THRU 3RD AND 2ND GEARS. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO SEEMS TO HOWL WHILE AT LOW SPEED IN 3RD GEAR. I AM AFRAID TO RIDE FOR THE FEAR OF TRANSMISSION LOCKING UP!!!! *TR

Power Train
Filed May 8, 2012NY

I NOTICED A LOUD NOISE WHEN I AM IN THIRD GEAR. MY MECHANIC SAYS THAT IT IS A BAD THIRD GEAR. *TR

Power Train
Filed Jan 18, 201249,000 milesOH

THIRD GEAR STARTED TO BECOME VERY NOISY, SOMETHING THAT OTHER STRATOLINER OWNERS HAVE NOTICED. THE PROBLEM IS WITH A GEAR THAT WAS NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED. WHEN I TOOK THE MOTORCYCLE TO THE DEALER BEFORE THE 5 YEAR WARRANTY EXPIRED I WAS TOLD THE MECHANIC COULD NOT HEAR THE NOISE. THE NOISE IS QUITE OBVIOUS. THE SERVICE MANAGER CALLED YAMAHA AND WAS TOLD THAT SINCE MODIFICATIONS WERE DONE (AN AFTERMARKET BELT AND PULLEY AND REAR TIRE) THAT WAS THE CAUSE. MIND YOU, THIS IS A MOTORCYCLE THAT IS RODE ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WITH QUITE A FEW TRIPS FROM OHIO TO FLORIDA. WELL OVER 90% OF THE RIDING IS IN 5TH GEAR. I SEE NO REASON FOR THE BELT/PULLEY CHANGE OR REAR TIRE TO AFFECT 3RD GEAR AND NONE OF THE OTHERS. YAMAHA NOW LISTS A DIFFERENT PART NUMBER FOR A REPLACEMENT 3RD GEAR WHICH I WAS TOLD COMES FROM A DIFFERENT VENDOR. I FEAR THAT A GEAR FAILURE WILL RESULT IN THE REAR WHEEL LOCKING UP, SOMETHING THAT COULD CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL.

19 of 19 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2006
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20076000Routine
2006 — this page19000Routine

Compare every Stratoliner 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.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.