AI Damage2008 Yamaha FJR1300: common problems
Owners of the 2008 Yamaha FJR1300 filed 13 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 13
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 38% of all complaints
- 2 Powertrain 15% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 8% of all complaints
- 4 Equipment 8% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel system 8% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 7 Tires 8% of all complaints
- 8 Visibility 8% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 5 complaints (38% of all).
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (15% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (8% of all).
- Equipment: 1 complaints (8% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (8% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number:11V338000 (Electrical System) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
The rear brake (foot pedal) continually loses pressure, while the front brake remains in good operating order / with good pressure. Once pressure is lost, the foot pedal feels mushy, resulting in no braking power; pumping the foot pedal repeatedly may engage the brake, but only slightly.
Brand new bridgestone front motorcycle tire size 120/70 zr 17. Brand battlax bt-021. Motorcycle bought new from dealer with standard issued tires in august 2010. Front tire worn so badly at 2900 miles had to replace it. Replaced by dealer with same exact new bridgestone tire.
This has been a problem since my motorcycle has been new. When I stop my motorcycle in 2nd gear, it will not shift into 1st gear unless I rock it a little after stopped. It will go into neutral, but not into 1st gear. This is extremely dangerous, especially if on a steep hill.
Investigating I found a failure on an electrical connector in the wiring harness which overheated. There was no warning. Researching on the internet I have found this to be a common problem with my yamaha fjr1300 motorcycle.
My grandson was riding his newly purchased yamaha raptor 250 atv. He was traveling at about 40 mph, when the motor fell out caused by all four motor mounts breaking away from the frame, this caused the chain to come off of the sprocket, bending the sprocket damaged the chain, seized up the bike as the chain was…
Main ignition switch wire connection may overheat due to electrical resistance. May become hot enough to melt the solder connecting the wire to the main switch.
Tl contact owns a 2008 yamaha fjr1300 motorcylce. The contact stated that the rearview mirrors do not extend far out enough to view the traffic in the rear. The manufacturer will be notified. The vehicle is brand new and was purchased on march 14, 2009. The failure mileage was 3 and current mileage was 250.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 9,843 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 27% most complained about).
On average one model year of the FJR1300 has 10 complaints (14 years in the data). This year has 13, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Yamaha FJR1300?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, powertrain, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 13. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: overheating, coolant loss (15%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2008 Yamaha FJR1300?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2008 Yamaha FJR1300 from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2008 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.