AI Damage2004 Yamaha V Star 1100: common problems
Owners of the 2004 Yamaha V Star 1100 filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and seats. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 6
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 50% of all complaints
- 2 Seats 33% of all complaints
- 3 Engine and cooling 17% of all complaints
- 4 Fuel system 17% of all complaints
- 5 Suspension 17% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 3 complaints (50% of all).
- Seats: 2 complaints (33% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (17% of all).
- Suspension: 1 complaints (17% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 6 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 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.
I was driving on I-70 near aurora, co, at approximately 55-60 mph in the far left lane when I started losing speed. I noticed that my drive shaft was still spinning and my speedometer was still showing my speed and would change with the amount of throttle that I gave it.
Vehicle is a yamaha motorcycle. At about 45 mph lost drive power. None of the gears would work to provide power to rear end. Repair was done at a yamaha repair shop. Part replaced was called the final gear clutch hub. Repair spokesperson indicated that the failure and the manner of failure was uncommon.
Also, under certain conditions the carburetor and fuel pump can emit substantial amounts of gasoline through a carburetor vent onto the hot engine cylinder; potentially causing fire and explosion.
Yamaha 1700 silverado motorcycle locked up due to oil pump shaft malfunctioning.
Consumer received a recall for the passenger seat being loose, took vehicle to dealer for repairs, and the dealer wanted to charge him $30.00 to make the repairs.
The problem causes vibration and the rear tire to run out of alignment with the rest of the vehicle causing excessive tire wear and hard to control conditions.
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 13,278 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 36% most complained about).
On average one model year of the V Star 1100 has 6 complaints (2 years in the data). This year has 6, about average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Seats. Occupant sensor, power adjustment, seat mounts.
- 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 2004 Yamaha V Star 1100?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, seats, engine and cooling. Total complaints: 6. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: fuel system, fuel smell (17%), smoke, burning smell, fire (17%), vibration (17%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 Yamaha V Star 1100?
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 2004 Yamaha V Star 1100 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 2004 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.