AI Damage2005 Yamaha XVS11: common problems
Owners of the 2005 Yamaha XVS11 filed 9 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 9
What fails most often
- Powertrain: 9 complaints (100% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 9 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 | 9 | 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 began accelerating on to the highway when I noticed a rattling whining noise coming from the middle of the motorcycle once as I approached an exist to inspect the motorcycle my rear wheel locked up .
At about 23,000 miles a nut holding the middle gear in the transmission broke off causing catastrophic transmission failure. I had the motorcycle towed to a repair shop and was given an estimate of $2,000 + to repair it.
Motorcycle is a 2005 yamaha v-star 1000 with 23,000 miles on it, and it began making a loud whining noise, which seemed to be at it worst during the first 2-3 miles of operation.
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 11,366 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 31% most complained about).
On average one model year of the XVS11 has 5 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 9, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Yamaha XVS11?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain. Total complaints: 9. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (44%), transmission slipping (11%), vibration (11%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2005 Yamaha XVS11?
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 2005 Yamaha XVS11 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 2005 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.