AI Damage2006 Yamaha XVS11: common problems
Owners of the 2006 Yamaha XVS11 filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 75% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 50% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 25% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 3 complaints (75% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (50% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Engine: 1 complaints (25% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 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.
2006 yahama v-star 1100, while downshifting you hear a whining noise on the middle shaft gear, the speedometer also stopped working, took it to the dealership and they said it was a very common problem on this model bike, they need to take the entire engine apart and replace the bolt that broke off the middle shaft…
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 yamaha xvs11vr motorcycle. The contact stated that while riding at approximately 65 mph, there was an abnormal noise that came from the rear of the motorcycle and the engine. The motorcycle was driven to the dealer.
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 yamaha xvs11. While driving approximately 30 to 35 mph, there was an abnormal noise coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that there was a loose nut in the mid-drive. The failure recurred numerous times.
While riding down the shoreline at low speeds, my wife and I noticed a whining type noise happening just while the bike was decelerating. I brought the bike home and a friend of mine who used to work for a yamaha dealership told me since I had to replace the back tire anyway I should also lubricate the spline on the…
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 15,521 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the XVS11 has 5 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 4, below average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2006 Yamaha XVS11?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, electrical system, engine. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (50%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2006 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 2006 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 2006 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.