AI Damage2008 Yamaha XVS11: common problems
Owners of the 2008 Yamaha XVS11 filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- Powertrain: 3 complaints (100% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 3 | 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.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 yamaha 100 cc v-star motorcycle. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the gear clutch malfunctioned. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer, who stated that the gear clutch needed to be replaced. The contact did not have the gear clutch replaced.
2008 yamaha vstar 1100 making loud whine from the middle gear area. Had to stop riding the bike because the middle gear bolt had came lose and the nut was going into the ujoint. Had to have the hole rearend taken apart and put on and retore to shop spec., did put locktite on nut.
Starter clutch on 2008 yamaha v star 1100 motorcycle is defective .yamaha knows this and is selling a repair kit for around $550.this is happening on most all of the v-star bike around the 13-30 thousand mile mark.
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 17,150 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 47% most complained about).
On average one model year of the XVS11 has 5 complaints (7 years in the data). This year has 3, below 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 2008 Yamaha XVS11?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2008 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 2008 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 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.