AI Damage2005 Yamaha XVS1100: common problems
Owners of the 2005 Yamaha XVS1100 filed 10 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 10
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 80% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 10% of all complaints
- 3 Engine 10% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 8 complaints (80% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (10% of all).
- Engine: 1 complaints (10% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 10 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 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 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.
Drove it home no problem, by the end of the week I was going up a hill and heard a loud whining noise as soon as I let off the throttle. Look at the bike once I get home and the mid drive shaft that transmits power from the transmission to the final drive had snapped off at the end. The bolt had broke off.
Now the motorcycle is making a loud whiny noise on deceleration which is unbearable. After replacing the final drive and the problem persisting my mechanic finally took the motorcycle apart to inspect the mid gear and saw the part broken off.
Speedo started to bounce heard a noise that sounded like grinding when applying the clutch while letting off of the throttle. A few moments later the speedo failed. I was able to drive my bike home.
While driving approximately 25 mph, a loud whining noise emitted upon release of the throttle. The vehicle was taken to an independent auto shop for diagnosis. The technician stated that the drive shaft bolt dislodged into the engine, which caused substantial damage and the engine required replacement.
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 10,921 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 30% most complained about).
On average one model year of the XVS1100 has 6 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 10, above 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 2005 Yamaha XVS1100?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, electrical system, engine. Total complaints: 10. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (50%), vibration (10%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2005 Yamaha XVS1100?
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 XVS1100 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 2026-11-06.