AI Damage2004 Yamaha XVS65: common problems
Owners of the 2004 Yamaha XVS65 filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and fuel system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 75% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 25% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 3 complaints (75% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (25% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 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.
Final drive failure (differential) while moving on a straight country road, locking up briefly at 38,000 miles on the odometer with regular maintenance. And pinion bearings failed at 30,000 miles.
Bike drive failed at 16000 miles removed tire and rear drive assembly to inspect drive shaft and coupling. Coupling and rear gear assembly were completely stripped and lacking any signs of having ever been lubed even at the factory.
I leaked oil, thankfully, and noticed before the rear wheel seized up. Why is this item not on recall?!?!?!
2004 yamaha v-star 650 motorcycle, riding at 55 mph when gas cap fell apart and the top of the cap flew up and struck rider in the chest. Milage on the motorcycle is 5328 miles. Have remove parts from interior of gas tank and am trying to have it repaired. Light traffic, rider was very startled, caused bike to swerve.
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 XVS65 has 3 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 4, above average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- 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 XVS65?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, fuel system. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: oil leak or consumption (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 Yamaha XVS65?
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 XVS65 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.