Model yearDo not drive

2015 Yamaha YZFR1

Motorcycle, gasoline, built in Japan. Owner complaints on file from Dec 2, 2015 to Dec 8, 2015.

Recall campaigns covering this model year12,921 vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints42.0 times the median 2015 motorcycle
Severity index0.02015 motorcycles average 12.7
First 24 months4Complaints in its first two years
Complaints over time

Complaints about the 2015 Yamaha YZFR1 peaked in 2015, with 4 filed

Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.

012342015420162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Components

100% of complaints about the 2015 Yamaha YZFR1 name powertrain

Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.

Powertrain
4
Engine and cooling
1
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls

One recall campaign covers the 2015 Yamaha YZFR1

Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.

Recall campaigns for the 2015 Yamaha YZFR1
CampaignFiledSubjectComponentVehiclesRemedy
15V-802Nov 30, 2015Affected motorcycles have transmission gears that may failDo not drivePowertrain2,921Part replacement
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints

What owners reported about the 2015 Yamaha YZFR1

The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.

4 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

  1. Filed Dec 8, 2015Failure Dec 2, 2015Newark, DEPower train

    INTERNAL YAMAHA DOCUMENTS HAVE SURFACED WHICH DETAIL A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN ALL 2015 R1'S, RESULTING IN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THE 2ND GEAR, AND DEFORMATION/BREAKAGE OF THE 3D AND 4TH GEARS. THE FAILURE MODE CAUSES THE REAR WHEEL TO LOCK UP WITHOUT WARNING.THEY STATE THAT RIDERS SHOULD CEASE RIDING IMMEDIATELY. I HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED IN ANY MANNER.. YAMAHA HAS STATED THAT NO WARRANTY EXTENSION WILL BE GRANTED. THE 2015 R1 IS A HIGH PERFORMANCE MOTORCYCLE WITH 200HP AT THE CRANKSHAFT, AND APPROXIMATELY 185HP TRANSFERRED TO THE REAR WHEEL. THE ENGINE HAS A 14,000 RPM REDLINE. IT IS CAPABLE OF REACHING 200 MPH IN STOCK FORM. I NOT ONLY COMMUTE DAILY ON MY R1 , BUT ALSO PARTICIPATE IN TRACK DAY EVENTS. MY R1 WILL ROUTINELY ENDURE SPEEDS WELL UPWARDS OF 150+MPH, AND WILL SPEND SIGNIFICANT TIME AT REDLINE. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT MY 6 MONTH OLD, $16,500 MOTORCYCLE, WHICH WAS BUILT IN A CLEAN ROOM BY FACTORY CALIBRATED TORQUE MACHINES AND FACTORY TRAINED TECHNICIANS, WILL BE OPENED UP BY LOCAL DEALERSHIP MECHANICS WHO LACK THE SAME RESOURCES. AN EXTENSIVE AND INTRUSIVE REPAIR SUCH AS THIS GREATLY DIMINISHES THE SAFETY AND VALUE OF THE MOTORCYCLE, I BELIEVE THAT YAMAHA SHOULD REPLACE THE AFFECTED ENGINES WITH NEW FACTORY ASSEMBLED, FACTORY SEALED UNITS.YAMAHA IS OFFERING NO RECOURSE BEYOND TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT, NO OTHER FORM OF COMPENSATION. I BELIEVE THAT THE R1 RECALL SHOULD BE HANDLED IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE APRILIA RSV4 RECALL ,OR THE BMW R1200. THE INTERNAL DOCUMENTS SURFACED ON THE 21ST OF NOVEMBER, AND DEALERSHIPS ARE INFORMING OWNERS WHO INQUIRE THAT THE REPLACEMENT PARTS WILL NOT ARRIVE UNTIL SOMETIME IN JANUARY. I BELIEVE THAT YAMAHA IS INTENTIONALLY STALLING IN ORDER TO AVOID LEMON LAW STATUTES, AND WILLFULLY PUTTING R1 OWNERS AT RISK OF SEVERE BODILY INJURY OR LOSS OF LIFE AS A CALCULATED FINANCIAL DECISION.

    NHTSA complaint 10809129
  2. Filed Dec 6, 2015Failure Nov 25, 20151,000 milesBrooklyn, NYEngine, Power train

    RUMORS AROSE ABOUT AN INTENT TO RECALL ALL 2015 YAMAHA YZFR1/R1M MOTORCYCLES DUE TO A SERIOUS MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE 2ND GEAR WHEEL AND PINION OF THE TRANSMISSION. I CALLED YAMAHA MOTOR USA ON NOVEMBER 25TH, 2015 FOR CLARIFICATION. I SPOKE WITH A CUSTOMER RELATIONS SPECIALIST WHO TOLD ME NOT TO RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE, THAT DOING SO COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH. I'M CURIOUS WHY IT WASN'T A PRIORITY FOR YAMAHA TO NOTIFY OWNERS IMMEDIATELY IF THE ISSUE IS SERIOUS ENOUGH TO CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH. I'VE RECEIVED THE OFFICE RECALL NOTICE OUTLINING WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. THE ENGINE ON MY BRAND NEW MOTORCYCLE THAT I PAID A HEAVY PREMIUM FOR WILL NEED TO BE REMOVED, TORN DOWN, REPAIRED THEN RE INSTALLED. YAMAHA INFORMED ME IN ANOTHER PHONE CONVERSATION ON DECEMBER 4TH, 2015 THAT THEY WILL NOT BE OFFERING A WARRANTY ON THIS WORK BEING PERFORMED AND THAT I WOULD JUST HAVE TO TRUST THAT THE JOB WAS DONE CORRECTLY. A REPAIR AS INTRUSIVE AND EXTENSIVE AS THIS GREATLY DIMINISHES THE SAFETY OF THE MOTORCYCLE AS WELL AS THE VALUE. I AND MANY MANY OTHERS ARE SEVERELY DISPLEASED WITH THE COURSE OF ACTION YAMAHA HAS TAKEN TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION.

    NHTSA complaint 10808622
  3. Filed Dec 4, 2015Failure Dec 2, 2015Scottsdale, AZPower train

    RUMORS OF TRANSMISSION RECALL EMERGED ONLINE, SAYING THE TRANSMISSION WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED INSIDE THE ENGINE OF THE MOTORCYCLE. THIS DEFECT COULD RESULT IN THE MOTORCYCLES TRANSMISSION LOCKING AND THE BACK WHEEL LOCKING RESULTING IN INJURY OR DEATH. I CALLED YAMAHA CORP DECEMBER 2ND AND THE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME TO STOP RIDING THE BIKE. SHE TOLD ME THERE IS NO OFFICIAL RECALL, BUT AN INTENT TO RECALL AND SHE DID NOT HAVE A TIME FRAME EXCEPT THE NEXT FEW WEEKS I WOULD RECEIVE AN OFFICIAL LETTER. THE YAMAHA REP TOLD ME THEY WILL BE OPENING UP MY BRAND NEW MOTORBIKES BRAND NEW ENGINE TO REPLACE THE GEARS. SHE TOLD ME YAMAHA WILL NOT BE HELPING GET THE MOTORCYLE TO THE DEALERSHIP SINCE I CANNOT RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE THERE. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH A LOCAL YAMAHA TECH OPENING UP THE MOTOR OF MY BRAND NEW MOTORCYCLE THAT IS CAPABLE OF REACHING SPEEDS OF 200MPH. ONE MISTAKE COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR MOST LIKELY DEATH. I AM VERY DISPLEASED THAT YAMAHA IS OFFERING NO PAYMENT COMPENSATION DUE TO THE FACT I CANNOT RIDE THE BIKE, YET I AM STILL PAYING PAYMENTS. ON TOP OF THAT THEY WILL NOT HELP FINANCIALLY WITH THE TRANSPORTATION OF THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP. EXTREMELY UNPROFESSIONAL.

    NHTSA complaint 10808529
  4. Filed Dec 2, 2015Failure Nov 25, 20152,600 milesRaymond, NHPower train

    AT THE TIME OF THIS REPORT THERE HAS BEEN NO OFFICIAL RECALL FOR THIS MOTORCYCLE. I JUST WANTED TO MAKE AWARE THAT MYSELF HAVE BEEN TOLD TO NOR RIDE THIS MOTORCYCLE AS THE SECOND GEAR IN THE TRANSMISSION COULD FAIL AND CAUSE CATASTOPHIC FAILURE, RESULTING IN INJURY AND OR DEATH TO RIDER. THIS EFFECTS ALL 2015 YAMAHA R1...MODEL YEAR 2015. YAMAHA IS AWARE OF THIS BUT MOST PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AND ARE STILL OPERATING THESE MOTORCYCLE WITH A KNOWN DEFECT.

    NHTSA complaint 10808070
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations

NHTSA has not opened an investigation on this model year

Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins

1 manufacturer communication cover this model year

Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.

  • M2023-002 Mar 14, 2023 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    The 2015 ~ 2021 YZF-R1 and YZF-R1M Oil Strainer Cover has been changed due to procurement reasons. The magnesium Oil Strainer Cover is no longer manufactured and has been superseded to the current aluminum Oil Strainer Cover. As a result, when replacing the…
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.