Yamaha YZF-R3 Recall: Defective Clutch Pressure Plate Bearing

Yamaha YZF-R3 Recall II

Certain model year 2015-2016 YZF-R3 F/G Yamaha motorcycles manufactured January 1, 2015, to April 15, 2016 are being recalled.

According to information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the clutch pressure plate bearing may break due to an insufficient load rating, causing the clutch to not disengage and preventing the transmission from shifting properly. The likelihood of a crash is increased if the clutch cannot disengage normally, which could make the bike difficult to stop.

Read our Yamaha R3 Review

Yamaha has notified each dealership it must modify all affected motorcycles in inventory as well as all customer-owned motorcycles brought in for service. In addition, any affected motorcycle that the dealership purchases from Yamaha or another dealer in the future may also require modification.  The dealership is required to verify that the procedures in the recall bulletin have been performed before it sells any affected motorcycle.

The notice stresses that motorcycles that are affected should not be operated until they are modified and it states that it is a violation of Yamaha policy for a dealership to deliver any affected motorcycle to customers until the repair procedures are performed.

Yamaha has notified owners, and dealers will replace the clutch pressure plate bearing, free of charge. The recall began July 11, 2016. Owners may contact Yamaha customer service at 1-800-962-7926. Yamaha’s number for this recall is 990105. Or by letter to:

Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.

Customer Relations Department

P.O. Box 6555

Cypress, CA 90630

The repair work is likely to be conducted concurrently with replacement of the oil pump, which is subject to another Yamaha R3 recall that we reported on last week.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.