NHTSA (USA)Low Risk
At a glance
What can fail
Moisture or contaminants can collect on the rear reflector lens, making it less effective at reflecting light.
What the fix does
The 2015 Yamaha YZF-R3 has 9 recalls, with the most serious being a steering risk: the upper triple clamp, which connects the handlebars to the fork, can crack while riding and cause sudden loss of steering control.
Several other recalls pose crash or fire risks. Water can corrode the ignition switch and cause the engine to stall without warning. A radiator hose that cracks can drip coolant onto the rear tire, reducing traction and causing the bike to lose control. On the transmission side, a torsion spring inside the gearbox can break and make shifting gears difficult or impossible, while a clutch pressure plate bearing with an insufficient load rating can fail, disabling the clutch. The fuel system has a separate concern: engine vibration causes a mounting bracket to repeatedly contact the fuel tank, eventually wearing through and allowing fuel to leak near potential ignition sources.
Two recalls address rear visibility: the rear reflectors on certain bikes may reflect less light than required, making the motorcycle harder for other drivers to see at night, and condensation or debris on the reflector lens can reduce that effectiveness further.
At a glance
What can fail
Moisture or contaminants can collect on the rear reflector lens, making it less effective at reflecting light.
What the fix does
We may earn a commission for purchases made through these links.
Dealers will replace the rear reflector at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear reflectors may not reflect light properly, reducing how visible your motorcycle is to other drivers.
What the fix does
Yamaha will mail you instructions to bring your motorcycle to a dealer for rear reflector assembly replacement.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The radiator hose material may not meet specifications and crack, causing coolant to leak onto the rear tire and potentially causing loss of control.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the radiator hose with a redesigned version.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A torsion spring inside the transmission can break, making it hard or impossible to shift gears.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the torsion spring with a redesigned version.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Engine vibration causes the fuel tank mounting bracket to contact the fuel tank, potentially causing the tank to leak fuel over time.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel tank bracket and inspect the fuel tank, replacing it if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Water can enter the ignition switch and cause corrosion, which may result in an unexpected engine stall.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the ignition switch subassembly at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Engine vibration causes the fuel tank bracket to contact the tank, creating cracks over time that may leak fuel and risk fire. Water can corrode the main switch, causing engine stalling while riding.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel tank bracket and main switch subassembly with redesigned parts.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The clutch pressure plate bearing may break from frequent use due to insufficient strength rating. This can cause the clutch to fail and prevent proper gear shifting. Also, the oil relief valve design may not regulate oil pressure correctly, which can stress and break the oil pump drive gear, potentially causing engine seizure from lost oil supply.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the clutch pressure plate assembly and oil pump assembly with redesigned parts.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The upper triple clamp (handle crown) may be incorrectly manufactured and crack while you are riding.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the upper triple clamp with a new one at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
