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Yamaha has recalled several of its motorcycles due to an issue with the front brake switch that puts riders at risk for a dangerous crash.
The recall, announced Dec. 28 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), affects over 18,000 motorcycles.
The recall includes certain 2018-2020 MTT9GT (Tracer GT), 2019 MXTGTKL (NIKEN GT), 2017-2020 MT10, 2018-2020 XTZ12 (Super Ténéré), 2013-2020 FJR13, 2018 XV19B (Star Eluder) and 2018-2021 XV19 (Star Venture) motorcycles. Consumers can check if their motorcycle is affected by the recall by using Yamaha’s VIN lookup.
Affected motorcycles reportedly have a defect with their brake switch — the electrical component of a motorcycle responsible for activating brake lights on a vehicle. This issue reportedly stems from increased internal resistance in the system caused by silicon oxide contamination, according to Adventure Rider.
Instead of responding to the activation of the brakes on a motorcycle, the brake switch in recalled Yamahas allegedly causes the brake light to stay on at all times. Additionally, the defective brake switch can reportedly cause the motorcycles’ cruise control systems to shut off unexpectedly or have difficulties activating.
Both of these outcomes can increase the risk of a crash, according to the NHTSA’s recall notice.
Brake lights are important indicators to other drivers on the road, and malfunctions with cruise control can cause drivers to unexpectedly slow down while riding. With motorcycle riders being at risk of serious injury during crashes, a faulty brake switch could be a life-threatening issue.
To correct the issue, Yamaha has pledged to replace the front brake switch in the recalled motorcycles. The NHTSA advises motorcycle owners to not operate their vehicle until repairs have been completed.
The recall process is expected to start Jan. 13, at which time owners of recalled motorcycles can call Yamaha customer support at 1-800-962-7926, according to Bikewale. For reference, the Yamaha brake switch recall number is 990140.
The NHTSA is responsible for reviewing reports associated with motor vehicles such as motorcycles and cars. If many reports of accidents or malfunctions are received for a single model, the regulator can investigate the problem. If a defect is uncovered by this investigation or by a manufacturer’s investigation, the NHTSA issues a recall notice to inform affected consumers.
Vehicles are being recalled for minor and major issues nearly constantly. In some cases, the recalled vehicles only need to be taken to a dealership to have their software updated. In other cases, more extensive repairs may be needed.
In December, Hyundai initiated a massive recall affecting 130,000 vehicles. The affected Hyundai and Kia vehicles are reportedly at risk of engine failure and engine fires. According to a 2019 NHTSA investigation, an issue with the vehicles’ connecting rods has been associated with at least 3,100 engine fires, 103 injuries and one death.
In November, General Motors added 7 million vehicles to an ongoing airbag recall. Over 60 million vehicles have been included in this recall, which spans numerous manufacturers. It is the largest auto recall in U.S. history.
Have you been affected by the Yamaha recall or other similar recalls? Share your experiences in the comment section below.
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2 thoughts onYamaha Recalls Over 18K Motorcycles Due to Brake Switch Problem
I’ve been waiting for nearly two years get this and two other recalls fixed on my FJR. The dealers all refuse to perform the repairs because “it’s a lot of work” and Yamaha “barely pays them anything do do these recalls”. Not my problem. If anyone needs to pay its customers’ damages on a class action lawsuit it’s Yamaha Motor Sports. I have an $18,000 un-ridable/unsellable door stop sitting in my garage.
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