Maybe we all should send a copy of the magazine article to Yamaha so they would stop saying they never even heard of anyone having a transmission problem. I sent a copy to the Service Manager at my Yamaha shop. I got tired of him acting like he never heard of it.

/NotuRaptor

 

Who is to say that your service manager is lieing? We have sold over 30 '01 Raptors this past year and haven't had any come back with trans. problems. One had an engine lock up due to not putting enough oil it after the customer changed it and that was it. None of the other area dealers have had any as well.

What is so strange is that I haven't seen anyone on here yet say anything about their '02 Raptor trans. locking up. The changes for the '02 were implemented last Spring in response to Raptor ownwers wanting better gear ratios,..not to build a stronger transmission.

As far as warranty talk is concerned, the hi-performance dirtbikes do not come with a warranty and in the last two years, there have been talks to do the same with hi-performance ATVs.

If any of you guys actually had a transmission failure while under warranty and had to pay for repair, call Yamaha Customer Relations and ask for a Yamaha Service Rep. from your region meet you at your dealer that done the repair.

The only reason that Yamaha has to not pay for damage while under warranty is when your dealer suggests to Yamaha that the machine was abused

Therefore, your problems are not with Yamaha, but with your dealer. Yamaha pays for all warranty claims based on information given from your dealer regarding why your transmission failed.

Once again, in my opinion, this issue is not one that is widespread, and I don't see the point being raised that the transmissions are defective. If anything, if you feel the thing doesn't hold up, don't buy a Yamaha. I haven't been biased towards one group or another on these forums, but am beginning to feel like the others on here, and wondering about some of you Raptor guys. One minute they are awesome and the next day, you reply to a topic complaining about the transmissions.

So which is it? Are the Raptors the best thing to happen to the industry or the worst? Make up your minds.

KNOWSALOT

 

I am not saying he lied. I was surprised he hadn't heard anything about it so I sent him a
copy of the article I quoted in conversation so he would be informed in case any of the 24 units sold came
in with a transmission problem. A better response might be let me check into it with
Yamaha since I have read about this. I think Yamaha customer service should also
admit that they have heard "rumblings" that there could be a problem and take a serious
look at it (truly track the number of calls that have come in whether it was "due to
customer abuse" or not). You would be amazed at how accurate statistical analysis can be
at doing comparatives from one class or quads to another. If there is a higher rate of
transmission failures on Raptors versus 400ex, Warriors, etc., they will quickly be able to
tell. You can't assume that everyone who buys Raptors can't maintain them, can't shift,
etc. You have the same class of buyers and in most cases your first time owner is not a
Raptor purchaser and therefore has more experience.

The real problem comes when you do try to ignore an issue (although this is much easier
in the short run). Eventually though, someone does get hurt which prompts a real lawsuit.
Then, research often reveals a huge internal cover up (internal memo or e-mail) which
ultimately ends up costing tons of money (like the Ford/Firestone tires). If Yamaha knows
of the issue (and I am sure they read Dirt Wheels), then they have an obligation to look
into it. I am sure an actuary has already come to the conclusion they believe it will cost
Yamaha less to do nothing than to issue a recall (obviously Yamaha is not concerned that
this is a safety issue). However, in the case of the throttle cable fraying and sticking in the
wide open position on some of their dirt bikes, they decided to issue a recall - see, the
direct correlation to safety. Same with Kawasaki and the Ultra150 jetski when it had a
steering problem - no hesitation to issue a recall. The reason is that we the riders are not
the only losers when it becomes to expensive to manufacture a product, the manufacturer
loses too. The manufacturer needs to make money.

Everyone should forget about class action suits for repairing the few bad transmissions
unless you truly believe it is a big safety issue and you can prove it. In the mean time,
keep your fingers crossed, buy another quad, or invest in Fortin gears. No lawyer will
take the case unless you promise to pay win or lose. The reason is there is no big payout
in penalties and fines that the lawyer can dig his claws into. Trust me, I understand the
financial aspects of law firm environments.

I have no real issue with Yamaha taking a stand not to do anything. As a consumer, I
have a choice next time. What I do have issue is with pretending nothing might even be
wrong. This is how most of the serious atrocities have occurred throughout history.
Ignorance is only bliss when it isn't you... Even a big church like a catholic church was concerned about fessing up to the truth because of what might happen if they did. What happened was a big fat lawsuit was paid out for some priest touching a kid after prior knowledge and a cover up.

 

well said

 

SYSS!!! Heh heh.....Sue Yamaha for Selling ****!!!!!!!

 

The 01 Raptor Transmison is junk everyone knows this why argue
about it just fix the probs An everyone will be happy!
when the 300ex first came out the case`s would crack honda
amitted to it an fixed everyone even those they felt had been abused
just to keep they cusotmer base happy! the raptor is a awsome quad
it just has a few weak spots as any first year quad . Take for example
Cdale? But there fixing all of there bugs free of Charge! Anyway
just my opinin and of course everyone has one!

 

Alot of interesting points made by everyone. The original post wasn't about a lawsuit because of safety issues, but about workmanship issues. Its ridiculous to think that this would hurt the industry. Second, yes, Yamaha has said that they have improved the 2002 models, but for those that already own a 2001, big deal. That doesn't help us.
Yes, the Raptor is great machine, but just the fact that Yamaha advertises that there is an improved and more durable tranny in the 2002s, then that to me is a round about way of saying that there was a problem in 2001.
My last comment is Cannondale. Anyone familiar with ATVing remembers the debut of the Cannondale. Horror stories. But what did Cannondale do, they fixed every problem, listened to owner suggestions, and then invested in major redesign concepts on many great concepts already. The verdict, according to most publications, a really outstanding line of machines with a very loyal customer base because Cannondale took the time to take care of the customer, your most valuable asset. Maybe Yamaha execs and Cannondale execs should meet. Oh well, for the time being I'll have to hope my tranny stays together. Like everyone else, my 2 cents.

 

Why do I have 2 different magazine articles that specifically state the 02 Raptor Trans was built stronger, with better dogs on the gears? I am a firm believer that the 01 Raptor trans is weak. I've seen it, it does happen, it can break.

So now I have a pair of 01 Raptors, yep, 2 of them. Maybe I shouldn't have bought first year quads till the bugs were worked out. My fault, but Yamaha needs to stand behind their product, end of story. I had one of my 2 raptors in the shop PRIOR to the 6-month warranty expiring, with false neutrals; did Yamaha or the dealer do anything? NOPE.

They said they couldn’t duplicate the problem, so I took my quad back, after arguing with service dept for a week. Wow, lucky Yamaha, now it’s out of warranty, see how its winter and I don’t ride for 4 months out of the winter. If this thing breaks in the next year, I’m going to sue Yamaha and the dealer, and it’s going to be for a lot more than the cost of a new transmission. Why? First: It’s utter BULL that they didn’t fix the problem when it was reported, Second: if a company as big as Yamaha thinks they can not honor warranty work, and sweep it under the table, then they will screw everyone they can, this is a PRIME example of why class action lawsuits are allowed.

I am all for suing Yamaha, maybe next time they’ll learn not to cover up warranty work and blame riders, or say they don’t know about the problem. Gee, firestone covered up the problem, and didn’t know about it for years, look at how many people that killed. What’s it going to take for Yamaha to do the right thing? Simple, it’s going to have to cost them MORE to do the wrong thing (not fixing the defective trans), that it would be to do the right thing (fixing the bad trans). The only way to make it cost more to do the wrong thing, is to sue, I’m sure a class action will finally get Yamaha’s attention.

I’m personally tired of being pushed around by Yamaha.

And the theory of don’t buy Yamaha, hey that’s great, and I won’t again, but what about the people that have first year quads that didn’t know what a POS it was prior to buying it?

Ya.. sue the bastards.. and make them finally notice the transmissions.

To top this entire conversation off.. What about Polaris recalling 12000 quads cause of 13 bad transmissions??? 13 out of 12000 and they are recalling and fixing every one of them?? WOW.. for 3 different years. This Article is how Yamaha should treat its customers, but I'm not holding my breath..

Personally I think Yamaha wants to be sued. One of these trans is going to lock up, and really hurt someone, if not kill him or her. Between all the other bad transmissions, and the magazine articles saying how the transmission is weak, they are going to get their collective corporate *** sued big time, and they should. Not fixing such a blatant problem is nothing but negligent, and yes, some lawyer WILL take the case, Yamaha has deep enough pockets to make it worth a lawyers time.

Brad

 

BansheeBrad,

Many of your points are dead on; however, my point is that a lawyer is not going to take the case on for free until injury is actually involved. The lawyer wants to get a percentage of winnings that are paid out by Yamaha or an insurance company. In the case of winning that Yamaha has to fix the trannies, no direct payout money is involved; therefore, no percentage of cash for the lawyer. A good injury case will result in millions but it requires that someone actually gets hurt. This is a ticking timebomb, the question is whether it will go off. Most companies have actuary who make financial decisions for the company based on statistics with little about what is ethically and morally right.

You are also right that a class action suit would open Yamahas eyes, unfortunately, someone has to agree to pay the attorney win or lose. When the time comes, someone has to plunk down the first $10,000-20,000 retainer fee just to get started. Yamaha is a big company with lots of lawyers who are experts at delay tactics, driving up litigation costs, etc. If the time comes, most peope will most likely opt to pay to fix their own transmission problem since it involves the least risk.

My other point was that if Yamaha was going to do something about this, they would have already. Yamaha is fully aware of the problem and doesn't think it will result in injury. Instead of issuing a recall to fix all of them, they will look at it on a case by case basis. As KNOWALOT mentioned, it doesn't help the rider if his dealer says we've never had another Raptor in here for repairs or heard of this issue. Better keep your dealer informed so they don't play STUPID. My original point in my first post was for everyone to flood the Customer Support Center with copies of the articles so they can stop acting like this is a new issue. Eventually, it will bubble to the top that the customers are having a backlash. This might get them to override the actuary that it is statistically cheaper to ignore the problem.

/NotuRaptor

 

I don't own a Raptor but I think I should add my .02!
When the Raptors first came out people were pying well over the MSRP if you ask me that is highway robbery in it's self.
I'm sure it wouldn't cost Yamaha nearly as much to repair these transmissions as it cost to buy the quad.
I would be pissed off if I spent between 6000-7000 dollars for the Raptor and it failed, I work hard for my money as I'm sure you all do to.
It's pretty obvious that this transmission is a defect on the majority of the 2001 raptors. If you talked your yamaha dealer and they didn't help you and then you talked to the yamaha corp and they didn't help you then I would speak to a lawyer.
It's not like the transmission wore out it just plan broke on alot of Raptors, is this a coincidence? I think not!
I'm sure this won't stop yamaha from manufacturing sport quads but will only make them manufacture more reliable quads in the future.
Not to get off the subject but: Last year my wife and I were planning our wedding reception at a Quality Inn banquet hall, the management people were a mess and kept screwing things up, we had nothing but problems with them. Two months before the wedding we decided we had had enough, we went up to get our money back. The manager told us we could only get 2/3 of our money back because the deposit was non-refundable. Well to make a long story short we got a lawyer, he sent them a letter stating that we were guaranteed satisfaction and if they didn't give us back the rest of our money he could be held responsibe for up to three times the amount of the entire reception cost because of our consumer rights. We got our money back in less then a week.
Now that was in Vermont the law could be different but you will have consumer rights in every state no matter where you live.
Good Luck!