Recall 13V298 affects 3,900 2014 Yamaha Bolt motorcycles for wiring that can melt near the exhaust. Repair is free at any franchised Yamaha dealer.
Yamaha is recalling 3,900 2014 Bolt motorcycles under recall 13V298 because slack in the wiring harness can let it touch the exhaust manifold, melt wires, and short-circuit. A blown fuse can stall the engine while riding and raise crash risk; the Yamaha dealer repair will be free once the remedy is available.
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What's wrong?
The wiring harness on the 2014 Yamaha Bolt is a bundled set of wires that carries electrical power and signals through the motorcycle. It keeps those wires routed away from heat, vibration, and moving parts so the electrical system works as designed. On this recall, the concern is where the harness sits near the exhaust manifold.
On affected Bolt motorcycles, slack or sag in the harness lets the wiring drop too close to the exhaust manifold. That manifold gets hot during normal riding. If the harness touches it, the wire insulation can melt. Once insulation is damaged, the exposed wires can short circuit.
There is no warning sign before failure. A rider is not given a listed symptom to watch for before the harness contacts the exhaust and the wiring is damaged.
Who's affected?
| 2014 Yamaha Bolt | electrical system |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 3,900 |
Not every 2014 Yamaha Bolt motorcycle is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific motorcycle is included.
What's the safety risk?
A short circuit in the wiring can blow the fuses, stall the engine while riding, and increase the risk of a crash. Treat any stall as a reason to stop riding once safely off the road and call a Yamaha dealer before riding again. Repair will be free at any franchised Yamaha dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2014 Yamaha Bolt is included in this recall.
- Watch for Yamaha's owner letter, which was mailed on August 2, 2013, before scheduling recall work.
- Call Yamaha at 1-800-962-7926 with questions about the wiring-harness recall.
- Ask a franchised Yamaha dealer to inspect the wiring harness and secure it away from the exhaust so the wires do not melt, short circuit, and stall the engine.
- Reference recall number 13V298 when you call the dealer.
- Ride cautiously until the repair is complete, and stop riding if the engine stalls or electrical fuses blow.
What happens at the repair
The current remedy status is not listed, so do not treat this section as confirmation that a final repair appointment is open. The listed dealer repair is an inspection of the wiring harness. Once the repair is available, a Yamaha technician will inspect the harness routing, secure it away from the exhaust manifold, and replace the harness first if heat damage is found. Parts and labor will be covered under the recall once the repair is available.
Timeline
| July 8, 2013 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 2, 2013 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 13V298?
Recall 13V298 covers 3,900 2014 Yamaha Bolt motorcycles with wiring harness slack that can let the harness contact the exhaust manifold. The heat can melt wires, cause a short circuit, blow fuses, and stall the engine while riding. Yamaha dealers inspect and secure the harness for free.
What should I do if my 2014 Yamaha Bolt is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific motorcycle is included in recall 13V298. If it is, contact a franchised Yamaha dealer and ask for the wiring harness inspection. The dealer secures the harness away from the exhaust and replaces damaged harnesses before securing them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Yamaha's remedy sends owners to dealers for the wiring harness inspection and repair. Ask the service desk to reference recall 13V298 when you schedule the appointment.
Is it safe to ride my Yamaha Bolt before the recall repair?
The recall does not include a do-not-drive order, but the defect can stall the engine while riding and increase crash risk. If your VIN is included, schedule the dealer repair promptly. If the motorcycle stalls, blows fuses, or has electrical problems, stop riding and call the dealer.
When did Yamaha start this recall repair?
Yamaha began recall 13V298 on August 2, 2013. For a used 2014 Bolt, the owner letter history is less important than the VIN. Check your VIN, then call a franchised Yamaha dealer with recall number 13V298 to confirm the free repair status.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/13V298000 |
|---|---|
| Yamaha customer service | 1-800-962-7926 |
| NHTSA recall # | 13V298 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 13V298000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →