Experiencing Yamaha Boat Motor Problems?
Last Updated on June 27, 2017
Important Information
Attorneys working with ClassAction.org are no longer investigating this matter. The information here is for reference only. A list of open investigations and lawsuits can be viewed here.
At A Glance
- This Alert Affects
- Consumers who purchased a boat with a Yamaha first-generation F-Series four-stroke outboard motor manufactured between 2000-2005.
- Damages
- Severe corrosion and pitting of exhaust passages, premature engine failure.
- Companies
- Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA
- Additional Details
- Yamaha advertised its outboard motors as "high-power" engines with "unmatched reliability and durability."
- Date
- Although Yamaha created a kit to try to correct these problems, it has not issued any technical service bulletins or recalls regarding the motors. Furthermore, it has been alleged this kit costs consumers hundreds of dollars to addition to the thousands expended to implement the kit.
Consumers who experienced problems with certain outboard motors manufactured by Yamaha may have legal recourse to collect compensation for the cost of repairs and other damages. It has been alleged that the company’s first-generation F-Series four-stroke outboard motors (model years 2000 – 2005) contain a serious defect that allows the exhaust passages to corrode and pit severely, ultimately resulting in premature engine problems and failure.
If you have experienced problems with this outboard motor, you may be able to participate in a class action lawsuit against Yamaha.
What’s the Exact Problem with the Yamaha Boat Motors?
It is believed that premature engine failure and related issues are linked to a manufacturing or design defect in the coating of the exhaust components. Allegedly, this defect allows hot gases to corrode the exhaust passages, which in turn can lead to holes in the passages and can eventually cause a loss of horsepower, smoking and engine failure.
Unfortunately for consumers, this alleged defect cannot be readily discovered and is hidden in the engine’s internal, aluminum exhaust component coatings. Consumers will only see the effect of the alleged defect well after the corrosion has advanced. For instance, the plaintiff in a Florida class action against Yamaha claimed that his engine experienced a loss of power, despite the fact that boat revealed no visible defects and the interior and exterior was in good condition. When he brought his boat to the repair shop, the mechanics identified significant corrosion to the internal exhaust components as the cause of the engine’s loss of power.
Boat Motor Problems Likely to Occur After Yamaha Warranty Has Expired
It has been alleged that the corrosion, pitting and consequent engine failure typically occurs after only 500 to 700 hours of use. Because recreational boaters will typically use these engines for less than 100 hours per year, it is likely that the engine will fail after Yamaha’s three-year extended warranty has expired. Even so, these engines allegedly are failing well before consumers’ reasonable expectations for the useful life of such a product. As such, owners of the Yamaha outboard motors are either left to pay thousands of dollars in repair attempts, which may or may not be successful, or left with a product that they never would have purchased had they known about the alleged defect.
A class action lawsuit is alleging that proper engineering tests would have revealed the issue with the exhaust components and that a proper coating would have better protected the aluminum and offered more resistance to the hot exhaust gases emitted by the motor.
Could You Be Owed Money? Free Review of Your Outboard Motor Problems
If you have experienced problems with a Yamaha first-generation F-Series four-stroke outboard motor, you may be able to file a claim to recover compensation for repairs, replacements and other related losses.
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