Yamaha Outboards Reviews

My daughter purchased a brand new 2023 AR190 and has been stranded twice in about 8 outings. The boat looks to be well built and is nice looking and has a lot of room for a 19 foot boat. The Jet-propulsion motor has been a real problem. Both times the problem occurred, she had been on the water most of the day and floating and running about. When trying to start the boat after it has set for a while it would turn over but not start. After several attempts sometimes it would start but would go into limp mode and not run above idle. It would run for a few minutes and die.

My 2018 F150X has a total corrosion failure on the cable assembly from the console to the motor. All other wiring inside the console is corrosion free. The crystal growth busted through the outer insulation and all internal wiring has been destroyed. Don't believe the Yamaha reliability Myth.

We have a 2017 4 stroke 115 Yamaha outboard. We were on the lake last weekend and the oil pressure light came on. The motor was shut off as soon as the alarm came on. The boat was brought to a Yamaha certified mechanic. After looking over the boat the conclusion was the main seal had pushed up through the top of the motor. This should never happen! This is a manufacture defect. The motor is now out of warranty which again should not matter because the problem is a defect not something that anyone could cause. Yamaha will do nothing to help. Their recommendation is replacing the head that is it. This is the worst customer service! I have only owned Yamaha and this will be the last one I own!!

Bought a new 2020 Yamaha F 50 in August of 2020. September I noticed it dropping rpm's. I chalked it up to wind chop etc, not even thinking there was a problem. September I started noticing the rpm drop was getting worse. I winterized the motor and stored for the few winter months. This spring I started the motor, did the required maintenance and put it back in the water for the season. I ran the boat for about 20 minutes and the rpm's dropped to around 4500 rpm. Took it to the dealer I bought it from, they had it for 3 weeks and returned it to me. Ran it again for about 20 minutes to put it in the slip. Again it started the same sequence. I took it to a different service center with a Yamaha master mechanic. They returned it to me 4 weeks later. Put back in the water, same scenario.

Purchased brand new outboard and started to notice salt deposits on cavitation plate and lower unit after recommended flushing. Deposits return after second or third wash down. Problem appears related to new plastic cowlings beneath head cowling. Some owners report removing said cowlings to flush and clean concealed salt. Dealer and Corporate office are not cooperative advising me this is typical performance, but never had similar issues with Yamahas lacking the plastic side cowlings. Suspect every owner of similar outboards is experiencing the same problem. Check your lower units days after flushing and cleaning for these deposits that will lead to corrosion problems eventually.

I bought this motor new. I used fuel stabilizer in the fuel throughout my ownership of the motor and took good care of the engine. After a couple years of owning the motor (running about 30 hours per year) it had issues all the time. I've had the motor serviced nearly every year and it continues to have some sort of issues which leaves me stranded on the water! Nearly everything has been replaced on the motor a couple times as that is how mechanics seem to trouble shoot these engines. If it's a fuel problem, rebuild the carb, replace the fuel filter, replace the fuel line, replace the fuel tank, replace the fuel pump. Then let's replace the spark plugs, let try the water pump, check the compression. Year after year.

I've owned this motor for the past 10 years, but only used it an average of 12 days per year. It started having problems as soon as it went out of warranty and has been limping along ever since. The engine was always flushed with fresh water after salt water use (this was used on a dinghy to taxi us back and forth from island to sailboat) and the oil change and other scheduled maintenance was performed to the letter. Everything is cheap and subpar on this motor, even the cowling gasket that is supposed to prevent annoying vibration noise is cheap and ineffective.

Have a 2012 Yamaha F150XA with 300 hours. Was out the other day and the oil light came on. I stopped and checked the oil and it was fine. I limped it to shore and no heat light came on. The motor ended up not turning over. I took it to the Yamaha dealer and they said it is common with the F150XA outboards. Apparently Yamaha had put out outboards with "fiber gears" in them and these are known to shred and plug up the oil pump. So even though there is oil and the overheat light doesn't come on the motor will blow in a very short time. Yamaha Canada pretend that they are not aware of this but the Yamaha dealers are very familiar with it. Unless you are under warranty they won't help at all. Talked to people that have Mercury Outboards and they said that the support from the Mercury is way better. Yamaha Canada was of no help at all and would acknowledge that there was even an issue even though their own dealers say that it is.

I own a 2001 Boston Whaler Dauntless 180 with an 115 HP 4 Stroke Yamaha. I bought this boat 3 years ago from a gentleman that used in on saltwater only. There is no rust anywhere and the motor starts and runs like new probably due to very good maintenance practices when he had it. I am amazed at how well this motor runs considering that by now it should have at least 1200 hours. This is my first experience with a Yamaha Outboard as I have been an Evinrude and Mercury outboard owner on my past boats. If the good experience continues, Yamaha would be my first outboard motor choice if I buy another boat or if I ever want to re-power. I have friends that own Yamaha Outboards and are very happy with their performance and reliability. I have not had to deal with any technical or performance issues with the Yamaha Company, so I can't give my opinion on that end. I can say that, in my experience, the product is of a very good quality.

My 4 stroke 150 Yamaha has developed a hole in the block. Motor has been well cared for to say the least. All scheduled maintenance was performed. Oil changes were done at 50 percent of the oil life. Only Yamalube and Yamaha oil filters. My motor was flushed after every use of the motor with no exceptions. Salt away was periodically ran thru engine as well. This is my sixth Yamaha and my last. I am a fishing guide and I count on my engine to make my living. I stand by the service I offer and am a honorable man. Yamaha does not.