Yamaha Kodiak 450 Problems, Longevity, and Ways to Use

Yamaha Kodiak 450 is a Utility ATV or better say UTV that is made by one of the most renowned brands in the industry - Yamaha Corporation. This is a Japanese technology that is traditionally simple but extremely reliable. But is it as good as the advertisement says? And how many miles or hours can the Kodiak 450 last without any problems?

Today, we'll concentrate our attention on the possible problems of the Yamaha Kodiak 450 and will also tell you about its durability and spheres where you can use this UTV. This is a wonderful multi-purpose vehicle that is going to amaze you with its great performance. But you shouldn't forget about possible downsides and problems.

Here's what we'll be talking about:

1. Yamaha Kodiak 450 specs and overall features for the buyer.
2. What are the problems of the Kodiak 450?
3. How many miles or hours can the Kodiak 450 survive?
4. Ways to use your Kodiak UTV in different conditions.

Let's get started!

So, is the Yamaha Kodiak 450 actually a good UTV to buy?

Yamaha calls this vehicle a "do-it-all ATV" and we would describe this name as too ambitious. But still, customers agree that the vehicle is not bad at all. This is a mid-sized machine that costs about $6,600 for a base version. This is a cool ATV that offers the on-command 2WD/4WD. It's better than many older competitors on the market in terms of technologies.

All important parts of the vehicles are protected by plastic covers and panels. But we guess these panels are not extremely reliable and will not save the steering and suspension parts in case you bump the UTV over a big rock on the road. So, careful riding is still needed to ensure longevity.

The Kodiak 450 offers cool features:

• the 4-stroke 421cc engine is liquid-cooled which is important to avoid overheating issues;
• the Ultramatic automatic transmission is good at shifting and it will let you concentrate on steering rather than on shifting gears;
• the company offers Yamaha Fuel Injection technology (YFI) which is really good in terms of efficiency;
• the independent double-wishbone suspension (for both front and rear) seems to be optimal for the vehicle;
• disc brakes are very efficient and protected from any possible issues when off-roading;
• maximum ground clearance is stated at 9.6 inches - not bad for an ATV;
• the Yamaha Kodiak 450 can tow about 1,300 pounds, so it's great for small trailers;
• the ATV can hold 3.7 gallons of fuel ensuring about 18 mpg of gas mileage;
• you won't need to modify the Kodiak after you buy it, the vehicle is ready basically for everything.

Well, some of the features are great. But is the Yamaha UTV so cool that we can't find any drawbacks in it? No, in the next part of our article, we'll tell you everything about the problems and common issues you can have after you buy this wonderful vehicle.

Before we start with this, we want to tell you that we still think the Yamaha Kodiak 450 is a good UTV for fun and for work. It's made to meet the needs of ranch and farm owners, but it can also deliver much fun when you go off-roading because it's a capable vehicle.

What are the common problems of the Yamaha Kodiak 450?

We've researched the possible problems of the ATV and have found a lot of unbelievable reviews where people say about their awful experience with the dealer. And yes, we know about the problem with Yamaha dealers - they are rare in the US and they somehow don't work with their staff and don't even try to comfort their clients.

But we don't want to say that the Yamaha Kodiak 450 is bad just because the dealers aren't polite or professional. Though, you should bear it in mind because Honda dealers are everywhere and they are much more polite and helpful, as a rule.

But let's be more professional and turn our attention to the technical issues of the Kodiak 450. Here are some problems you should know about.

1. Ultramatic transmission issues

This transmission is said to be one of the most durable and reliable in the industry (it's said by Yamaha, of course). But it isn't. As in most other ATVs, the transmission may start getting on your nerves very soon after you buy your vehicle.

It can slip, make a grinding noise, shift late or early, not shift at all, not work in reverse gear, etc. Also, the clutch may be a problematic part. A lot of buyers have noticed that the clutch is not durable enough. And it's also not cheap to replace or repair.

Unfortunately, we can't say that the Kodiak 450 ATV has a decent transmission. It's full of unexpected issues and possible problems. And it can be surprisingly expensive to maintain even if you have a relatively new ATV.

2. Gas mileage and range

A not-so-big fuel tank is the main problem. You will get about 50 or 60 miles of range after you top up the fuel tank up to the neck. It's not much and it limits you a bit in terms of the distance you can make on your ATV. Or you will have to just take a spare canister with gasoline every time you are going to have fun.

Well, range problems are important not only for fun riding. Poor range may be a big problem for ranches and farms and a spare canister is going to be your passenger at all times you are riding the vehicle.

The problem of the range comes next to the problem of mileage. The buyer's manual says that the Kodiak 450 will approximately get 35 mpg. But in the real life, when you go off-roading or towing something with your ATV, it will barely get 18 mpg.

3. Wiring issues

Unfortunately, Yamaha Kodiak 450 is going to have a lot of wiring problems. Especially as it ages. Still, the Kodiak 450 is a relatively rare model and not many people write reviews about their experience with wiring mysteries in the ATV. But they will.

It's a life-long problem for nearly all Yamaha vehicles. Once you will just hop on the ATV, turn the key, and see nothing. The speedometer won't go on the dash and the ATV won't start. Why? Because some wire just fell off and now you need to find it or to go to the dealer and spend some time to solve the problem.

4. Light problems

We don't know why, but probably the most common problem for the Yamaha Kodiak 450 (and for other Kodiaks, too) is the light. Headlights are not fixed properly during manufacturing and this results in problems.

The first time you will be riding your Yamaha ATV at night, you will notice this problem. One of the lights will start shivering or jumping. And there are two possible explanations: whether the light itself is badly fixed, or the light bulb socket is poorly installed.

This problem is relatively easy to fix. But it's still a bad issue for a mid-sized ATV that you pay over 6 grand for.

5. 4x4 problems with Kodiak

Some owners have reported that after getting high mileage, the Kodiak 450s stop working properly once you turn on the 4WD mode. They may just ignore your commands or the ATV may start glitching.

The 4WD mode is still necessary for the ATV because it offers better off-road capabilities and more confident traction. But anyway, you will probably have problems with all-wheel-drive once the Yamaha hits high mileage. Fixing it won't be as easy and cheap.

Where can you use your Yamaha Kodiak 450?

On a ranch or a farm. This is a good workhorse that can go off-roading in a field, carry some loads, and tow some trailers. Also, it's a good choice for those who have animals on a farm. It's a small vehicle that will basically help with many different tasks and will bring you much fun when you are using it.

Fun riding. Well, let's be honest, most buyers pay money for the Kodiak 450 to have fun. You can go off-roading, fishing, or hunting, you can compete with your friends or join an ATV club in your area. There are certainly many ways to get pleasure with your Kodiak 450.

How many miles or hours can the Kodiak 450 last?

We would say that the Yamaha Kodiak 450 can last about 10,000 miles with no problems at all. This is about 800 hours for a quad like this. And it's not that much if you compare it with a lot of cool counterparts on the market.

Still, your quad may last much longer with proper care and good love.

Final words

We are pretty sure that you will not have all of the above-given problems if you buy a new Yamaha Kodiak 450 quad. But some of them are possible. So, you need to remember that these problems are possible and try to avoid them at all costs. At least, now you know what to expect from your Yamaha and can try to prevent these common issues.