Buyer Research

2020 Yamaha WaveRunner EX Deluxe — Should You Buy One?

Typical asking price: $7,000–$10,000. This is one of the more reliable vehicles in its class — here's what to watch for anyway.

Kestrel Take

Yamaha's entry-level runabout with the naturally aspirated 1049cc TR-1 engine — light, efficient, and one of the cheapest ways into a reliable three-seat PWC. No supercharger, simple, and durable. Check the wear ring, impeller, and salt-water history.

What we checked

No public record to reconcile against

We don't yet have a public record to check this one against. Boats and personal watercraft are not in NHTSA’s database — that is the Coast Guard, which publishes recalls but no owner-complaint record. What follows is our own write-up, and it has not been reconciled against an official record. Treat it as a starting point, not a verdict.

Known Issues for the 2020 Yamaha WaveRunner EX Deluxe

Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.

Modest power for towing/rough waterLow

The small engine is adequate but not powerful. A limitation, not a defect.

Repair cost: Not yet priced

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Walk-Away Red Flags

✗Worn wear ring or impeller
✗Salt corrosion, no flushing
✗High hours with no records
✗Hull damage

Good Signs

✓Good wear ring
✓Freshwater use or flushing, low hours

Found a specific Yamaha WaveRunner EX Deluxe?

This page covers what goes wrong on the 2020 Yamaha WaveRunner EX Deluxe in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.

Get My Verdict — $7.99

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Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.

Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.