Owners filed 7 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the suspension. It has been recalled 8 times.
Most common 1997 Buell S1 Lightning problems
7 of the 7 complaints (100%) are about the suspension.
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Suspension
5
0
0
0
Suspension › Rear
2
0
0
0
8 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly99V105000
Filed May 6, 199912,321 vehiclesBuell Motorcycle Co.
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A FUEL TANK VENT VALVE ASSEMBLY THAT COULD BECOME PLUGGED.
Risk. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE THE CARBURETOR TO OVERFLOW FUEL WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. THIS CONDITION COULD ALSO PREVENT SUFFICIENT FUEL FLOW, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO MISFIRE OR STALL.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK VENT VALVE ASSEMBLY.
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly › Mounting99V104000
Filed May 6, 199910,556 vehiclesBuell Motorcycle Co.
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A FUEL TANK MOUNT SYSTEM THAT COULD, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, ALLOW THE FUEL TANK TO SEPARATE FROM THE MOTORCYCLE.
Risk. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN EXPLOSION OR FIRE.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK MOUNT SYSTEM.
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE E-CLIP WHICH RETAINS THE DRIVE PIN ON THE FRONT BRAKE ROTOR AND CARRIER CAN SEPARATE FROM THE DRIVE PIN ALLOWING THE PIN TO MOVE OUT OF POSITION AND COME IN CONTACT WITH THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER.
Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN PREVENT THE FRONT WHEEL FROM ROTATING INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPAIR THESE MOTORCYCLES.
All 8 campaigns on file, newest first.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Suspension › Rear
Filed Jun 21, 2000NY
WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Suspension
Filed Apr 20, 2000MI
NHTSA RECALL 99V105000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 0815/ SUSPENSION: MOTORCYCLE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK
Suspension
Filed Apr 20, 2000MI
NHTSA RECALL 99V097000 AND MFR RECALL 0813/ SUSPENSION: MOTORCYCLE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK
Suspension
Filed Apr 20, 2000MI
NHTSA RECALL 99V095000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 0811/ SUSPENSION: MOTORCYCLE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK
Suspension
Filed Apr 20, 2000MI
NHTSA RECALL 99V086000 AND MFR RECALL 0810./ SUSPENSION: MOTORCYCLE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK
Suspension
Filed Apr 20, 2000MI
NHTSA RECALL 99V086000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 0810/ SUSPENSION: MOTORCYCLE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK
Suspension › Rear
Filed Oct 13, 1999MA
RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL REGARDING SWING ARM AND PIVOT SHAFT FAILURE. HAS BEEN TRYING SINCE ABOVE DATE TO GET DEALER TO HONOR RECALL. NEEDS NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: May 6, 1999. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.