2000 Buell S3 Thunderbolt

Routine

No owner complaints are on file for this vehicle. It has been recalled 2 times.

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports

Vehicle Speed Control › Cables03V427000

Filed Oct 30, 20032,830 vehiclesBuell Motorcycle Co.

Defect. ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES EQUIPPED EXCLUSIVELY WITH A FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, THE IDLE CONTROL CABLE CAN BECOME DISLODGED FROM THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM CABLE GUIDE DUE TO IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM.

Risk. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE THROTTLE MAY NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION WHEN THE OPERATOR'S HAND IS REMOVED FROM THE TWIST GRIP, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A THROTTLE CABLE CLAMP, WHICH SERVES TO ENSURE RETENTION OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL CABLES IN THE CABLE GUIDE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUELL AT 1-414-343-8400.

Suspension › Rear00V163000

Filed Jun 16, 20006,219 vehiclesBuell Motorcycle Co.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER CAN BREAK, DRAGGING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE ON THE GROUND.

Risk. THIS COULD AFFECT THE HANDLING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SHOCK REINFORCEMENT PACKAGE (SRP) WHICH PROTECTS THE STRUCTUAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. A NEW SHOCK ABSORBER IS CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED. WHEN THE NEW SHOCK ABSORBER IS AVAILABLE, IF AN OWNER CHOSES, THEY CAN HAVE IT INSTALLED AT NO CHARGE THROUGH THE DEALER NETWORK.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1998

Year	Complaints	Recalls	Assessment
2000 — this page	0	2	Routine
1999	1	6	Routine
1998	10	7	Routine
1997	2	7	Routine

Compare every S3 Thunderbolt year →

Other Buell models

All Buell models →

1125r 45 1125Cr 44 XB12R 18 Firebolt XB9R 18 XB12X 13 S1 Lightning 13 XB12S 10 M2 Cyclone 10 X1 Lightning 7 M2 6

Reading this record

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: Oct 30, 2003. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.