1999 Buell S3

Routine

Owners filed 3 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the suspension › rear. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Suspension › Rear1
000
Suspension › Front › Shock Absorber1
000
Structure › Frame and Members1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Suspension › Rear98V199000
Filed Aug 25, 1998136 vehiclesBuell Motorcycle Co.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE SWING ARM ON THESE MOTORCYCLES WAS IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE REAR SUSPENSION TO FAIL WITHOUT WARNING, LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE.

Remedy. DELAERS WILL REPLACE THE SWING ARM.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Suspension › Front › Shock Absorber
Filed Feb 2, 200433,000 milesAZ

THE CYCLE HAS CRACKED SHOCK ABSORBERS ON THE REAR SUSPENSIONS THAT ARE ON RECALL. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO CLAIMED THE RECALL DID NOT AFFECT THE CONSUMER'S CYCLE. A DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE SHOCK ABSORBER ON THE CYCLE WERE IN FACT THE RECALLED EQUIPMENT. RECALL NO. #98V199000,BUELL/SWING ARM. *NM

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed Jun 11, 200325,000 milesNH

THERE ARE TWO BOLTS THAT HOLD THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE TO THE FRAME. THE ENGINE IS A CRITICAL STRUCTURAL MEMBER OF THE FRAME. ONE OF THE BOLTS WAS LOOSE, THE OTHER WAS BROKEN. HAD THE OTHER BROKE I WOULD PROBABLY HAVE CRASHED.*AK

Suspension › Rear
Filed Mar 9, 2001CO

RECALL 98 V 199 000/SWING ARM : ALSO OTHER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON A FUEL TANK, KICK STAND SWITCH, AND A BRAKE LINE. NONE OF RECALLS HAVE BEEN HONORED SINCE ABOVE INCIDENT DATE. DEALER: SON HARLEY DAVIDSON, DENVER,CO; PHONE# 303/287-7566, STILL UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

3 of 3 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1999
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
1999 — this page3100Routine
19981100Routine
19971100Routine

Compare every S3 year →

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: Aug 25, 1998. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.