Owners filed 2 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the fuel system, gasoline › fuel injection system. It has been recalled 7 times.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
1
0
0
0
Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System
1
0
0
0
7 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.
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings00V038000
Filed Feb 14, 20002,912 vehiclesBuell Motorcycle Co.
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE FUEL FILTER CAN LEAK.
Risk. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILTER.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic99V133000
Filed May 24, 19991,765 vehiclesBuell Motorcycle Co.
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE REAR BRAKE RESERVOIR HOSE CAN CHAFE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID.
Risk. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE RIDER COULD EXPERIENCE LOSS OF REAR BRAKING CAPABILITIES.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR BRAKE RESERVOIR HOSE AND REPLACE THE HOSE IF NCESSARY.
Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery › Cables99V134000
Filed May 24, 19991,765 vehiclesBuell Motorcycle Co.
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE CAN CONTACT THE BATTERY CARRIER.
Risk. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE MOTORCYCLE COULD STALL OR QUIT.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE ROUTING AND CORRECT IT IF THERE IS ANY SIGN OF CONTACT.
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.
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE REAR BRAKE LINE CAN CHAFE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID.
Risk. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE RIDER COULD EXPERIENCE LOSS OF REAR BRAKING CAPABILITIES.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE LINE.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Filed Aug 18, 200512,000 milesNC
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUELL X1 LIGHTNING MOTORCYCLE. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS A BELT INSTEAD OF THE CHAIN, THE REAR BRAKE LINE SEVERED BECAUSE OF THE BELT. AFTER RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE THE CONSUMER PARKED THE MOTORCYCLE AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID COVERING THE OUTSIDE OF THE ENGINE, AND THE PLASTIC MOLDING OF THE MOTORCYCLE. ALSO, THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID ON THE GROUND WHERE THE CONSUMER PARKED THE MOTORCYCLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSING COMPLETELY DOWN BUT NOT STOPPING AS WELL AS IT HAD BEFORE. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER TWICE. THE LOCAL DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO COVER THE EXPENSE OF THE REPAIR. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE HAD JUST BEEN PERFORMED ON THE MOTORCYCLE. *AK
Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System
Filed Nov 12, 1999OK
SIDE STAND SWITCH WAS REPLACED 3 WEEKS AGO ON A PREVIOUS RECALL BY MFG!
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.