2014 Brammo Empulse R Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2014 Brammo Empulse R, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Engine133.3%
- Fuel system133.3%
- Powertrain (other)133.3%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
TWICE DURING THE SAME RIDE, THE VEHICLE HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WHILE UNDER QUICK ACCELERATION AND DISPLAYED A "SYSTEM FAULT S86" WHICH THE MANUAL LISTS AS "MOTOR CONTROLLER -- MOTOR OVER CURRENT". WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE MOTORCYCLE LOSES ALL POWER AND HAD TO BE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED ON/OFF. FIRST INSTANCE I WAS TRYING TO PASS A VEHICLE ON AN UPHILL GRADE, THE SECOND WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO THE FREEWAY. AN MOTOR POWER LOSS LIKE THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ANY TIME A VEHICLE IS AT SPEED, BUT IT'S ESPECIALLY THREATENING WHEN IT OCCURS DURING A PASSING OR FREEWAY MERGING SITUATION. IN BOTH CASES, I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT GIVEN HEAVIER TRAFFIC OR AN ONCOMING CAR DURING A PASSING SITUATION AND THIS COULD BE LIFE THREATENING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
TWICE DURING THE SAME RIDE, THE VEHICLE HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WHILE UNDER QUICK ACCELERATION AND DISPLAYED A "SYSTEM FAULT S86" WHICH THE MANUAL LISTS AS "MOTOR CONTROLLER -- MOTOR OVER CURRENT". WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE MOTORCYCLE LOSES ALL POWER AND HAD TO BE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED ON/OFF. FIRST INSTANCE I WAS TRYING TO PASS A VEHICLE ON AN UPHILL GRADE, THE SECOND WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO THE FREEWAY. AN MOTOR POWER LOSS LIKE THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ANY TIME A VEHICLE IS AT SPEED, BUT IT'S ESPECIALLY THREATENING WHEN IT OCCURS DURING A PASSING OR FREEWAY MERGING SITUATION. IN BOTH CASES, I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT GIVEN HEAVIER TRAFFIC OR AN ONCOMING CAR DURING A PASSING SITUATION AND THIS COULD BE LIFE THREATENING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
TWICE DURING THE SAME RIDE, THE VEHICLE HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WHILE UNDER QUICK ACCELERATION AND DISPLAYED A "SYSTEM FAULT S86" WHICH THE MANUAL LISTS AS "MOTOR CONTROLLER -- MOTOR OVER CURRENT". WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE MOTORCYCLE LOSES ALL POWER AND HAD TO BE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED ON/OFF. FIRST INSTANCE I WAS TRYING TO PASS A VEHICLE ON AN UPHILL GRADE, THE SECOND WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE ONTO THE FREEWAY. AN MOTOR POWER LOSS LIKE THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS ANY TIME A VEHICLE IS AT SPEED, BUT IT'S ESPECIALLY THREATENING WHEN IT OCCURS DURING A PASSING OR FREEWAY MERGING SITUATION. IN BOTH CASES, I WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT GIVEN HEAVIER TRAFFIC OR AN ONCOMING CAR DURING A PASSING SITUATION AND THIS COULD BE LIFE THREATENING.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .