RoadVitals

2009 Buell 1125

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
3
Latest May 14, 2013
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Buell 1125, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and fuel system categories. 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 2 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical240.0%
  • Engine120.0%
  • Fuel system120.0%
  • Exterior lighting120.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE12035ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

Motorcycle Stalling

Opened Nov 16, 2012
Closed Apr 16, 2013

ODI opened this investigation based on 25 allegations of subject motorcycle stalling, without warning, due to charging system failure (typically involving the stator).As part of this investigation, testing was conducted to assess whether there would be areasonable warning prior to stator-related engine shut-down while underway.A memo describing this testing may be found in the public file for this investigation.Given the relative frequency of alleged stator failures involving Buell 1125's, it is apparent that customers may not be satisfied with their motorcycle.An example of a manufacturer responding to this type of dissatisfaction is found in the Harley Davidson December 7, 2009product improvement campaign to address the stalling issue.However, current test data does not establish that this customer satisfaction issue is also a safety defect that results in an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.In the absence of a safety defect trend related to Buell 1125 charging system failures, this investigation is closed. The 62 ODI complaints we cite may be found by entering the following ODI investigation numbersat www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID:10373814,10386008,10397985,10406939,10406967,10406969,10407046, 10407318,10407511,10407672,10410524,10411954,10429450,10429467, 10429481,10429488,10429530,10429531,10429964,10429970,10429985, 10429987,10430176,10430736,10432169,10432891,10445118,10452480, 10457062,10457815,10457829,10462420,10462439,10462834,10463008, 10463483,10463664,10465165,10465225,10465226,10466505,10470386, 10470415,10470428,10473664,10474136,10474363,10479428,10484793, 10494949,10495197,10496446,10496804,10497643,10496127,10496088, 10496048,10496022,10496018,10495355,10495331,10495307

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
PE10004ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

SUDDEN FUEL EXPULSION

Opened Jan 25, 2010
Closed May 10, 2010

We opened this PE based on a single complaint of rapid fuel expulsion while re-fueling from the owner of a Buell 1125CR.After opening this PE, we contacted other owners, Buell dealer service departments and monitored activity of various Buell-related web forums.While Harley Davidson (Buell was a subsidiary) has no owner complaints, it did receive four warranty claims related to this issue.Two involve the fuel line check valve, one a pinched fuel vent hose, and one saturated charcoal cannister due to over-fill.Currently, the data does not indicate a trending safety defect exists.We will continue to monitor this issue and take action as appropriate.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

ElectricalEngineExterior lighting
Filed May 14, 2013

AT SOME POINT STATOR BECAME OVER HEATED AND FAILED, MOTORCYCLE WAS ONLY RUNNING OFF OF BATTERY POWER AT THIS POINT. I WAS RIDING HOME AT NIGHT (GET OFF WORK AT 11PM) ON A HIGHWAY WHEN MY LIGHTS STARTING DIMMING, LOST INFORMATION ON MY SPEEDOMETER, AND EVENTUALLY LOST ALL POWER CAUSING A BREAK DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. HAD TO HAVE HELP FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE TO JUMP START MY MOTORCYCLE TWICE IN ORDER TO GET HOME SAFELY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10511945
Incident
May 10, 2013
Mileage
4,700 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 13, 2011

THE VEHICLES ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED, CAUSING SOME OF THE WIRING AND THE VEHICLE'S BATTERY TO MELT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10429987
Incident
Jul 20, 2010
Mileage
3,741 mi
Fuel system
Filed Feb 15, 2011
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 2009 HARLEY DAVIDSON BUELL MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTORCYCLE WAS EMITTING FUMES AND FUEL LEAKED OUT OF THE VENT LINE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DID NOT PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC TEST BUT ADVISED THE CONTACT TO ADD GASOLINE TO THE FUEL TANK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MOTORCYCLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 2,168.

NHTSA ID
10382791
Incident
Nov 1, 2010
Mileage
2,168 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

M1684

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SERVICE BULLETIN M1684: MARKET SPECIFIC BATTERY INTRODUCTION. PURPOSE: Initial Release. This bulletin informs dealers of the availability of new batteries for new Original Equipment (OE) vehicle production and in the Parts and Accessories (P&A) catalog. Availability of the new Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM) batteries will vary by market and will be transitioning over the next few months. NOTE: The ring terminal screws are not compatible between Leoch and East Penn batteries. The new batteries will include new ring terminal screws, which must be used. The ring terminal screws from the old battery need to be discarded.

SB-B-099

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

BUELL MOTORCYCLES: CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES-1125R AND 1125CR 2009-10 AND 2008 1125R HAVE BEEN REFITTED WITH A 2009 OR 2010 ENGINE. ON THESE MODELS THE STATOR MAY OPERATE AT TEMPERATURES THAT EXCEED THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATION WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RIDDEN IN LOWER RPM (BELOW 5,000 RPM) DUTY CYCLES. THE MODELS MAY EXPERIENCE CHARGING SYSTEM ISSUES RELATED TO EXCESSIVE STATOR HEAT. *PE UPDATED 6/11/10. *PE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.