RoadVitals

2008 Buell Blast

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.
2
Latest Jun 8, 2009
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.
1
Latest Aug 27, 2008
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.
0
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Buell Blast, most frequently naming the engine and fuel system categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 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

  • Engine150.0%
  • Fuel system150.0%

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

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
08V439000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

Aug 27, 2008
1,335 units potentially affected
The defect: BUELL IS RECALLING 1,307 MY 2007-2008 BLAST MOTORCYCLES. THE FUEL TANK MAY EXPERIENCE SOME LOCAL DEFORMATION UNDER HIGH-HEAT CONDITIONS THAT CREATES CONTACT OF THE TANK WITH THE CYLINDER HEAD. IN SOME OF THESE CASES, THE CYLINDER HEAD RUBBING ON THE FUEL TANK HAS CREATED A FUEL LEAK.
The risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH OR FIRE, WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO THE RIDER.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRACKET WHICH WILL PREVENT THE FUEL TANK FROM CONTACTING THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUELL AT 1-414-343-8400.
BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.Manufacturer number 0835View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Engine
Filed Jun 8, 2009

PURCHASE BIKE WOULD NOT STAY RUNNING NEEDED A TUNE UP GOING UP A HILL AFTER GETTING GAS IN 1ST GEAR BIKE STALLS AND WOULD NOT START DRIVING DOWN 695 WENT TO SHIFT DOWN-SHIFTER WAS GONE ...WAS REPLACE NOT LONG AFTER THAT SHIFTER BECAME LOOSE AGAIN..CAUGHT AND FIXED PRIOR TO LOSING HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING SHOP ABOUT PINGING NOISE IN ENGINE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. THE BIKE CONTINUES TO GET LOUDER . MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE SO FAR PER PAPERWORK BOLT WAS WELDED OIL LINKAGE/USAGE MORE THAN NORMAL..NOTHING DONE MANIFOLD COUPLER HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED DUE TO BIKE NOT STARTING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10273093
Incident
Jun 28, 2008
Mileage
48 mi
Fuel system
Filed Nov 3, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUELL BLAST. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V439000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY) AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL OCTOBER. WHEN OCTOBER ARRIVED, HE CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN FOR AN APPOINTMENT, BUT THE PARTS WERE STILL UNAVAILABLE. HE CALLED THE DEALER BACK IN NOVEMBER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS HAD TO BE RE-ORDERED. AS OF NOVEMBER 3, 2008, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN PROPERLY REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 170. REMAILED 12/08/08. *LJ UPDATED 02/05/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. UPDATED 02/06/09.*JB

NHTSA ID
10247592
Incident
Sep 12, 2008
Mileage
170 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

SB-0835

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

BUELL MOTORCYCLE: THE FUEL TANKS ON THESE MOTORCYCLES CAN EXPERIENCE SOME LOCAL DEFORMATION UNDER HIGH HEAT CONDITIONS THAT CAN CREATE CONTACT OF THE FUEL TANK AND CYLINDER HEAD. IN SOME CASES, THE CYLINDER HEAD RUBBING ON THE FUEL TANK HAS CREATED A FUEL LEAK. THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH OR FIRE, WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO THE RIDER. *PE

B-080

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY; FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

BUELL MOTORCYCLES: FUEL TANKS ON THESE MOTORCYCLES CAN EXPERIENCE SOME LOCAL DEFORMATION UNDER HIGH-HEAT CONDITIONS THAT CAN CREATE CONTACT OF THE FUEL TANK AND CYLINDER HEAD. *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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Buell Blast by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2009010—
2008Viewing210—
2007210—
2006100—
2004010—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.