RoadVitals

2003 Buell Firebolt XB9R

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.
18
Latest Jun 2, 2016
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 Oct 3, 2002
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 18 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Buell Firebolt XB9R, most frequently naming the exterior lighting, driver assistance and other / unspecified 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

  • Exterior lighting1575.0%
  • Driver assistance210.0%
  • Other / unspecified210.0%
  • Fuel system15.0%

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
02V270000

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Oct 3, 2002
371 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE SIDE STAND LEGS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BEND OR BREAK.
The risk: THIS COULD CAUSE THE MOTORCYCLE TO FALL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDE STAND. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 16, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BUELL AT 1-414-342-4680.
BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.Manufacturer number 0825View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 18
Driver assistanceOther / unspecified
Filed Jun 2, 2016

SDGSDGSDGDSFGDFSGD (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2011, MAKE=JLKJLKJ, MODEL=JLKJLJ)

NHTSA ID
10871994
Incident
Jan 14, 2016
Driver assistanceOther / unspecified
Filed Jun 2, 2016

SDGSDGSDGDSFGDFSGD (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2011, MAKE=JLKJLKJ, MODEL=JLKJLJ)

NHTSA ID
10871993
Incident
Jan 14, 2016
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 6, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUELL FIREBOLT XB9R MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD BEYOND THREE FEET WHICH OBSTRUCTED THE VISIBILITY. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE HEADLIGHTS WERE IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.

NHTSA ID
10410661
Incident
Jun 1, 2011
Mileage
13,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 28, 2007

DEGRADED COATING ON HEADLIGHT REFLECTORS STARTING AS BLACK SPOTS WHICH SPREAD. AFTER REFLECTIVE COATING IS GONE THE BLACK PLASTIC REFLECTORS MELT. I USE OEM BULBS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10207244
Incident
Jun 10, 2006
Mileage
2,500 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 18, 2007

THE CHROME/PLASTIC REFLECTOR MATERIAL ON THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT STARTED TO DEGRADE. THE LIGHT REFLECTED AT NIGHT WAS DIM. THE HOUSING ABSORBED THE HEAT FROM THE LIGHT INSTEAD OF REFLECTING THE LIGHT. THE HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED BY BUELL MOTORCYCLE COMPANY.*AK

NHTSA ID
10196709
Incident
Apr 15, 2007
Mileage
10,579 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 11, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUELL FIREBOLT XB9R. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS ARE DIMMING. HE REPLACED THE BULBS, BUT THE HEAT OF THE HEADLIGHTS CAUSE THE BULBS TO DIM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 25,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA ID
10196061
Incident
Jun 7, 2006
Mileage
10,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 26, 2007

THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WAS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY DIMMER OVER TIME. UPON DISASSEMBLY I FOUND THE REFLECTOR AREA TO BE DULL AND PARTIALLY BLACKENED. ANY ATTEMPT TO CLEAN AWAY THE BLACK AREA ONLY ENLARGED IT AS THE REFLECTOR AREA HAD TURNED TO POWDER. I SWAPPED OUT PARTS FROM THE HIGH BEAM TO RESTORE THE LOW BEAM OPERATION. I HAVE NOT YET DETERMINED A COURSE OF ACTION TO PERMANENTLY REMEDY THE SITUATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
10194705
Incident
Jun 25, 2007
Mileage
15,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed May 29, 2007

MOTORCYCLE HEADLAMP LOSS OF REFLECTIVE MATERIAL RESULTING IN POOR LIGHTING. MAKE: BUELL MODEL: XB9R YEAR: 2003. *TR

NHTSA ID
10191969
Incident
May 18, 2007
Mileage
6,500 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

SB-076A

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

BUELL MOTORCYCLES: HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES ON SOME MODELS HAVE A REFLECTIVE MATERIAL WHICH CAN POTENTIALLY DEGRADE AND REDUCE LIGHT OUTPUT. MODELS XB9R AND XB12R. MODEL YEARS 2003-2006. *PE

TSB-B-076A

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

BUELL MOTORCYCLE: THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES ON SOME 2003-2006 FIREBOLT MODELS HAVE A REFLECTIVE MATERIAL WHICH CAN POTENTIALLY DEGRADE AND REDUCE LIGHT OUTPUT. *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.