RoadVitals

1997 Buell M2

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 Jan 29, 2002
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 Feb 23, 1998
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.
1
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.
2
4 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Buell M2, most frequently naming the engine and suspension categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 1 NHTSA investigation names it.

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%
  • Suspension150.0%

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
98V036000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL

Feb 23, 1998
4,724 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. FAILURE OF ONE OR MORE TURN SIGNAL LAMPS WOULD NOT BE INDICATED TO THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE (NO NOTICEABLE CHANGE IN THE FLASHING RATE OF THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR LIGHT). THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
The risk: AN OPERATOR WOULD NOT BE AWARE THAT THE TURN SIGNAL LAMPS WERE NOT WORKING.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TURN SIGNAL LAMPS ON THESE MOTORCYCLES.
BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

PE03043ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

THROTTLE FAILS TO RETURN TO IDLE

Opened Sep 23, 2003
Closed Oct 30, 2003

TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED ABOVE, BUELL IS RECALLING THOSE FUEL-INJECTED MOTORCYCLES THAT IT BUILT WITHOUT A THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL CLAMP.FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS SUBJECT, PLEASE REFER TO THE MEMORANDUM ENTITLED THE SCOPE OF BUELL'S SAFETY RECALL, 03V-427 COPY ATTACHED.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLESLed to recall 03V427000

Recent owner complaints

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

Filed Jan 29, 2002
2 injuries reported

THIS PART WAS REPLACED AS A RECALL ITEM. THE REPLACEMENT PART FAILED IMMEDIATLY. THE DEALER WAS NOT GIVEN ATHORIZATION TO DO THIS RECALL. THEY WOULD NOT RELEASE MY VEHICLE WITHOUT IT BEING DONE. THIS WAS '!@#$%. THEN THE RECALLED PART FAILED IMMEDIATELY. I WANT TO BE CONTACTED. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID
757496
Incident
Jun 15, 2001
Suspension
Filed Jan 29, 2002
Crash reportedFire reported2 injuries reported

REAR SHOCK THAT WAS INSTALLED ON MY VEHICLE AS A RECALL ITEM HAS FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID
757495
Incident
Jul 16, 2001
Engine
Filed Oct 5, 1999

DEALER NOTIFIED OWNER NO PARTS AVAILABLE FOR THE FRONT ISOLATOR MOTOR MOUNT. *AK

NHTSA ID
850011
Incident
Jul 10, 1999

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Buell M2 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002210—
1999011—
1998111—
1997Viewing311—

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.