RoadVitals

1996 Buell S1

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 May 14, 2004
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.
1
0 injuries, 2 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1996 Buell S1, most frequently naming the other / unspecified 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

  • Other / unspecified150.0%
  • 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

Other / unspecified
Filed May 14, 2004
Crash reported1 death reported

I OWNED A 1997 BUELL. IT HAD 8 SAFTEY RECALLS ISSUED BY NASTA. OF THESE 8 RECALLS I ALLOWED THE DEALER TO DO REPAIRS. THREE OF THESE "REPAIRS" FAILED SHORTLY AFTER THEY WERE COMPLETED. ONE FAILED ON MY WAY HOME FROM THE DEALER. I HAVE TRIED MANY TIMES TO CONTACT NASTA AND BUELL ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS. THE PERSON THAT I SOLD MY BUELL TO WAS KILLED. HE DIED BECAUSE RECALL #4 FAILED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONCERN.*AK

NHTSA ID
10072622
Incident
Apr 4, 2004
Suspension
Filed Sep 30, 1997
1 death reported

CENTER SHOCK OF MOTORCYLCE BROKE CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/DEATH.

NHTSA ID
522808
Incident
Oct 31, 1996

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Buell S1 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1998011—
1997110—
1996Viewing211—

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.