RoadVitals

1998 Buell S3T Thunderbolt Recalls

Safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA that 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
Recall campaignsA 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.
7
Newest May 6, 1999
Carrying an NHTSA advisoryCampaigns where NHTSA told owners not to drive the vehicle, or to park it outside, until the repair is done.
0
Open 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
1 investigation on file

Recall campaigns

7 campaigns cover this model year — what the defect is, what it could cause, and what the remedy is

99V107000

SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER

May 6, 1999
8,950 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A REAR SHOCK ABSORBER FRONT EYE THAT COULD BREAK.
The risk: IF THE SHOCK EYE SHOULD BREAK, THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WILL DRAG ON THE GROUND POSSIBLY CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER.
BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.View on NHTSA.gov
99V106000

SUSPENSION:REAR

May 6, 1999
8,950 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A SWINGARM THAT COULD BREAK.
The risk: IF THE SWINGARM SHOULD BREAK, LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL COULD OCCUR.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWINGARM.
BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.View on NHTSA.gov
99V105000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

May 6, 1999
12,321 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A FUEL TANK VENT VALVE ASSEMBLY THAT COULD BECOME PLUGGED.
The risk: UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE THE CARBURETOR TO OVERFLOW FUEL WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. THIS CONDITION COULD ALSO PREVENT SUFFICIENT FUEL FLOW, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO MISFIRE OR STALL.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK VENT VALVE ASSEMBLY.
BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.View on NHTSA.gov
99V104000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING

May 6, 1999
10,556 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A FUEL TANK MOUNT SYSTEM THAT COULD, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, ALLOW THE FUEL TANK TO SEPARATE FROM THE MOTORCYCLE.
The risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN EXPLOSION OR FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK MOUNT SYSTEM.
BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.View on NHTSA.gov
99V097000

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Apr 29, 1999
10,255 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A SIDESTAND SWITCH THAT COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE
The risk: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL/QUIT WHEN RIDING.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDESTAND SWITCH.
BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.View on NHTSA.gov
99V086000

SUSPENSION:FRONT

Apr 26, 1999
5,208 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE FRONT ISOLATOR MOUNT SYSTEM CAN LOSE CLAMP LOAD AND POSSIBLY BREAK.
The risk: THIS COULD LEAD TO AN UNINTENDED DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT ISOLATOR MOUNT SYSTEM.
BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.Manufacturer number 0810View on NHTSA.gov
97V153000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Sep 12, 1997
2,820 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE E-CLIP WHICH RETAINS THE DRIVE PIN ON THE FRONT BRAKE ROTOR AND CARRIER CAN SEPARATE FROM THE DRIVE PIN ALLOWING THE PIN TO MOVE OUT OF POSITION AND COME IN CONTACT WITH THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER.
The risk: THIS CONDITION CAN PREVENT THE FRONT WHEEL FROM ROTATING INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THESE MOTORCYCLES.
BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.View on NHTSA.gov

What a recall is

Safety recall
A 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.
Safety investigation
NHTSA 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.
Manufacturer communication
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.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and it is not a recall.

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

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources