RoadVitals

1998 Buell S3T

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 12, 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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Buell S3T, most frequently naming the body & structure 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

  • Body & structure150.0%
  • 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

Body & structure
Filed May 12, 2004

MOTORCYCLE HANDLING SUDDENLY DETERIORATED, BECAME UNSTABLE. UPON STOPPING TO INVESTIGATE COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE. WENT IMMEDIATELY TO BUELL DEALERSHIP WHERE CERTIFIED BUELL TECHNICIAN ADJUSTED REAR SHOCK PRELOAD. THIS IMPROVED THE HANDLING SOMEWHAT BUT DID NOT CORRECT IT. ANOTHER BUELL TECHNICIAN AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP SUSPECTED FRAME DEFECT AND UPON DISASSEMBLY DETERMINED FRAME TO BE AT FAULT. TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO RE-ASSEMBLE MOTORCYCLE DUE TO DEFECTIVE FRAME. BUELL CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSES TO FIX MOTORCYCLE OR GIVE ANY COMPENSATION. BUELL DEALERSHIP UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO HELP REMEDY THE SITUATION. I NOW HAVE A $13,000 PILE OF BUELL PARTS ON MY GARAGE FLOOR.

NHTSA ID
10072457
Incident
Sep 1, 2002
Mileage
19,091 mi
Suspension
Filed Sep 11, 2000

THE CONSUMER DID NOT RECEIVE RECALL REPAIR (99V-086) WHEN BEING SERVICED, THE COMPONENT FAILED WHILE DRIVING DUE TO IMPROPER RECALL SERVICE. *MJS

NHTSA ID
554489
Incident
Aug 28, 2000

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Buell S3T by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002010—
1998Viewing211—
1997111—

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.