RoadVitals

2005 Buell XB12R

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.
7
Latest Apr 4, 2011
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 Apr 14, 2005
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 7 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2005 Buell XB12R, most frequently naming the exterior lighting and fuel system categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 3 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 lighting685.7%
  • Fuel system114.3%

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
05V148000

STRUCTURE:MOTORCYCLE:KICKSTAND/CENTER STAND

Apr 14, 2005
149 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE SIDESTAND MAY NOT RETRACT AS DESIGNED IF CONTACT IS MADE WITH THE GROUND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.
The risk: THIS COULD, IN TURN, DISRUPT THE STABILITY OF THE MOTORCYCLE LEADING TO A CRASH, CAUSING DEATH OR INJURY TO THE RIDER.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDESTAND PIVOT BOLT WITH A SIMILAR BOLT THAT IS .100 INCH LONGER FREE OF CHARGE. THIS CHANGE WILL ALLOW THE SIDESTAND TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUELL AT 1-414-343-8400.
BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Fuel system
Filed Apr 4, 2011

IGNITION FUSE BLEW ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS IN PAST 2 YEARS CAUSING MOTORCYCLE TO QUIT IN TRAFFIC, INSPECTED WIRING HARNESS REPLACED FUSE, NO DEFECTS NOTED. WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE MOTORCYCLE DIED, I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY BUT REPLACING THE FUSE DIDN'T HELP, IT BLEW AGAIN UPON TURNING THE IGNITION KEY. HAD IT TOWED HOME AND AFTER TROUBLESHOOTING THE FAILURE, I TRACED IT TO A CHAFED WIRE ON THE IN-TANK FUEL PUMP. AFTER RESEARCHING, I FOUND IT TO BE A FAIRLY COMMON FAILURE. LUCKILY THE TANK WAS FULL OF FUEL OR A POSSIBLE EXPLOSION COULD HAVE OCCURRED (THINK TWA FLIGHT 800) MOST FAILURES OCCUR OUTSIDE WARRANTY ALTHOUGH HARLEY DAVIDSON/BUELL HAS BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE SITUATION, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10394197
Incident
Mar 30, 2011
Mileage
29,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 16, 2007

REFLECTIVE COATING IN HEADLIGHT HOUSING GETS HOT AND CHANGES COLOR. HEADLIGHT OUTPUT IS DIMINISHED AND NIGHT TIME VISIBLITY DETERIORATES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10205871
Incident
Sep 20, 2007
Mileage
5,100 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed May 29, 2007

FAILURE OF REFLECTIVE COATING INSIDE OF HEADLIGHT PROJECTOR, DIMMING OF HEADLIGHT NOTICEABLE AT 5,000 MILES, TOOK APART THE PROJECTOR AND NOTICED DEGRADATION (CHARRING) OF REFLECTIVE MATERIAL, NOW AT 17,000 MILES (8 MONTHS) THE LOW BEAM HOUSING DOES NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD ENOUGH FOR SAFE TRAVEL AT NIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10191971
Incident
May 29, 2007
Exterior lighting
Filed May 29, 2007

ON MY MODEL YEAR 2005 BUELL MODEL XB12R THE REFLECTORS ON MY HEADLIGHTS ARE MELTING.THIS IS MOST NOTICEABLE ON THE LOW BEAM ASSEMBLY. AS A RESULT OF THIS MELTING AND DEGRADATION THE PROJECTED BEAM IS DANGEROUSLY LOW. IT IS NOW DIFFICULT TO USE AFTER DARK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10191940
Incident
May 29, 2007
Mileage
7,719 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 17, 2007

HEADLAMPS HAD BECOME EXTREMELY DIM OVER TIME. RE-AIMING WAS ATTEMPTED AS WAS NEW BULBS, BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINED. FINALLY I DISSASEMBLED THE LAMP HOUSING AND FOUND THAT THE REFLECTIVE COATING WAS GONE AND THAT THERE WAS MELTING OCCURING ON THE INSIDE OF THE PLASTIC HOUSING! SEEMS LIKE A POSSIBLE FIRE CONCERN.

NHTSA ID
10185379
Incident
Mar 10, 2007
Mileage
8,600 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 22, 2007

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2005 BUELL XB12R MOTORCYCLE HEADLIGHT COATING AND LIGHT LENSES DEGRADING DUE TO HEAT AND POOR MATERIALS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE DEGRADATION BEGAN THE LIGHT OUTPUT WAS SERIOUSLY DIMINISHED. THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REPLACE DONCE UNDER WARRANTY ON 06/2006. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT, BUT CONTINUED TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS WITH THE SME UNITS THAT HAVE BEEN FAILING. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HE HAD DIFFICULTY SEEING THE ROAD IN FRONT OF HIM DUE TO THESE HEADLIGHTS ON THE MOTORCYCLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4800, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5600.*AK UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB

NHTSA ID
10183256
Incident
Jul 1, 2006
Mileage
4,800 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 22, 2007

HEADLIGHT ISSUES ON 2005 BUELL XB12R MOTORCYCLE. REFLECTIVE COATING AND LIGHT LENSES DEGRADING DUE TO HEAT AND POOR MATERIALS. ONCE DEGRADATION BEGINS, HEADLAMP LIGHT OUTPUT IS SERIOUSLY DIMINISHED. MY LIGHT ASSEMBLIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY. IT APPEARS THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS OF THIS DEFECT, BUT CONTINUES TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS WITH THE SAME UNITS THAT HAVE BEEN FAILING. *NM

NHTSA ID
10183250
Incident
Jun 1, 2006
Mileage
4,800 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

B-087

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

BUELL MOTORCYCLE: THE ENGINE OIL DRAIN PLUG TORQUE HAS CHANGED TO 26-29 FT LBS (35.3-39.3NM) FOR ALL MODELS LISTED. *PE

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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Buell XB12R by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2010000—
2009010—
2006400—
2005Viewing710—
2004700—

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.