RoadVitals

2004 Buell XB12S

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 May 29, 2007
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 Dec 2, 2003
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 2004 Buell XB12S, most frequently naming the exterior lighting and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is 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 lighting571.4%
  • Electrical228.6%

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
03V494000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

Dec 2, 2003
581 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE WIRE THAT PROVIDES POWER TO THE HORN, DUE TO MISROUTING, CAN BECOME FRAYED FROM CONTACT WITH THE HORN BRACKET MOUNTING BOLT. AS A RESULT, THE HORN WIRE MAY BECOME EXPOSED, AND WHEN THE HORN BUTTON IS PUSHED, EITHER THE HORN CIRCUIT FUSE OR THE KEY SWITCH FUSE CAN BLOW.
The risk: IF THE KEY SWITCH FUSE BLOWS, THE VEHICLE CAN STALL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. IF THE HORN FUSE BLOWS, THERE WILL BE A LOSS OF POWER TO THE HORN AND REAR BRAKE LIGHT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND CORRECT THE WIRE ROUTING, IF NECESSARY. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON DECEMBER 23, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUELL AT 1-414-342-4680.
BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.Manufacturer number 0828View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Exterior lighting
Filed May 29, 2007

2004 BUELL XB12R. POOR LIGHTING DUE TO DETERIORATION OF INSIDE REFLECTOR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10191922
Incident
May 26, 2007
Mileage
4,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 22, 2007

HEADLIGHTS BECOME DIMMER AND DIMMER, BULBS OK, CHROME FINISH ON INSIDE OF HEADLIGHT HOUSINGS COMES OFF SO BULBS DO NOT REFLECT MAKING NIGHT DRIVING DANGEROUS. BUELL CHAT SITES CONFIRM OTHERS WITH XBR MODELS HAVING SAME FAILURES. *JB

NHTSA ID
10183299
Incident
Nov 23, 2006
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 21, 2007

HEADLIGHT ON BUELL MOTORCYCLES "R" MODELS (2004 TO CURRENT YEAR) DEGRADES OVER TIME. THE REFLECTIVE COATING MATERIAL IN THE HEADLIGHT HOUSING DEGRADES AND TURNS TO POWDER AND CAUSES THE HEADLIGHT TO BE UN-USEFUL. THE DEGRADE IS CAUSE BY HEAT FROM THE HEADLIGHT. FAILURE ISN'T CORRECTED AS OF TODAY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10183164
Incident
Apr 10, 2005
Mileage
4,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 17, 2007

THE COATING ON THE INSIDE OF MY HEADLIGHT HOUSING IS FALLING OFF, DRASTICALLY DECREASING LIGHT OUTPUT. I HAD THEM REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ONCE FOR THIS ON 11/18/05, WITH 23870 MILES ON THE BIKE. I AM NOW HARDLY ABLE TO SEE AT NIGHT AGAIN AND I AM SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN'T SEE ME AS WELL EITHER. *JB

NHTSA ID
10182845
Incident
Nov 18, 2005
Mileage
23,870 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 6, 2007

SILVER COATING ON HEADLIGHTS DETERIORATES RAPIDLY CAUSING POOR ILLUMINATION AND UNSAFE NIGHT TIME DRIVING AND REDUCING THE MOTORCYCLES VISIBILITY DURING THE DAY. I AM SURE THE LIGHT OUTPUT IS FAR BELOW DOT STANDARDS VEHICLE IS AN XB12R FIREBOLT, NOT AN XB12S. THE XB12R WAS NOT LISTED AS AN OPTION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10177963
Incident
Jan 5, 2007
Mileage
5,300 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 21, 2006

WHILE RIDING MY 2004 BUELL XB12S MOTORCYCLE THOUGH THE ASM AMERICA, INC. PARKING LOT (3440 EAST UNIVERSITY DRIVE PHOENIX AZ 85034) AT APPROXIMATELY 11:00 AM THE ON 07-19-06 THE FOLLOWING OCCURRED. THE MOTORCYCLE LOST ALL POWER AND I COASTED TO A STOP INTO A PARKING SPOT: 1.RIDING THROUGH THE PARKING LOT AT ABOUT 5-10 MPH. 2.THE MOTORCYCLE ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. 3.THE MOTORCYCLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM COMPLETELY FAILED AS IF THE MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN TURNED OFF INCLUDING LOSS OF HORN, TURN SIGNALS, BRAKE LIGHTS, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT, REAR TAIL LIGHT, HEAD LIGHT, INSTRUMENT LIGHTS, WARNING LIGHTS, SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER. 4.IF I HAD BEEN MERGING ONTO THE FREEWAY AT NIGHT I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AS I WOULD HAVE HAD NO WAY TO SIGNAL I WAS LEAVING THE HIGHWAY! THE DEALER IS STILL INVESTIGATING WHY THE VEHICLE STOPPED RUNNING.

NHTSA ID
10163064
Incident
Jul 19, 2006
Mileage
22,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 5, 2004

I AM REPORTING A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS PROBLEM WITH MY 2004 BUELL XB12S MOTORCYCLE. I HAVE OBSERVED THIS SAME SITUATION ON ALL SIMILAR BIKES THAT I HAVE LOOKED AT. UNDER THE SEAT, THE ECM CABLE HARNESS RESTS AGAINST THE NEGATIVE BATTERY TERMINAL AND THERE ARE SIGNS OF ABRASION FROM VIBRATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
10060544
Incident
Mar 1, 2004

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

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 XB12S by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2006300—
2005010—
2004Viewing710—

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.