RoadVitals

2009 Buell XB12X

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 Apr 8, 2021
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.
0
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 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Buell XB12X, most frequently naming the fuel system and electrical categories.

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

  • Fuel system266.7%
  • Electrical133.3%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

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

ElectricalFuel system
Filed Apr 8, 2021

I HAVE A 2009 BUELL ULYSSES THAT HAS AN INTERMITTENT CEL THAT OCCURRED WHILE RIDING ~50MPH (STEADY) ON HWY 89 S/B IN PRESCOTT VALLEY. WHEN THIS OCCURED, THE IDLE BECAME ERRATIC & POWER DROPPED NOTICEABLY. THE BIKE NOW SHOWS DTC 'FUEL PUMP SHORT TO GND ' DTC 33-1-3'. JUST A LITTLE BIT OF ON-LINE RESEARCH LEADS ME TO WHAT SEEMS TO BE A WELL-KNOWN & SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM THAT HAS PLAGUED MANY OTHER BUELL OWNERS; HTTP://WWW.BADWEATHERBIKERS.COM/BUELL/MESSAGES/142838/227943.HTML HTTP://BADWEATHERBIKERS.COM/BUELL/MESSAGES/142838/687395.HTML?1342928158 ). THE ROOT CAUSE IS WIRING INSIDE THE FUEL TANK THAT RUBS/CHAFES ON A 90O EDGE OF THE FUEL PUMP HOUSING; HTTPS://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/SEARCH?Q=BUELL+FUEL+PUMP+WIRES+CHAFING&RLZ=1C1SQJL_ENUS888US888&BIW=1422&BIH=678&TBM=ISCH&SOURCE=IU&ICTX=1&FIR=LLRV44I8AFNWWM%252CMYSTFULWUW0ZKM%252C_&VET=1&USG=AI4_-KSZODRS7RCBJJHFHZZY-3QRZB32VA&SA=X&VED=2AHUKEWJO7PKLIDVVAHWKZM0KHSD6A_IQ9QF6BAGPEAE#IMGRC=LLRV44I8AFNWWM HTTPS://WWW.GOOGLE.COM/SEARCH?Q=BUELL+FUEL+PUMP+WIRES+CHAFING&RLZ=1C1SQJL_ENUS888US888&BIW=1422&BIH=678&TBM=ISCH&SOURCE=IU&ICTX=1&FIR=LLRV44I8AFNWWM%252CMYSTFULWUW0ZKM%252C_&VET=1&USG=AI4_-KSZODRS7RCBJJHFHZZY-3QRZB32VA&SA=X&VED=2AHUKEWJO7PKLIDVVAHWKZM0KHSD6A_IQ9QF6BAGPEAE#IMGRC=LLRV44I8AFNWWM&IMGDII=S7PGVQR3CIP4-M ). OBVIOUSLY, I NEED MY MOTORCYCLE TO BE SAFE & WANT IT FIXED PROPERLY. IF NHTSA NEEDS AN EXAMPLE TO PROVE THIS SAFETY ISSUE TO HARLEY DAVIDSON, I'M MORE THAN WILLING TO BRING THE BIKE TO A CENTRAL OR NORTHERN ARIZONA HD DEALER FOR FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENT WITH AN OE COUNTER-MEASURED PART.

NHTSA ID
11407054
Incident
May 1, 2020
Mileage
24,550 mi
Fuel system
Filed Jun 16, 2011

2009 BUELL XB-12X MOTORCYCLE: ENGINE STOPPAGE BROUGHT ON BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE FUEL PUMP SYSTEM. RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE WITH ONLY A PARTIAL TANK OF FUEL SEEMS TO RESULT IN THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP OVERHEATING OR OVERLOADING, RESULTING IN A BLOWN FUSE. THIS CAUSES THE ENGINE TO STOP RUNNING AND COULD RESULT IN A CRASH. MY 2009 BUELL XB-12X HAS HAD THIS HAPPEN THREE TIMES, RESULTING IN MY BEING STRANDED IN TRAFFIC. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AVOIDING A CRASH. REPLACING THE FUSE IS A TEMPORARY FIX. ACCORDING THE BUELL WEB SITE (BADWEATHERBIKERS.COM) IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL MOTORCYCLE THAT CAN RESULT IN A CRASH OR INJURY. HARLEY DAVIDSON (THE PARENT COMPANY) SHOULD RECALL THE AFFECTED MOTORCYCLES AND INSTALL NEW FUEL PUMPS THAT DO NOT OVERHEAT OR OVERLOAD THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10407192
Incident
May 6, 2011
Mileage
3,800 mi

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Buell XB12X by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2010010—
2009Viewing200—
2008200—
2007410—
2006530—

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.