RoadVitals

2008 Buell XB12XT

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.
4
Latest Aug 8, 2014
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 Oct 14, 2008
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.
1
1 injuries, 1 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2008 Buell XB12XT, most frequently naming the visibility, brakes and fuel system categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 2 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

  • Visibility240.0%
  • Brakes120.0%
  • Fuel system120.0%
  • Other / unspecified120.0%

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
08V538000

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

Oct 14, 2008
624 units potentially affected
The defect: BUELL IS RECALLING 624 MY 2008-2009 XB12XT AND MY 2009 XB12XP MOTORCYCLES. THE WINDSHIELDS MAY BECOME DISLODGED AND ALLOW THE WINDSHIELD TO EITHER STRIKE OR DISTRACT THE RIDER WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING RIDDEN AT A HIGH SPEED.
The risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH, WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO THE RIDER.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE WINDSHIELD'S TWO RUBBER MOUNTED NUTS AND INSTALL TWO NEW FASTENER ASSEMBLIES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUELL AT 1-414-342-4080.
BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.Manufacturer number 0837View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

BrakesVisibility
Filed Aug 8, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported1 death reported

36 Y/O MAN RIDING THIS MOTORCYCLE MAY HAVE HAD THE WINDSHIELD START TO COME OFF AND PREVENTED HIM FROM BEING ABLE TO STOP. FAQUIER CO SHERIFF RESPONDED TO TRUCK HITTING MOTORCYCLE WHO COULDN'T STOP. MAN PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE ON ADEN RD IN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA ON AUG 5, 2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:30AM. POLICE AND WITNESS REPORT SAID MAN TRIED TO STOP HIS MOTORCYCLE BUT COULDN'T. *TR

NHTSA ID
10620853
Incident
Aug 5, 2014
Other / unspecified
Filed May 21, 2010

I AM HEREBY FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE NHTSA CONCERNING A SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE 2006 - 2009 BUELL ULYSSES XB12X AND XB12XT MOTORCYCLES. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS OF PREMATURE REAR WHEEL BEARING FAILURE ON THE AFOREMENTIONED MOTORCYCLES. SUDDEN AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OF THESE WHEEL BEARINGS CAN LEAD TO SEVERE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE AND MAY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH TO RIDERS AND/OR PASSENGERS. MANY CASES OF THIS TYPE OF FAILURE HAVE BEEN DOCUMENTED ON WEBSITES THAT SPECIALIZE IN BUELL MOTORCYCLES. LISTED BELOW ARE A COUPLE OF LINKS TO WEBSITES THAT HAVE HAD NUMEROUS THREADS POSTED CONCERNING COMPLETE FAILURE OF THESE BEARINGS: HTTP://WWW.BADWEATHERBIKERS.COM/CGIBIN/DISCUS/SEARCH.CGI OR HTTP://WWW.BUELLXB.COM/BUELL-XB-FORUM/BUELL-ULYSSES-XB12X/ULYSSES-DANGEROUS-REAR-WHEEL-BEARING-FAILURE. THE BUELL MOTORCYCLE COMPANY, WHICH WAS CLOSED DOWN OCTOBER 15, 2009 AND WAS OWNED BY HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY, REALIZED THE FLAW IN THE DESIGN OF THE 2006 - 2009 REAR WHEEL / BEARING / AXLE ASSEMBLY. BUELL COMPLETELY REDESIGNED THE ASSEMBLY FOR THE 2010 XB SERIES MOTORCYCLES, OF WHICH ONLY A SMALL NUMBER WERE MANUFACTURED LATE IN 2009. THE NEW DESIGN INCLUDES LARGER, HEAVIER DUTY BEARINGS AND ALSO ADDED A SECOND BEARING TO THE DRIVE SIDE OF THE HUB FOR A TOTAL OF THREE BEARINGS IN THE REAR WHEEL. THE NEW DESIGN ALSO ADDED EXTERNAL SEALS TO PREVENT DIRT OR MOISTURE FROM REACHING THE ACTUAL BEARING GREASE SEAL. THE ORIGINAL DESIGN ONLY USED TWO INADEQUATELY SIZED BEARINGS AND NO EXTERNAL SEALS. I BELIEVE THAT THIS BEARING FAILURE PROBLEM IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE AND ALL 2006 - 2009 BUELL ULYSSES XB12X AND XB12XT SERIES MOTORCYCLES SHOULD BE, IN THE INTEREST OF HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY, RECALLED TO HAVE THE REAR WHEEL / BEARING / AXLE ASSEMBLY REPLACED WITH THE NEW 2010 DESIGN REAR WHEEL AND BEARINGS. THIS RECALL SHOULD, OF COURSE, INCUR NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER. THANK YOU. *TR

NHTSA ID
10331643
Incident
Apr 21, 2010
Mileage
1,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Jul 16, 2009

I WAS RIDING MY 2008 BUELL XB12XT MOTORCYCLE ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT A SPEED OF 70 MPH. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE WITH OTHER VEHICLES IN FRONT, BEHIND AND BESIDE. THE WINDSHIELD SUDDENLY FELL OFF THE MOTORCYCLE. IT FLEW UP AND HIT ME IN THE HEAD WITH SOME FORCE. I LOOKED IN THE REVIEW MIRROR AND SAW IT FLYING THROUGH THE AIR BEHIND ME AT A HEIGHT OF SEVERAL FEET. IT NARROWLY MISSED HITTING THE WINDSHIELD OF A PICKUP DIRECTLY BEHIND ME. THE WINDSHIELD IS MADE OF HARD PLEXIGLASS. IT IS ABOUT 12X18 INCHES IN SIZE. IT HAS A SLIGHT CURVE TO IT. THE WINDSHIELD IS A STOCK ITEM. THE MOTORCYCLE COMES FROM THE FACTORY SO EQUIPPED. I LATER RECOVERED THE WINDSHIELD BUT NOT THE FASTENERS. I HAVE NOT YET REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10276988
Incident
Jul 15, 2009
Mileage
6,500 mi
Fuel system
Filed May 21, 2009

I OWN A 2008 BUELL FIREBOLT MOTORCYCLE. ACCORDING TO DATA PUBLISHED BY BUELL AND HARLEY-DAVIDSON THIS MOTORCYCLE HAS AN ESTIMATED HIGHWAY MILEAGE AROUND 65 MILES PER GALLON, WITH MAYBE TEN LESS MPG AROUND TOWN. THIS IS FALSE ADVERTISING AS I CONSISTENTLY GET POOR GAS MILEAGE OF ABOUT 35 MPG... JUST OVER HALF OF THE PUBLISHED MPG. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP NO FEWER THAN THREE TIMES AND THE FUEL MILEAGE CANNOT BE INCREASED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10269623
Incident
May 21, 2009

Manufacturer communications

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

B-086

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

BUEL MOTORCYCLES: WINDSHIELDS ON THESE MOTORCYCLES MAY BECOME DISLODGED AND ALLOW THE WINDSHIELD TO EITHER STRIKE OR DISTRACT THE RIDER WHILE THE MOTORCYCLE IS BEING RIDDEN AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. *PE

B-083

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

BUELL MOTORCYCLES: HAS IMPLEMENTED IN PRODUCTION AN IMPROVED CLUTCH CABLE RETENTION WIREFORM FOR THE 2008 XB MODELS. HAS ELECTED TO INITIATE A PRODUCT PROGRAM TO UPDATE THE CLUTCH CABLE WIREFORM. *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 XB12XT by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2010010—
2009110—
2008Viewing410—

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.