Electrical System. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
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NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

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Electrical System complaints

41 reports

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4,007 miles · Sep 6, 2012

Electrical System

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THE STATOR IN MY 2009 BUELL 1125CR FAILED WITH ONLY JUST OVER 4,000 MILES. I NOTICED THE BATTERY SLOWLY DRAINING AS I WAS HEADED HOME. LUCKILY I WASNT VERY FAR FROM MY HOUSE WHEN IT HAPPENED. THE BIKE WILL NO LONGER HOLD CHARGE AND THE BATTERY HAS BEEN TESTED AND IS GOOD AS WELL AS ALL FUSES AND RELAYS CHECKED, THEY ARE ALSO ALL GOOD. I KNOW THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS BIKE AND THE PART SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED BECAUSE I HAVENT HEARD OF A STOCK 09 1125CR NOT HAVING TO HAVE THE STATOR REPLACED AT SOME POINT. A MAJOR PART LIKE THIS SHOULD NOT BE FAILING ESPECIALLY WHEN MY BIKE HAS ONLY 4K MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10474136

4,200 miles · Sep 3, 2012

Electrical System

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WHILE RIDING AROUND THE TOWN GOT A WARNING LIGHT FOR BATTERY (LOW VOLTAGE) AND ENGINE HAD SHUT DOWN SOON AFTER. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY COME TO THE STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND TOW THE MOTORCYCLE HOME, HOWEVER HAVING BIKE DIE ON YOU OUT OF THE BLUE IN THE TRAFFIC IS NOT A PLEASANT OR SAFE EXPERIENCE AND END RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE THAT BURNED UP CHARGING SYSTEM IT COULD HAVE BEEN SOMEONES LIFE. BIKE WILL OPERATE FOR 30MIN OR SO ONCE THE BATTERY HAS BE CHARGED THROUGH THE EXTERNAL BATTERY CHARGER (TRICKLE CHARGER) AND AFTER THE ENERGY IS DEPLETED FROM THE BATTERY MOTORCYCLE WILL SHUT DOWN SINCE THE MOTORCYCLE'S CHARGING SYSTEM IS ROASTED AND NON FUNCTIONAL. MOTORCYCLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN SERVICED UNDER A RECALL BY HARLEY DAVIDSON AND CHARGING HARNESS AND NEW FUEL MAPPING WERE INSTALLED, HOWEVER THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10473664

15,010 miles · Aug 13, 2012

Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

STATOR BURNED UP AND FORCED COMPLETE SHUT DOWN OF BIKE, INCLUDING LIGHTS AND ENGINE. LEFT ME STRANDED ON A LONG STRETCH OF KAMEHAMEHA HIGHWAY WITH NO SAFE SHOULDER TO PARK THE BIKE ON-JUST TOO MUCH JUNGLE ON ONE SIDE AND THE OCEAN ON THE OTHER. HAD TO PUSH THE BIKE A LONG, LONG, WAY. THIS IS THE SECOND STATOR FAILURE ON THIS BI…

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NHTSA ODI #10470415

14,650 miles · Jul 11, 2012

Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

VOLTAGE STARTED JUMPING AROUND ON MY WAY TO WORK ONE MORNING. MY VOLTAGE DROPPED TO 10.9, THEN MY LIGHTS DIED. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE AS THE BIKE WAS BUCKING AND SPUTTERING TO A STOP. IT WAS NOT A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10465165

7,800 miles · Jun 28, 2012

Electrical System

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THE STATOR (CHARGING SYSTEM) FAILED. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS FAILED. THE FIRST TIME IT FAILED WAS ABOUT 1.5 YEARS AGO. AT THAT TIME, THE MOTORCYCLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. NOW, THE BIKE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE CHARGING SYSTEM WHEREAS THE STATOR OVER HEATS AND FAILS TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. IT'S HAPPENED 2 TIMES ON MY BIKE. PARTS ARE HARD TO COME BY BECAUSE HARLEY DAVIDSON DOESN'T MAKE THE BIKE ANYMORE. THERE ARE 1000'S OF CASES OF 2009 AND 2010 BUELL 1125 STATORS BURNING UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10463483

4,650 miles · Jun 25, 2012

Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

THE STATOR OR ALTERNATOR FAILED WHILE RIDING MY MOTORCYCLE ON A CURVY ROAD. THE ENGINE STOPPED ABRUPTLY DUE TO THE INABILITY OF THE CHARGING SYSTEM TO MAINTAIN THE BATTERY VOLTAGE HIGH ENOUGH TO RUN ESSENTIAL ENGINE COMPONENTS SUCH AS IGNITION COILS AND FUEL INJECTORS. THE STALLING RESULTED IN THE VEHICLE EXITING THE TURN VERY…

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NHTSA ODI #10463008

6,281 miles · May 8, 2012

Electrical System

BIKE SHUTS OFF AT RANDOM TIMES AT RANDOM SPEEDS. BIKE WILL RESTART WITH SWITCH. BATTERY LEVEL ON SPEEDO INDICATES STEADY DRAIN AT STOP. I'M RECENTLY BOUGHT USED TO FIND OUT THIS MODEL HAS ELECTRICAL ISSUES THAT WILL NOT BE ADDRESSED BY DEALER AT THEIR COST. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10457829

7,300 miles · May 1, 2012

Electrical System

WHILE ON THE BRIDGE FROM TAMPA TO ST PETERSBURG FLORIDA, I275, MY MOTORCYCLE HESITATED AND STALLED WHILE STILL ON THE LONG BRIDGE, LEAVING ME VULNERABLE TO TRAFFIC TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I HAVE OWNED THE MOTORCYCLE SINCE NEW, FROM TAMPA HARLEY DAVIDSON. THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT WAS A FAILED CHARGING STATOR, WHICH RES…

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NHTSA ODI #10457062

8,200 miles · Feb 28, 2012

Electrical System

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AT 50 MPH THE BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. THEN THE ALTERNATOR LIGHT CAME ON AND BIKE WAS RUNNING JUST ON THE BATTERY. WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO HOME TO MAKE IT BACK. TOOK THE BIKE IN FOR REPAIR AFTER A COMPLETE BATTERY CHARGE. DIAGNOSTICS WAS COMPLETE STATOR FAILURE. HARLEY DAVIDSON WON'T REPAIR THE DEFECT. THE DEALER KEPT TELLING ME ABOUT AN UPGRADE BUT WOULD NEVER SAY WHAT IT WAS. NOW I FIND OUT MANY OF THESE 1125CR MODEL BIKES, IN THE 2009 YEAR, HAVE THIS PROBLEM. BUELL IS OUT OF BUSINESS SO I GET STUCK WITH A $1500 REPAIR BILL! SHOULD SUE HARLEY DAVIDSON FOR KNOWN ISSUES WITH THE STATOR. CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10449588

3,900 miles · Oct 18, 2011

Electrical System

I WAS CRUISING DOWN ROAD AND HEADLIGHT STARTED TO FLICKER AND GET DIMMER AND DIMMER. NOT WANTING TO GET HIT BY SOMEONE I PULLED OFF ROAD AND CHECKED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND SAID CHARGING SYSTEM FAILURE. NOT EVEN 4,000 MILES ON BRAND NEW BOUGHT BIKE AND JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY…

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NHTSA ODI #10430736

Official recalls

08V554000 · Engine And Engine Cooling

Oct 20, 2008

BUELL IS RECALLING 140 MY 2009 1125CR MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES CAN EXPERIENCE A PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE REAR CYLINDER CAM CHAIN TENSION GUIDE (PART NUMBER F0020.1AM). THIS CAN CAUSE PLASTIC DEBRIS TO BLOCK THE OIL PUMP SCREEN, POSSIBLY LEADING TO OIL STARVATION AND ENGINE SEIZURE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY ALLOW THE ENGINE TO SEIZE, RESULTING IN REAR WHEEL LOCK-UP. THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH, WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO THE RIDER.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR CAM CHAIN TENSIONER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 20, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUELL AT 1-414-342-4680.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE12035 · Motorcycle Stalling

Opened Nov 16, 2012 · Closed Apr 16, 2013

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:alternator/generator/regulator

ODI opened this investigation based on 25 allegations of subject motorcycle stalling, without warning, due to charging system failure (typically involving the stator).As part of this investigation, testing was conducted to assess whether there would be areasonable warning prior to stator-related engine shut-down while underway.A memo describing this testing may be found in the public file for this investigation.Given the relative frequency of alleged stator failures involving Buell 1125's, it is apparent that customers may not be satisfied with their motorcycle.An example of a manufacturer responding to this type of dissatisfaction is found in the Harley Davidson December 7, 2009product improvement campaign to address the stalling issue.However, current test data does not establish that this customer satisfaction issue is also a safety defect that results in an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety.In the absence of a safety defect trend related to Buell 1125 charging system failures, this investigation is closed. The 62 ODI complaints we cite may be found by entering the following ODI investigation numbersat www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID:10373814,10386008,10397985,10406939,10406967,10406969,10407046, 10407318,10407511,10407672,10410524,10411954,10429450,10429467, 10429481,10429488,10429530,10429531,10429964,10429970,10429985, 10429987,10430176,10430736,10432169,10432891,10445118,10452480, 10457062,10457815,10457829,10462420,10462439,10462834,10463008, 10463483,10463664,10465165,10465225,10465226,10466505,10470386, 10470415,10470428,10473664,10474136,10474363,10479428,10484793, 10494949,10495197,10496446,10496804,10497643,10496127,10496088, 10496048,10496022,10496018,10495355,10495331,10495307

PE10004 · Sudden Fuel Expulsion

Opened Jan 25, 2010 · Closed May 10, 2010

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly

We opened this PE based on a single complaint of rapid fuel expulsion while re-fueling from the owner of a Buell 1125CR.After opening this PE, we contacted other owners, Buell dealer service departments and monitored activity of various Buell-related web forums.While Harley Davidson (Buell was a subsidiary) has no owner complaints, it did receive four warranty claims related to this issue.Two involve the fuel line check valve, one a pinched fuel vent hose, and one saturated charcoal cannister due to over-fill.Currently, the data does not indicate a trending safety defect exists.We will continue to monitor this issue and take action as appropriate.