Electrical System. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

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Exterior Lighting complaints

7 reports

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10,060 miles · Feb 22, 2013

Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

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THE STATOR AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM STARTED GIVING ME ISSUES SINCE I HAVE OWNED THE BIKE. I FIRST HAD MY VOLTAGE REGULATOR GO OUT ON ME. I THEN HAD THE WARRANTY HARNESS UPGRADE WHICH WAS SUPPOSED FIX THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, BUT IT DIDN'T. PRIOR TO MY STATOR FAILING, THE VOLTAGE WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 11.9 WHICH IS TOO LOW. THE STATOR EVENTUALLY OVER WORKED ITSELF AND MELTED INTERNALLY. THE BIKE STARTED BACKFIRING LOUDLY, LIGHTS AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS GOT VERY DIM AND THE BIKE WAS EXTREMELY HOT AS IT WAS NOT RUNNING PROPERLY. I STOPPED THE BIKE FOR A MINUTE FOR IT TO COOL DOWN. AFTER I DID THAT THE BIKE WOULD NOT START AND STRANDED ME ON THE ROAD 20 MILES FROM HOME. THIS IS A KNOWN ELECTRICAL ISSUE FOR 2009 1125CR MOTORCYCLES. THE FIX AND LABOR COST FOR THIS WAS WELL OVER $1500 AND QUITE THE PAIN AND HASSLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10499715

4,551 miles · Feb 22, 2013

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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ON FEBRUARY 21, 2013 AT 10:40PM, I WAS TRAVELLING NORTH ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY TO WORK WHEN MY INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WHICH READS MY SPEED AND VEHICLE GAUGES TURNED OFF AND MY LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHT BULB FLASHED AND BURNED OUT, CAUSING ME TO LOSE SIGHT OF THE ROADWAY TEMPORARILY. I SWITCHED MY HIGH-BEAM HEADLIGHT SWITCH TO HAVE LIGHT TO SEE THE ROADWAY AND A SECOND LATER, IT ALSO FLASHED AND BURNED OUT, AS IF MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS FAULTY, AGAIN. THIS HAPPENED AT MILEAGE 4551. I JUST RECENTLY HAD THIS SYSTEM SERVICED WITH ANOTHER VOLTAGE REGULATOR AT MILEAGE 4488, WHICH MEANS I ONLY TRAVELLED 63 MILES ON THE NEW VOLTAGE REGULATOR. I WAS ALMOST INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT MILEAGE 4480 WHEN MY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TURNED OFF DURING OPERATION AND NEARLY HAD ANOTHER VEHICLE STRIKE ME FROM BEHIND WHEN VEHICLE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TURNED OFF AND STALLED VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED BY MANUFACTURER. THIS IS THE 2ND SAFETY ISSUE I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AND LUCKILY NO ACCIDENT HAD OCCURRED. I WILL BE SENDING VEHICLE TO MAINTENANCE SHOP FOR A 2ND TIME TO TRY AND HAVE THIS SAFETY ISSUE REPAIRED, AGAIN. ANY HELP THAT NHTSA CAN DO TO HELP SOLVE THIS SAFETY ISSUE IS GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10499639

4,480 miles · Feb 5, 2013

Electrical SystemEngineExterior Lighting

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I WAS EXITING INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN MY 2009 BUELL 1125CR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUTDOWN, CAUSING MOTORCYCLE TO TURN OFF, ALL ELECTRICAL LIGHTS TURNED OFF, AND WAS UNABLE TO WARN A VEHICLE BEHIND ME THAT WAS ALSO EXITING. DRIVER IN VEHICLE BEHIND ME ALMOST STRUCK ME AND SHORTLY STOPPED AND WARNED ME THAT MY TAIL-LIGHT AND BRAKE LIGHT WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. MOTORCYCLE SKIDDED TO A STOP AT END OF EXIT RAMP AND I HAD TO TURN IGNITION KEY TO OFF POSITION AND TRY TO RE-START MOTORCYCLE. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DISPLAYED 'SYSTEM VOLTAGE' AND BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. I TRIED TO RE-START ENGINE AND THE LCD SCREEN WOULD TURN OFF AND THEN READ 'COMM ERROR', THEN IT WOULD START AND THE ENGINE WOULD RUN OK, BUT LCD SCREEN WOULD TURN ON AND OFF. DURING DRIVE HOME, MY LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHT WOULD TURN OFF AND ON REPEATEDLY UNTIL IT FLASHED ITSELF OFF COMPLETELY. NOW WHILE DRIVING MOTORCYCLE, IT HAS NO TAIL-LIGHT, BRAKE LIGHT, OR LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHT AND ONLY ABLE TO OPERATE WITH HIGH-BEAM HEADLIGHT. I HAVE MOTORCYCLE PARKED AT MY RESIDENCE AT THIS TIME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10496446

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

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

4,705 miles · Oct 12, 2011

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

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MOTORCYCLE LOST VOLTAGE AS INDICATED ON INSTRUMENT DISPLAY WHILE RIDING IN MODERATE TRAFFIC. PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY IN A SAFE MANNER TO EASE POSSIBLE CONGESTION AND NOT INCUR AN ACCIDENT. LOCAL HARLEY DEALER PICKED UP BIKE AT SIDE OF THE ROAD ON A MODERATE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC STATE ROUTE. DIAGNOSIS FROM DEALER WAS COMPLETE STATOR FAILURE IMPACTING THE CHARGING ABILITY OF THE MOTORCYCLE. HARLEY IS COVERING WITH WARRANTY WORK ON STATOR WITH SAME YEAR MODEL EQUIPMENT, 2009. SEVERAL REPORTED WEBSITES INDICATE STATOR WILL LIKELY FAIL AGAIN AT SOME POINT IN A FEW THOUSAND MILES. IT CANNOT BE EXPRESSED THE CONCERN THIS CAN HAVE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON MAJOR INTERSTATES AND THOROUGHFARES. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10429970

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.