IllustrationSDGSDGSDGDSFGDFSGD (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2011, MAKE=JLKJLKJ, MODEL=JLKJLJ)
2003 Buell Firebolt XB9R
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Other model years Selected year
Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 12 of 18 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Equipment. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Forward Collision Avoidance. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
18 reportsSDGSDGSDGDSFGDFSGD (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2011, MAKE=JLKJLKJ, MODEL=JLKJLJ)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUELL FIREBOLT XB9R MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD BEYOND THREE FEET WHICH OBSTRUCTED THE VISIBILITY. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE HEADLIGHTS WERE IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUELL FIREBOLT XB9R MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD BEYOND THREE FEET WHICH OBSTRUCTED THE VISIBILITY. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE HEADLIGHTS WERE IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000.
DEGRADED COATING ON HEADLIGHT REFLECTORS STARTING AS BLACK SPOTS WHICH SPREAD. AFTER REFLECTIVE COATING IS GONE THE BLACK PLASTIC REFLECTORS MELT. I USE OEM BULBS. *TR
THE CHROME/PLASTIC REFLECTOR MATERIAL ON THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT STARTED TO DEGRADE. THE LIGHT REFLECTED AT NIGHT WAS DIM. THE HOUSING ABSORBED THE HEAT FROM THE LIGHT INSTEAD OF REFLECTING THE LIGHT. THE HEADLIGHT WAS REPLACED BY BUELL MOTORCYCLE COMPANY.*AK
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUELL FIREBOLT XB9R. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S HEADLIGHTS ARE DIMMING. HE REPLACED THE BULBS, BUT THE HEAT OF THE HEADLIGHTS CAUSE THE BULBS TO DIM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 25,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WAS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY DIMMER OVER TIME. UPON DISASSEMBLY I FOUND THE REFLECTOR AREA TO BE DULL AND PARTIALLY BLACKENED. ANY ATTEMPT TO CLEAN AWAY THE BLACK AREA ONLY ENLARGED IT AS THE REFLECTOR AREA HAD TURNED TO POWDER. I SWAPPED OUT PARTS FROM THE HIGH BEAM TO RESTORE THE LOW BEAM OPERATION. I HA…
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THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHT WAS GETTING PROGRESSIVELY DIMMER OVER TIME. UPON DISASSEMBLY I FOUND THE REFLECTOR AREA TO BE DULL AND PARTIALLY BLACKENED. ANY ATTEMPT TO CLEAN AWAY THE BLACK AREA ONLY ENLARGED IT AS THE REFLECTOR AREA HAD TURNED TO POWDER. I SWAPPED OUT PARTS FROM THE HIGH BEAM TO RESTORE THE LOW BEAM OPERATION. I HAVE NOT YET DETERMINED A COURSE OF ACTION TO PERMANENTLY REMEDY THE SITUATION. *AK
MOTORCYCLE HEADLAMP LOSS OF REFLECTIVE MATERIAL RESULTING IN POOR LIGHTING. MAKE: BUELL MODEL: XB9R YEAR: 2003. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 BUELL MOTORCYCLE CORPORATION MOTORCYCLE. AFTER SUFFERING A PROBLEM WHERE MY HEADLIGHT DIMMED CONSIDERABLY AND IS BASICALLY USELESS AT NIGHT. AFTER CONSULTING AN INTERNET FORUM I BELONG TO, IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM AND THE INTERIOR LINING OF THE LIGHT DISINTEGRATING AS PART OF A …
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I HAVE A 2003 BUELL MOTORCYCLE CORPORATION MOTORCYCLE. AFTER SUFFERING A PROBLEM WHERE MY HEADLIGHT DIMMED CONSIDERABLY AND IS BASICALLY USELESS AT NIGHT. AFTER CONSULTING AN INTERNET FORUM I BELONG TO, IT APPEARS THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM AND THE INTERIOR LINING OF THE LIGHT DISINTEGRATING AS PART OF A MANUFACTURING FLAW. APPARENTLY THIS HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE MANUFACTURER'S ATTENTION WITH NO INTEREST OR INTENT ON RESOLVING THIS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
HEADLIGHTS GETTING DIMMER AND DIMMER, FOUND HEADLIGHT INNER HOUSING CHROME PLATING PEELING OFF. NO FIX EXCEPT TO BUY NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO THE NEW ASSEMBLIES IN SEVERAL MONTHS. BUELL CHAT SITES CONFIRM THAT ALL/MOST XBR MODELS DEVELOP THIS PROBLEM MAKING TRAVEL AT NIGHT UNSAFE. *JB
Official recalls
102V270000 · Unknown Or Other
Oct 3, 2002
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE SIDE STAND LEGS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BEND OR BREAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE THE MOTORCYCLE TO FALL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDE STAND. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 16, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.