IllustrationREFLECTIVE COATING IN HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES DETERIORATE WITH THE EXCESSIVE HEAT AND CAUSE POOR VISIBILITY AND ILLUMINATION. *NM
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 reportsLIGHTING FROM HEADLIGHTS GO DIMMER AND DIMMER AFTER A FEW MONTHS. INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY THEY USED ONLY CHROME PAINT FOR REFLECTING LIGHT OUT OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. OVER TIME THE PART WEARS OUT BECAUSE OF HEAT FROM THE LIGHT. SO THERE IS NO MORE REFLECTING OF LIGHT OUT OF THE ASSEMBLY. THIS IN TURNS MAKES THE HEADLIGH…
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LIGHTING FROM HEADLIGHTS GO DIMMER AND DIMMER AFTER A FEW MONTHS. INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY THEY USED ONLY CHROME PAINT FOR REFLECTING LIGHT OUT OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. OVER TIME THE PART WEARS OUT BECAUSE OF HEAT FROM THE LIGHT. SO THERE IS NO MORE REFLECTING OF LIGHT OUT OF THE ASSEMBLY. THIS IN TURNS MAKES THE HEADLIGHTS GO DIMMER AND DIMMER OVER TIME.. CAN'T SEE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF NOT ENOUGH LIGHTING.. *JB
THE REFLECTIVE HOUSING IN THE HEADLIGHTS DEGRADE WITHIN A YEAR MAKING IT NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE AT NIGHT. BUELL DOES NOT SELL THE HOUSING SEPARATELY AND REQUIRES THAT YOU PURCHASE THE ENTIRE LOW BEAM ASSEMBLY. THE PARTS ARE THE SAME IN BOTH MODELS (XB9R AND XB12R) FOR EVERY YEAR FIREBOLT (2003 TO PRESENT). *NM
HEADLIGHT HOUSING REFLECTIVE COATING DEGRADES OVER TIME TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS UNSAFE DUE TO POOR LIGHTING. HIT A PIECE OF CONCRETE ON THE INTERSTATE BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE IT IN TIME. DID NOT CRASH LUCKILY, BUT IT BENT THE FRONT RIM AND I LOST THE AIR IN THE FRONT TIRE. *JB
BUELL FIREBOLT 03 XB9R HEADLIGHT HOUSING FLAKES OFF AND NIGHT TIME VISIBILITY IS REALLY POOR. *JB
REFLECTIVE COATING ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLAMP HOUSINGS DELAMINATED, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF PROJECTIVE PROPERTIES OF THE HEADLIGHTS. RESULT IS HEADLIGHTS THAT DO NOT EMIT LIGHT FURTHER THAN 2 - 3 FEET IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS MAKES NIGHT TIME DRIVING VERY DANGEROUS IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE. REPLACING THE HEADLIGHT BULBS D…
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REFLECTIVE COATING ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLAMP HOUSINGS DELAMINATED, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF PROJECTIVE PROPERTIES OF THE HEADLIGHTS. RESULT IS HEADLIGHTS THAT DO NOT EMIT LIGHT FURTHER THAN 2 - 3 FEET IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS MAKES NIGHT TIME DRIVING VERY DANGEROUS IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE. REPLACING THE HEADLIGHT BULBS DOES NOT HELP, AS THE HOUSINGS ARE THE DEFECTIVE ITEM. *NM
HEADLIGHT HOUSINGS RATTLE IN THE BRACKETS AND BREAK BULB RETAINERS. CAUSING LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS. *NM
2003 BUELL BLAST P3, ONLY 1500 MILES ON MOTORCYCLE, HAD FULL TANK OF GAS. ENGINE SPUTTERED AT DIED ON A HIGHWAY TRAVELLING AT 55MPH. VERY DANGEROUS. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER. FOUND RUBBER COUPLER SPLIT IN HALF BETWEEN THE CARBURETOR AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. WAS ALMOST KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS. USED DUCT TAPE TO TAPE THE C…
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2003 BUELL BLAST P3, ONLY 1500 MILES ON MOTORCYCLE, HAD FULL TANK OF GAS. ENGINE SPUTTERED AT DIED ON A HIGHWAY TRAVELLING AT 55MPH. VERY DANGEROUS. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER. FOUND RUBBER COUPLER SPLIT IN HALF BETWEEN THE CARBURETOR AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. WAS ALMOST KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS. USED DUCT TAPE TO TAPE THE COUPLER BACK TOGETHER. BIKE STARTED RIGHT UP AFTER DUCT TAPING THE COUPLER, DID THIS JUST TO GET THE BIKE HOME. *AK
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.