IllustrationMileage unknown · Aug 27, 2000
Unknown Or Other
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA ODI #729266
1998 Buell S3 Thunderbolt
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
Compare all S3 Thunderbolt years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 0 of 10 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.
- Suspension. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. 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
10 reportsNO SUMMARY
RECALLS 99 V 107 000/REAR SHOCK ABSORBER, 99 V 106 000/SWINGARM, 99 V 105 000/FUEL TANK VENT VALVE ASSEMBLY, 99 V 104 000/FUEL TANK MOUNTING, 99 V 086 000/SIDESTAND SWITCH AND 97 V 153 000/FRONT BRAKE ROTOR: DEALER NOTIFIED THE CONSUMER THAT THE MOTORCYCLE HAVE SEVERAL MANUFACTURER'S RECALLS, AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPAIR THEM B…
Read full complaint
RECALLS 99 V 107 000/REAR SHOCK ABSORBER, 99 V 106 000/SWINGARM, 99 V 105 000/FUEL TANK VENT VALVE ASSEMBLY, 99 V 104 000/FUEL TANK MOUNTING, 99 V 086 000/SIDESTAND SWITCH AND 97 V 153 000/FRONT BRAKE ROTOR: DEALER NOTIFIED THE CONSUMER THAT THE MOTORCYCLE HAVE SEVERAL MANUFACTURER'S RECALLS, AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPAIR THEM BECAUSE THEY HAD NO PARTS.*AK
NHTSA RECALL 97V153000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 0807. NO PARTS AVAILABLE.*AK
NHTSA RECALL 99V086000 AND MFR RECALL 0810 CONCERNING MOTORCYCLE REAR SWING ARM PIVOT SHAFT. NO PARTS AVAILABLE. *AK
NHTSA RECALL990V097000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 0813 CONCERNING MOTORCYCLE'S KICKSTAND. NO PARTS AVAILABLE. *AK
NHTSA RECALL NO99V104000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NO0814. NO PARTS AVAILABLE. *AK
NHTSA RECALL 99V105000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NO:0815 CONCERNING FUEL EMISSION CONTROL VENT VALVE. NO PARTS AVAILABLE.*AK
NHTSA RECALL 99V106000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 0816 CONCERNING MOTORCYCLY REAR SWING ARM PIVOT SHAFT. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK
NHTSA RECALL NO:99V107000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NO:0817 CONCERNING REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. 1ST ATTEMPT 10-JUL-99, 2ND ATTEMPT 15-OCT-99, AND 3RD ATTEMPT 8-FEB2000. *AK
THE FAILURE OF THE FRONT SPROCKET COULD HAVE CAUSED A REAR WHEEL LOCK UP, THIS IN TURN COULD HAVE CUASED A COLLISION, INJURY, OR FATALITY THE REAR BRAKES/ AND TAILLIGHTS BURNED OUT QUICKLY AFTER ABOUT 2500 MILES. THIS CAUSED DRIVER TO HAVE NO INDICATION OF BRAKING WICH COULD CAUSE A REAR END COLLISION. *AK
Official recalls
799V104000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting
May 6, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A FUEL TANK MOUNT SYSTEM THAT COULD, IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, ALLOW THE FUEL TANK TO SEPARATE FROM THE MOTORCYCLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN EXPLOSION OR FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK MOUNT SYSTEM.
99V105000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
May 6, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A FUEL TANK VENT VALVE ASSEMBLY THAT COULD BECOME PLUGGED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE THE CARBURETOR TO OVERFLOW FUEL WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. THIS CONDITION COULD ALSO PREVENT SUFFICIENT FUEL FLOW, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO MISFIRE OR STALL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK VENT VALVE ASSEMBLY.
99V106000 · Suspension:rear
May 6, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A SWINGARM THAT COULD BREAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SWINGARM SHOULD BREAK, LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWINGARM.
99V107000 · Suspension:rear:shock Absorber
May 6, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A REAR SHOCK ABSORBER FRONT EYE THAT COULD BREAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE SHOCK EYE SHOULD BREAK, THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WILL DRAG ON THE GROUND POSSIBLY CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER.
99V097000 · Unknown Or Other
Apr 29, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A SIDESTAND SWITCH THAT COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL/QUIT WHEN RIDING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDESTAND SWITCH.
99V086000 · Suspension:front
Apr 26, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE FRONT ISOLATOR MOUNT SYSTEM CAN LOSE CLAMP LOAD AND POSSIBLY BREAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD LEAD TO AN UNINTENDED DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT ISOLATOR MOUNT SYSTEM.
97V153000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Sep 12, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE E-CLIP WHICH RETAINS THE DRIVE PIN ON THE FRONT BRAKE ROTOR AND CARRIER CAN SEPARATE FROM THE DRIVE PIN ALLOWING THE PIN TO MOVE OUT OF POSITION AND COME IN CONTACT WITH THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN PREVENT THE FRONT WHEEL FROM ROTATING INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THESE MOTORCYCLES.
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
1PE03043 · Throttle Fails To Return To Idle
Opened Sep 23, 2003 · Closed Oct 30, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:cables
TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED ABOVE, BUELL IS RECALLING THOSE FUEL-INJECTED MOTORCYCLES THAT IT BUILT WITHOUT A THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL CLAMP.FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS SUBJECT, PLEASE REFER TO THE MEMORANDUM ENTITLED THE SCOPE OF BUELL'S SAFETY RECALL, 03V-427 COPY ATTACHED.