SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

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 →
10Owner complaints

Model-year median: 1.5

7Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
199710
19981
19990
2000
Compare all S3 Thunderbolt years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Suspension
4Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Unknown Or Other
3Engine And Engine Cooling
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2
All reported categories
Power Train
1

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

Suspension complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jul 27, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolineService Brakes, Hydraulic

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 ODI #866131

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2000
Suspension

NHTSA RECALL 99V086000 AND MFR RECALL 0810 CONCERNING MOTORCYCLE REAR SWING ARM PIVOT SHAFT. NO PARTS AVAILABLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #856631

Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2000
Suspension

NHTSA RECALL 99V106000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 0816 CONCERNING MOTORCYCLY REAR SWING ARM PIVOT SHAFT. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #856536

Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2000
Suspension

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

NHTSA ODI #856531

Official recalls

7

99V104000 · 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

1

PE03043 · 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.