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1999 Buell S3

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
3Owner complaints

Model-year median: 1

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
1
19971
19983
1999
Compare all S3 years →

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

What owners reported most

Suspension
2Fuel System, Gasoline
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Structure
1Unknown Or Other
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: 2 of 3 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 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 1 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

2 reports
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33,000 miles · Feb 2, 2004
Suspension

THE CYCLE HAS CRACKED SHOCK ABSORBERS ON THE REAR SUSPENSIONS THAT ARE ON RECALL. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO CLAIMED THE RECALL DID NOT AFFECT THE CONSUMER'S CYCLE. A DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE SHOCK ABSORBER ON THE CYCLE WERE IN FACT THE RECALLED EQUIPMENT. RECALL NO. #98V199000,BUELL/SWING ARM. …

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THE CYCLE HAS CRACKED SHOCK ABSORBERS ON THE REAR SUSPENSIONS THAT ARE ON RECALL. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE MANUFACTURER, WHO CLAIMED THE RECALL DID NOT AFFECT THE CONSUMER'S CYCLE. A DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE SHOCK ABSORBER ON THE CYCLE WERE IN FACT THE RECALLED EQUIPMENT. RECALL NO. #98V199000,BUELL/SWING ARM. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10057341

Mileage unknown · Mar 9, 2001
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

RECALL 98 V 199 000/SWING ARM : ALSO OTHER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON A FUEL TANK, KICK STAND SWITCH, AND A BRAKE LINE. NONE OF RECALLS HAVE BEEN HONORED SINCE ABOVE INCIDENT DATE. DEALER: SON HARLEY DAVIDSON, DENVER,CO; PHONE# 303/287-7566, STILL UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. PLEAS…

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RECALL 98 V 199 000/SWING ARM : ALSO OTHER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED ON A FUEL TANK, KICK STAND SWITCH, AND A BRAKE LINE. NONE OF RECALLS HAVE BEEN HONORED SINCE ABOVE INCIDENT DATE. DEALER: SON HARLEY DAVIDSON, DENVER,CO; PHONE# 303/287-7566, STILL UNABLE TO HONOR RECALL. ASKING NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #882655

Official recalls

1

98V199000 · Suspension:rear

Aug 25, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE SWING ARM ON THESE MOTORCYCLES WAS IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE REAR SUSPENSION TO FAIL WITHOUT WARNING, LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE.

Remedy: DELAERS WILL REPLACE THE SWING ARM.

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.