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1998 Buell S3T

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
2Owner 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
19972
1998
Compare all S3T years →

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

What owners reported most

Structure
1Suspension
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: 1 of 2 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.

  • Structure. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. 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

What owners actually said

2 reports
19,091 miles · May 12, 2004
Structure

MOTORCYCLE HANDLING SUDDENLY DETERIORATED, BECAME UNSTABLE. UPON STOPPING TO INVESTIGATE COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE. WENT IMMEDIATELY TO BUELL DEALERSHIP WHERE CERTIFIED BUELL TECHNICIAN ADJUSTED REAR SHOCK PRELOAD. THIS IMPROVED THE HANDLING SOMEWHAT BUT DID NOT CORRECT IT. ANOTHER BUELL TECHNICIAN AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP SU…

Read full complaint

MOTORCYCLE HANDLING SUDDENLY DETERIORATED, BECAME UNSTABLE. UPON STOPPING TO INVESTIGATE COULD NOT DETERMINE CAUSE. WENT IMMEDIATELY TO BUELL DEALERSHIP WHERE CERTIFIED BUELL TECHNICIAN ADJUSTED REAR SHOCK PRELOAD. THIS IMPROVED THE HANDLING SOMEWHAT BUT DID NOT CORRECT IT. ANOTHER BUELL TECHNICIAN AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP SUSPECTED FRAME DEFECT AND UPON DISASSEMBLY DETERMINED FRAME TO BE AT FAULT. TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO RE-ASSEMBLE MOTORCYCLE DUE TO DEFECTIVE FRAME. BUELL CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSES TO FIX MOTORCYCLE OR GIVE ANY COMPENSATION. BUELL DEALERSHIP UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO HELP REMEDY THE SITUATION. I NOW HAVE A $13,000 PILE OF BUELL PARTS ON MY GARAGE FLOOR.

NHTSA ODI #10072457

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 2000
Suspension

THE CONSUMER DID NOT RECEIVE RECALL REPAIR (99V-086) WHEN BEING SERVICED, THE COMPONENT FAILED WHILE DRIVING DUE TO IMPROPER RECALL SERVICE. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #554489

Official recalls

1

98V036000 · Exterior Lighting:turn Signal

Feb 23, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. FAILURE OF ONE OR MORE TURN SIGNAL LAMPS WOULD NOT BE INDICATED TO THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE (NO NOTICEABLE CHANGE IN THE FLASHING RATE OF THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATOR LIGHT). THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AN OPERATOR WOULD NOT BE AWARE THAT THE TURN SIGNAL LAMPS WERE NOT WORKING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TURN SIGNAL LAMPS ON 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.