IllustrationREFLECTIVE COATING IN HEADLIGHT HOUSING GETS HOT AND CHANGES COLOR. HEADLIGHT OUTPUT IS DIMINISHED AND NIGHT TIME VISIBLITY DETERIORATES. *TR
2005 Buell XB12R
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 XB12R years →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: 6 of 7 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 6 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 →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
Exterior Lighting complaints
6 reportsFAILURE OF REFLECTIVE COATING INSIDE OF HEADLIGHT PROJECTOR, DIMMING OF HEADLIGHT NOTICEABLE AT 5,000 MILES, TOOK APART THE PROJECTOR AND NOTICED DEGRADATION (CHARRING) OF REFLECTIVE MATERIAL, NOW AT 17,000 MILES (8 MONTHS) THE LOW BEAM HOUSING DOES NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD ENOUGH FOR SAFE TRAVEL AT NIGHT. *TR
ON MY MODEL YEAR 2005 BUELL MODEL XB12R THE REFLECTORS ON MY HEADLIGHTS ARE MELTING.THIS IS MOST NOTICEABLE ON THE LOW BEAM ASSEMBLY. AS A RESULT OF THIS MELTING AND DEGRADATION THE PROJECTED BEAM IS DANGEROUSLY LOW. IT IS NOW DIFFICULT TO USE AFTER DARK. *TR
HEADLAMPS HAD BECOME EXTREMELY DIM OVER TIME. RE-AIMING WAS ATTEMPTED AS WAS NEW BULBS, BUT THE PROBLEM REMAINED. FINALLY I DISSASEMBLED THE LAMP HOUSING AND FOUND THAT THE REFLECTIVE COATING WAS GONE AND THAT THERE WAS MELTING OCCURING ON THE INSIDE OF THE PLASTIC HOUSING! SEEMS LIKE A POSSIBLE FIRE CONCERN.
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2005 BUELL XB12R MOTORCYCLE HEADLIGHT COATING AND LIGHT LENSES DEGRADING DUE TO HEAT AND POOR MATERIALS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE DEGRADATION BEGAN THE LIGHT OUTPUT WAS SERIOUSLY DIMINISHED. THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REPLACE DONCE UNDER WARRANTY ON 06/2006. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWAR…
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TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 2005 BUELL XB12R MOTORCYCLE HEADLIGHT COATING AND LIGHT LENSES DEGRADING DUE TO HEAT AND POOR MATERIALS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE DEGRADATION BEGAN THE LIGHT OUTPUT WAS SERIOUSLY DIMINISHED. THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REPLACE DONCE UNDER WARRANTY ON 06/2006. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT, BUT CONTINUED TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS WITH THE SME UNITS THAT HAVE BEEN FAILING. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HE HAD DIFFICULTY SEEING THE ROAD IN FRONT OF HIM DUE TO THESE HEADLIGHTS ON THE MOTORCYCLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4800, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5600.*AK UPDATED 04/12/07. *JB
HEADLIGHT ISSUES ON 2005 BUELL XB12R MOTORCYCLE. REFLECTIVE COATING AND LIGHT LENSES DEGRADING DUE TO HEAT AND POOR MATERIALS. ONCE DEGRADATION BEGINS, HEADLAMP LIGHT OUTPUT IS SERIOUSLY DIMINISHED. MY LIGHT ASSEMBLIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY. IT APPEARS THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS OF THIS DEFECT, BUT CONTINUES …
Read full complaint
HEADLIGHT ISSUES ON 2005 BUELL XB12R MOTORCYCLE. REFLECTIVE COATING AND LIGHT LENSES DEGRADING DUE TO HEAT AND POOR MATERIALS. ONCE DEGRADATION BEGINS, HEADLAMP LIGHT OUTPUT IS SERIOUSLY DIMINISHED. MY LIGHT ASSEMBLIES HAVE BEEN REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY. IT APPEARS THAT THE MANUFACTURER KNOWS OF THIS DEFECT, BUT CONTINUES TO REPLACE THE LIGHTS WITH THE SAME UNITS THAT HAVE BEEN FAILING. *NM
Official recalls
105V148000 · Structure:motorcycle:kickstand/center Stand
Apr 14, 2005
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES, THE SIDESTAND MAY NOT RETRACT AS DESIGNED IF CONTACT IS MADE WITH THE GROUND WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD, IN TURN, DISRUPT THE STABILITY OF THE MOTORCYCLE LEADING TO A CRASH, CAUSING DEATH OR INJURY TO THE RIDER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDESTAND PIVOT BOLT WITH A SIMILAR BOLT THAT IS .100 INCH LONGER FREE OF CHARGE. THIS CHANGE WILL ALLOW THE SIDESTAND TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUELL AT 1-414-343-8400.
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.