Model year record

1996 BUELL S1 Lightning

6 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 3 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 99V105000

Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly
Manufacturer
BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.
Vehicles affected
12,321
Reported to NHTSA
1999-05-06
Owners notified
1999-06-15

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A FUEL TANK VENT VALVE ASSEMBLY THAT COULD BECOME PLUGGED.

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK VENT VALVE ASSEMBLY.

Recall campaignNHTSA 99V104000

Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting
Manufacturer
BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.
Vehicles affected
10,556
Reported to NHTSA
1999-05-06
Owners notified
1999-06-04

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

THIS COULD RESULT IN AN EXPLOSION OR FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK MOUNT SYSTEM.

Recall campaignNHTSA 99V107000

Suspension: rear: shock absorber

Component
Suspension: rear: shock absorber
Manufacturer
BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.
Vehicles affected
8,950
Reported to NHTSA
1999-05-06
Owners notified
1999-06-28

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A REAR SHOCK ABSORBER FRONT EYE THAT COULD BREAK.

Safety risk

IF THE SHOCK EYE SHOULD BREAK, THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WILL DRAG ON THE GROUND POSSIBLY CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER.

Recall campaignNHTSA 99V106000

Suspension: rear

Component
Suspension: rear
Manufacturer
BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.
Vehicles affected
8,950
Reported to NHTSA
1999-05-06
Owners notified
1999-07-08

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A SWINGARM THAT COULD BREAK.

Safety risk

IF THE SWINGARM SHOULD BREAK, LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL COULD OCCUR.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWINGARM.

Recall campaignNHTSA 99V097000

Unknown or other

Component
Unknown or other
Manufacturer
BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.
Vehicles affected
10,255
Reported to NHTSA
1999-04-29
Owners notified
1999-06-24

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A SIDESTAND SWITCH THAT COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE

Safety risk

THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL/QUIT WHEN RIDING.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDESTAND SWITCH.

Recall campaignNHTSA 99V095000

Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery: cables

Component
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery: cables
Manufacturer
BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.
Vehicles affected
3,878
Reported to NHTSA
1999-04-29
Owners notified
1999-05-21

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. MOTION OF THE BATTERY CABLE CAN LEAD TO BREAKAGE OF ITS TERMINAL.

Safety risk

THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL/QUIT WHEN RIDING.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND/OR REPLACE THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery: cables1
Fuel system, gasoline1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor1

The 1997 model has about a quarter as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.