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.
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.
THE FAIRING MOUNT ASSEMBLY BRACKET CAN CRACK AND DETACH FROM THE FRAME.
Safety risk
IF THE BRACKET FAILS, THE FAIRING COULD CONTACT THE FRONT FENDER CAUSING THE OPERATOR TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE INCREASINGTHE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE MOTORCYCLES AND INSTALL AN INSTRUMENT PANEL STABILIZER. SOME MOTORCYCLES MAY ALREADY HAVE THE STABILIZER INSTALLED.
MOTORCYCLES DO NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS." THE RIMS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED DESIGNATION INFORMATION.
Safety risk
CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: POSSIBILITY OF OVERLOADING AND UNDERINFLATING WHICH COULD CAUSE TIRE FAILURES INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Manufacturer remedy
OWNERS WILL RECEIVE PERMANENT, ADHESIVE, WEATHER-RESISTANT RIM LABELS WITH THE CORRECT DESIGNATIONS. OWNERS CAN PLACE THE CORRECT LABELS ON THEMSELVES OR TAKE THEIR MOTORCYCLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND HAVE THE DEALER INSTALL THE LABELS FREE OF CHARGE FOR THEM.
The 1996 model has 6 times 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.