Model year record

1998 BUELL S3 Thunderbolt

7 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 15 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 99V086000

Suspension: front

Component: Suspension: front
Manufacturer: BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.
Vehicles affected: 5,208
Reported to NHTSA: 1999-04-26
Owners notified: 1999-05-18

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE FRONT ISOLATOR MOUNT SYSTEM CAN LOSE CLAMP LOAD AND POSSIBLY BREAK.

Safety risk

THIS COULD LEAD TO AN UNINTENDED DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT ISOLATOR MOUNT SYSTEM.

Recall campaignNHTSA 97V153000

Service brakes, hydraulic

Component: Service brakes, hydraulic
Manufacturer: BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.
Vehicles affected: 2,820
Reported to NHTSA: 1997-09-12
Owners notified: 1997-09-29

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE E-CLIP WHICH RETAINS THE DRIVE PIN ON THE FRONT BRAKE ROTOR AND CARRIER CAN SEPARATE FROM THE DRIVE PIN ALLOWING THE PIN TO MOVE OUT OF POSITION AND COME IN CONTACT WITH THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER.

Safety risk

THIS CONDITION CAN PREVENT THE FRONT WHEEL FROM ROTATING INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPAIR THESE MOTORCYCLES.

Owner complaints

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

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Suspension: rear	3	—
Unknown or other	3	—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control	2	—
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly	1	—
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting	1	—
Power train: driveline: differential unit	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulic	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: drum	1	—
Suspension: rear: shock absorber	1	—

The 1997 model has 5 times as many complaints as this one. The 1999 model has 8 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.