Buell Recalls & Complaints by Model
NHTSA lists 41 safety recalls and 258 owner complaints across 39 Buell models, filed by BUELL-out of business. Pick a model, then a year.
41
safety recalls
258
owner complaints
39
models in NHTSA data
Most-complained-about Buell models
- 1125R45
- 1125CR44
- Firebolt XB9R18
- XB12R18
- S1 Lightning13
- S3 Thunderbolt13
- XB12X13
- M2 Cyclone10
- XB12S10
- X1 Lightning7
All Buell models
| Model | Years | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1125 | 2009 | 0 | 3 |
| 1125CR | 2009 | 1 | 44 |
| 1125R | 2008–2009 | 2 | 45 |
| 1190 RX Hammerhead | 2021–2022 | 1 | 0 |
| 1190 SX | 2021–2022 | 1 | 0 |
| Blast | 2004–2009 | 2 | 5 |
| Blast P3 | 2000–2001 | 1 | 3 |
| Buell | 1997–2002 | 0 | 3 |
| Cyclone | 1997–2000 | 1 | 3 |
| Firebolt XB9R | 2003 | 1 | 18 |
| Lightning Low | 2003 | 1 | 1 |
| M2 | 1997–2002 | 3 | 6 |
| M2 Cyclone | 1997–2000 | 10 | 10 |
| M2L | 2002 | 1 | 0 |
| S1 | 1996–1998 | 1 | 1 |
| S1 Lightning | 1996–1998 | 8 | 13 |
| S1 White Lightning | 1997–1998 | 6 | 4 |
| S1W | 1998 | 1 | 2 |
| S1W White Lightning | 1998–1999 | 1 | 2 |
| S2 | 1995–1996 | 1 | 2 |
| S2 Thunderbolt | 1995–1996 | 8 | 4 |
| S2T | 1995–1996 | 5 | 1 |
| S3 | 1997–1999 | 2 | 5 |
| S3 Thunderbolt | 1997–2000 | 11 | 13 |
| S3T | 1997–2002 | 2 | 3 |
| S3T Thunderbolt | 1997–2000 | 9 | 0 |
| Thunderbolt | 1995–1998 | 0 | 5 |
| X1 | 1999–2002 | 2 | 4 |
| X1 Lightning | 1999–2000 | 8 | 7 |
| XB12R | 2004–2009 | 2 | 18 |
| XB12S | 2004–2006 | 2 | 10 |
| XB12SCG | 2009–2010 | 1 | 1 |
| XB12SS | 2009 | 1 | 1 |
| XB12X | 2006–2010 | 3 | 13 |
| XB12XP | 2009 | 1 | 0 |
| XB12XT | 2008–2010 | 2 | 5 |
| XB9S | 2004 | 1 | 1 |
| XB9SL | 2003–2004 | 2 | 0 |
| XB9SX | 2005–2009 | 1 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.