RecallMyCar

Buell S1 Lightning Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 8 safety recalls and 13 owner complaints across 3 model years of the Buell S1 Lightning (1996–1998). The most-complained-about year is 1997.

8
safety recalls, all years
13
owner complaints, all years
1997
year with most recalls
1997
year with most complaints

Pick your Buell S1 Lightning model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1998 Buell S1 Lightning83
1997 Buell S1 Lightning87
1996 Buell S1 Lightning63

What Buell S1 Lightning owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA. The 1997 model year has the most, with 7.

All Buell S1 Lightning recalls (8)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Buell S1 Lightning, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

  1. Mounting (fuel system)

    NHTSA 99V104000 Reported 10,556 vehicles potentially affected BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel tank mount system.

    Model years: 1996, 1997, 1998

  2. Tank assembly (fuel system)

    NHTSA 99V105000 Reported 12,321 vehicles potentially affected BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.

    Vehicle description: motorcycles. These motorcycles were built with a fuel tank vent valve assembly that could become plugged.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel tank vent valve assembly.

    Model years: 1996, 1997, 1998

  3. Suspension: rear

    NHTSA 99V106000 Reported 8,950 vehicles potentially affected BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.

    Vehicle description: motorcycles. These motorcycles were built with a swingarm that could break.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the swingarm.

    Model years: 1996, 1997, 1998

  4. Shock absorber (suspension)

    NHTSA 99V107000 Reported 8,950 vehicles potentially affected BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.

    Vehicle description: motorcycles. These motorcycles were built with a rear shock absorber front eye that could break.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear shock absorber.

    Model years: 1996, 1997, 1998

  5. Cables (electrical system)

    NHTSA 99V095000 Reported 3,878 vehicles potentially affected BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.

    Vehicle description: motorcycles. Motion of the battery cable can lead to breakage of its terminal.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and/or replace the negative battery cable.

    Model years: 1996, 1997, 1998

  6. Unknown or other

    NHTSA 99V097000 Reported 10,255 vehicles potentially affected BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.

    Vehicle description: motorcycles. These motorcycles were built with a sidestand switch that could become inoperative

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the sidestand switch.

    Model years: 1996, 1997, 1998

  7. Suspension: front

    NHTSA 99V086000 Reported 5,208 vehicles potentially affected BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.

    Vehicle description: motorcycles. The front isolator mount system can lose clamp load and possibly break.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the front isolator mount system.

    Model years: 1997, 1998

  8. Service brakes, hydraulic

    NHTSA 97V153000 Reported 2,820 vehicles potentially affected BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will repair these motorcycles.

    Model years: 1997, 1998

Other Buell models

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.