Buell S1 White Lightning Recalls & Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA lists 6 safety recalls and 4 owner complaints across 2 model years of the Buell S1 White Lightning (1997–1998). The most-complained-about year is 1998.
Pick your Buell S1 White Lightning model year
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 Buell S1 White Lightning | 6 | 4 |
| 1997 Buell S1 White Lightning | 1 | 0 |
What Buell S1 White Lightning owners complain about
Across all model years, owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA. The 1998 model year has the most, with 4.
All Buell S1 White Lightning recalls (6)
Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Buell S1 White Lightning, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.
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Mounting (fuel system)
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: 1998
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Tank assembly (fuel system)
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: 1998
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Suspension: rear
Vehicle description: motorcycles. These motorcycles were built with a swingarm that could break.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the swingarm.
Model years: 1998
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Shock absorber (suspension)
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: 1998
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Unknown or other
Vehicle description: motorcycles. These motorcycles were built with a sidestand switch that could become inoperative
Remedy: Dealers will replace the sidestand switch.
Model years: 1998
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Suspension: front
Vehicle description: motorcycles. The front isolator mount system can lose clamp load and possibly break.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front isolator mount system.
Other Buell models
- 1125R45 complaints
- 1125CR44 complaints
- Firebolt XB9R18 complaints
- XB12R18 complaints
- S1 Lightning13 complaints
- S3 Thunderbolt13 complaints
- XB12X13 complaints
- M2 Cyclone10 complaints
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.