RecallMyCar

1999 Buell S3 Thunderbolt Recalls, Complaints & Specs

6 safety recalls list the 1999 Buell S3 Thunderbolt, and owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

6
safety recalls
1
owner complaint to NHTSA
1 / 0
complaints citing a crash / fire

6 safety recalls for the 1999 Buell S3 Thunderbolt

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Cables (vehicle speed control)

    NHTSA 03V427000 Reported 2,830 vehicles potentially affected BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.

    On certain motorcycles equipped exclusively with a fuel injection system, the idle control cable can become dislodged from the fuel injection system cable guide due to improper adjustment of the throttle control system.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a throttle cable clamp, which serves to ensure retention of the throttle control cables in the cable guide. Owner notification is expected to begin during november or december 2003. Owners should…

  2. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 00V037000 Reported 839 vehicles potentially affected BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.

    Vehicle description: motorcycles. The location of the rear brake line can cause it to become damaged and leak fluid.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear brake line.

  3. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)

    NHTSA 00V038000 Reported 2,912 vehicles potentially affected BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.

    Vehicle description: motorcycles. The fuel filter can leak.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel filter.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  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.

1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1999 Buell S3 Thunderbolt have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 56,483 miles. Complaints peaked in 2015 with 1 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“I experienced unintended acceleration. Leaving a stop, the engine went to wide open throttle. The bike wheelied, i fell off at about 35 MPH. The engine throttle stayed wide open until the bank angle s”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 9, 2015 · Vehicle speed control

Compare Buell S3 Thunderbolt model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Buell S3 Thunderbolt model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1997 Buell S3 Thunderbolt72
1998 Buell S3 Thunderbolt710
1999 Buell S3 Thunderbolt61
2000 Buell S3 Thunderbolt20

Checking a specific 1999 Buell S3 Thunderbolt

How do I know if my 1999 Buell S3 Thunderbolt has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 6 campaigns currently list the 1999 Buell S3 Thunderbolt; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Buell dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V037000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

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.