1998 Buell S3 Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 1998 Buell S3, and owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
1 safety recall for the 1998 Buell S3
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Turn signal (exterior lighting)
Vehicle description: motorcycles. Failure of one or more turn signal lamps would not be indicated to the operator of the vehicle (no noticeable change in the flashing rate of the turn signal indicator light). This does not meet the requirements of FMVSS no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Remedy: Dealers will replace the turn signal lamps on these motorcycles.
1 owner complaint filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1998 Buell S3 have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. Complaints peaked in 1999 with 1 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Headlights go out/come back intermittently. Dealer replaced the connector that had melted. *ak”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, February 3, 1999 · Exterior lighting
Compare Buell S3 model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Buell S3 model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 Buell S3 | 1 | 1 |
| 1998 Buell S3 | 1 | 1 |
| 1999 Buell S3 | 1 | 3 |
Checking a specific 1998 Buell S3
How do I know if my 1998 Buell S3 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. 1 campaign currently lists the 1998 Buell S3; your car may already have been repaired under it.
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 98V036000).
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
- 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.