1997 BUELL S3 THUNDERBOLT — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
3
Owner Complaints
7
Recalls
0
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1997 BUELL S3 THUNDERBOLT
The 1997 BUELL S3 THUNDERBOLT has received a total of 3 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 7 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with SUSPENSION:REAR, SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER, UNKNOWN OR OTHER. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine And Engine Coolingengine (1 complaint), Structureframe And Members (1 complaint), and Suspension (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 1997 BUELL S3 THUNDERBOLT
NHTSA has recorded 7 recalls for the 1997 BUELL S3 THUNDERBOLT, potentially affecting up to 59,060 vehicles.
Recall 99V106000 — SUSPENSION:REAR
| 8,950 vehicles affected
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A SWINGARM THAT COULD BREAK.
Consequence: IF THE SWINGARM SHOULD BREAK, LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWINGARM.
View full details →Recall 99V107000 — SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER
| 8,950 vehicles affected
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A REAR SHOCK ABSORBER FRONT EYE THAT COULD BREAK.
Consequence: IF THE SHOCK EYE SHOULD BREAK, THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WILL DRAG ON THE GROUND POSSIBLY CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER.
View full details →Recall 99V097000 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
| 10,255 vehicles affected
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A SIDESTAND SWITCH THAT COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL/QUIT WHEN RIDING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDESTAND SWITCH.
View full details →Recall 99V105000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
| 12,321 vehicles affected
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A FUEL TANK VENT VALVE ASSEMBLY THAT COULD BECOME PLUGGED.
Consequence: UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS COULD CAUSE THE CARBURETOR TO OVERFLOW FUEL WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. THIS CONDITION COULD ALSO PREVENT SUFFICIENT FUEL FLOW, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO MISFIRE OR STALL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK VENT VALVE ASSEMBLY.
View full details →Recall 99V104000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:MOUNTING
| 10,556 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN EXPLOSION OR FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK MOUNT SYSTEM.
View full details →Recall 99V086000 — SUSPENSION:FRONT
| 5,208 vehicles affected
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE FRONT ISOLATOR MOUNT SYSTEM CAN LOSE CLAMP LOAD AND POSSIBLY BREAK.
Consequence: THIS COULD LEAD TO AN UNINTENDED DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT ISOLATOR MOUNT SYSTEM.
View full details →Recall 97V153000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
| 2,820 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN PREVENT THE FRONT WHEEL FROM ROTATING INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THESE MOTORCYCLES.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1997 BUELL S3 THUNDERBOLT
3 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1997 BUELL S3 THUNDERBOLT. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Coolingengine | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structureframe And Members | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
TRAVELING COUNTRY ROAD AT ~60 MPH, WHILE ROUNDING CORNER. MOTORCYCLE STARTED VIBRATING HEAVILY. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD. BUELL STATED THAT PROPER WARRANTY REPAIR HAD BEEN DONE FOR PREVIOUS OWNER, BUT THAT THEY WOULD GOODWILL THE MOTORMOUNT WHICH HAD FAILED. BUT WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LABOR COSTS NOR FOR THE DAMAGED FRONT CYLINDER HEAD THAT IS BOLTED TO THE MOTOR MOUNT.*AK
TRAVELING COUNTRY ROAD AT ~60 MPH, WHILE ROUNDING CORNER. MOTORCYCLE STARTED VIBRATING HEAVILY. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL TO SIDE OF ROAD. BUELL STATED THAT PROPER WARRANTY REPAIR HAD BEEN DONE FOR PREVIOUS OWNER, BUT THAT THEY WOULD GOODWILL THE MOTORMOUNT WHICH HAD FAILED. BUT WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE LABOR COSTS NOR FOR THE DAMAGED FRONT CYLINDER HEAD THAT IS BOLTED TO THE MOTOR MOUNT.*AK
NHTSA RECALL 99V107000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 0817 CONCERNING SUSPENSION FAILURE. RECALL REPAIRS FAILED TWICE. *AK
Safety Rating for the 1997 BUELL S3 THUNDERBOLT
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1997 BUELL S3 THUNDERBOLT in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1997 BUELL S3 THUNDERBOLT
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1997 BUELL S3 THUNDERBOLT
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the BUELL S3 THUNDERBOLT
- 1997 BUELL S3 THUNDERBOLT (current)
- 1998 BUELL S3 THUNDERBOLT — 15 complaints
- 1999 BUELL S3 THUNDERBOLT — 2 complaints
- 2000 BUELL S3 THUNDERBOLT — 0 complaints
Other BUELL Models
- BUELL 1125CR — 64 total complaints
- BUELL 1125R — 61 total complaints
- BUELL S1 LIGHTNING — 25 total complaints
- BUELL FIREBOLT XB9R — 24 total complaints
- BUELL XB12R — 21 total complaints
- BUELL XB12X — 19 total complaints
- BUELL S3 — 16 total complaints
- BUELL XB12S — 13 total complaints