1999 Buell S3 Thunderbolt: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 1999 Buell S3 Thunderbolt. The newest campaign is 03V427000. NHTSA received the report on 30 Oct 2003. The NHTSA record gives the component Vehicle Speed Control / Cables. NHTSA has 1 complaint on file for this model year. 1 NHTSA investigation names this model year.

The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.

This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.

Remedy of the newest campaign, 03V427000, in the NHTSA record

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 contact buell at 1-414-343-8400.

NHTSA VIN lookup

Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on 1 Oct 2026. Complaint file through 30 Sep 2026. Recall file through 30 Sep 2026.

Since the last update

No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

6 campaigns, newest first. 39,713 units in total.

03V42700030 Oct 2003Vehicle Speed Control / Cables
00V03700014 Feb 2000Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
00V03800014 Feb 2000Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
99V1040006 May 1999Fuel System, Gasoline / Storage / Tank Assembly / Mounting
99V1050006 May 1999Fuel System, Gasoline / Storage / Tank Assembly
99V09700029 Apr 1999Unknown or Other

03V427000Received 30 Oct 2003. 2,830 units.
Vehicle Speed Control / Cables
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Should this occur, the throttle may not return to the idle position when the operator's hand is removed from the twist grip, increasing the risk of loss of control of the vehicle, which could result in a crash.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
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 contact buell at 1-414-343-8400.
Report filed by BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.. Manufacturer campaign number 0827. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 20 Nov 2003.
00V037000Received 14 Feb 2000. 839 units.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic / Foundation Components / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicle description: motorcycles. The location of the rear brake line can cause it to become damaged and leak fluid.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
A loss of rear wheel braking capabilities could occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will replace the rear brake line.
Report filed by BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 20 Mar 2000.
00V038000Received 14 Feb 2000. 2,912 units.
Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicle description: motorcycles. The fuel filter can leak.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will replace the fuel filter.
Report filed by BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 20 Mar 2000.
99V104000Received 6 May 1999. 10,556 units.
Fuel System, Gasoline / Storage / Tank Assembly / Mounting
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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, in the NHTSA record
This could result in an explosion or fire.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will replace the fuel tank mount system.
Report filed by BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 4 Jun 1999.
99V105000Received 6 May 1999. 12,321 units.
Fuel System, Gasoline / Storage / Tank Assembly
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicle description: motorcycles. These motorcycles were built with a fuel tank vent valve assembly that could become plugged.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
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, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will replace the fuel tank vent valve assembly.
Report filed by BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 15 Jun 1999.
99V097000Received 29 Apr 1999. 10,255 units.
Unknown or Other
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicle description: motorcycles. These motorcycles were built with a sidestand switch that could become inoperative
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
This condition can cause the engine to stall/quit when riding.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will replace the sidestand switch.
Report filed by BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 24 Jun 1999.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

Complaints by component

1 complaint, 2 component mentions.

A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. This model year has fewer than 50 component mentions, so the table shows the number of mentions only.

1999 Buell S3 Thunderbolt: component mentions in complaints
Component		Mentions
Vehicle Speed Control		1
Engine		1

Complaints that report a crash: 1
Complaints that report a fire: 0
Injuries in the complaints: 1
Deaths in the complaints: 0
Date of the newest complaint: 9 Mar 2015

These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.

Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.

Complaints about the 1999 Buell S3 Thunderbolt, by the year NHTSA received them. The largest year is 2015, with 1 complaint.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 1999 Buell S3 Thunderbolt
Number	Type	Subject	Component	Opened	Closed	Campaign
PE03043	Preliminary evaluation	THROTTLE FAILS TO RETURN TO IDLE	Vehicle Speed Control / Cables	23 Sep 2003	30 Oct 2003	03V427000

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

Other model years

The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

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Official channels

NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
NHTSA page of the 1999 Buell S3 ThunderboltThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 1999 Buell S3 Thunderbolt: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/buell/s3-thunderbolt/1999/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through 30 Sep 2026.

Sources

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence: US government work, public domain
Recall file through: 30 Sep 2026
Complaint file through: 30 Sep 2026
First complaint in the file: 1 Jan 1995
Manufacturer in the recall file: BUELL MOTORCYCLE CO.

The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.

Questions

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 1999 Buell S3 Thunderbolt?: 39,713 units in 6 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
How many recall campaigns does the Buell S3 Thunderbolt have for all model years?: NHTSA lists 11 recall campaigns for the Buell S3 Thunderbolt, model years 1997 to 2000. 6 of them name the 1999 model year.
Which component do the complaints about the 1999 Buell S3 Thunderbolt name most often?: Vehicle Speed Control: 1 of 2 component mentions.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1999 Buell S3 Thunderbolt open?: No. The 1 investigation that names this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.