The 1996 Buell S1 Lightning has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 54,910 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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.
THIS COULD RESULT IN AN EXPLOSION OR FIRE.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK MOUNT SYSTEM.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A SWINGARM THAT COULD BREAK.
IF THE SWINGARM SHOULD BREAK, LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL COULD OCCUR.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWINGARM.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A FUEL TANK VENT VALVE ASSEMBLY THAT COULD BECOME PLUGGED.
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.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK VENT VALVE ASSEMBLY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A REAR SHOCK ABSORBER FRONT EYE THAT COULD BREAK.
IF THE SHOCK EYE SHOULD BREAK, THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE WILL DRAG ON THE GROUND POSSIBLY CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. MOTION OF THE BATTERY CABLE CAN LEAD TO BREAKAGE OF ITS TERMINAL.
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL/QUIT WHEN RIDING.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND/OR REPLACE THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE BUILT WITH A SIDESTAND SWITCH THAT COULD BECOME INOPERATIVE
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL/QUIT WHEN RIDING.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SIDESTAND SWITCH.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Received recall notices 99v095000/99v097000/99v104000/ 99v105000/99v106000, and 99v107000 in the mail. Had contacted a motorcyle dealership. Was informed had no parts for motorcycle. Do not know when parts would be available. Owner upset*ak.”
“The negative battery lead for the s1 models is too short. There is not enough slack to allow for movement due to vibration. The effects of the lead breaking is total loss of power, causing the motor to shut down and lights to go off.”
“A design flaw caused the front brake to completely lock up due to excessively loose floating front brake rotor that was grinding against the brake caliper. Nlm”
TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED ABOVE, BUELL IS RECALLING THOSE FUEL-INJECTED MOTORCYCLES THAT IT BUILT WITHOUT A THROTTLE CABLE CONTROL CLAMP.FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS SUBJECT, PLEASE REFER TO THE MEMORANDUM ENTITLED THE SCOPE OF BUELL'S SAFETY RECALL, 03V-427 COPY ATTACHED.
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Buell S1 Lightning as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.