RecallRepo

1997 Buell S3 Thunderbolt Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1997 Buell S3 Thunderbolt has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 59,060 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

SUSPENSION 99V106000 1999-05-06 8,950 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.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 99V104000 1999-05-06 10,556 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.

SUSPENSION 99V107000 1999-05-06 8,950 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.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 99V105000 1999-05-06 12,321 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.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER 99V097000 1999-04-29 10,255 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.

SUSPENSION 99V086000 1999-04-26 5,208 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.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 97V153000 1997-09-12 2,820 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.

Complaints by component

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
1
SUSPENSION
1
Total complaints3

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“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…”

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS · reported 2004-06-26

“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…”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE · reported 2004-06-26

“Nhtsa recall 99v107000 and manufacturer's recall 0817 concerning suspension failure. Recall repairs failed twice. *ak”

SUSPENSION · reported 1999-07-10

Defect investigations

Investigation PE03043 Opened 2003-09-23 · closed 2003-10-30

THROTTLE FAILS TO RETURN TO IDLE

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.

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1997 Buell S3 Thunderbolt as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.