The 1999 Buell S3 has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 136 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the fuel system, gasoline. Last updated July 5, 2026.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE SWING ARM ON THESE MOTORCYCLES WAS IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED.
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE REAR SUSPENSION TO FAIL WITHOUT WARNING, LEADING TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE MOTORCYCLE.
DELAERS WILL REPLACE THE SWING ARM.
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“The cycle has cracked shock absorbers on the rear suspensions that are on recall. The consumer called the manufacturer, who claimed the recall did not affect the consumer's cycle. A dealer informed the consumer that the shock absorber on the cycle were in fact the recalled equipment. Recall no.…”
“There are two bolts that hold the front of the engine to the frame. The engine is a critical structural member of the frame. One of the bolts was loose, the other was broken. Had the other broke I would probably have crashed.*ak”
“Recall 98 v 199 000/swing arm : also other manufacturer's recall notice received on a fuel tank, kick stand switch, and a brake line. None of recalls have been honored since above incident date. Dealer: son harley davidson, denver,co; phone# 303/287-7566, still unable to honor recall. Asking nhtsa…”
“Recall 98 v 199 000/swing arm : also other manufacturer's recall notice received on a fuel tank, kick stand switch, and a brake line. None of recalls have been honored since above incident date. Dealer: son harley davidson, denver,co; phone# 303/287-7566, still unable to honor recall. Asking nhtsa…”
“Recall 98 v 199 000/swing arm : also other manufacturer's recall notice received on a fuel tank, kick stand switch, and a brake line. None of recalls have been honored since above incident date. Dealer: son harley davidson, denver,co; phone# 303/287-7566, still unable to honor recall. Asking nhtsa…”
“Recall 98 v 199 000/swing arm : also other manufacturer's recall notice received on a fuel tank, kick stand switch, and a brake line. None of recalls have been honored since above incident date. Dealer: son harley davidson, denver,co; phone# 303/287-7566, still unable to honor recall. Asking nhtsa…”
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 1999 Buell S3 as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.