Buell FIREBOLT XB9R problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
18 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
10,290 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 to 2003 model years. Data updated: . 12 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting:Headlights is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 18 complaints (72.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 13 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Concealment Devices | 3 |
| Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer:Lpg Systems:Lines And Fittings | 2 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 |
| Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 1 |
Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 13; Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Concealment Devices: 3; Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer:Lpg Systems:Lines And Fittings: 2; Forward Collision Avoidance: 2; Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter: 2; Exterior Lighting: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 12 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 12; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 6 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 3; 2007: 10; 2011: 1; 2016: 2
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting:Headlights leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
2003: 1
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 18 | 1 | Not available |
Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
18 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.
Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.
Problems by model year
Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.
| Component | 2003 |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 1372.2%ODI 10139979HEADLIGHT HOUSINGS RATTLE IN THE BRACKETS AND BREAK BULB RETAINERS. CAUSING LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS. *NM |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Concealment Devices | 316.7%ODI 10175695 · 7,000 miBUELL FIREBOLT 03 XB9R HEADLIGHT HOUSING FLAKES OFF AND NIGHT TIME VISIBILITY IS REALLY POOR. *JB |
| Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer:Lpg Systems:Lines And Fittings | 211.1%ODI 10871993SDGSDGSDGDSFGDFSGD (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2011, MAKE=JLKJLKJ, MODEL=JLKJLJ) |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 211.1%ODI 10871993SDGSDGSDGDSFGDFSGD (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2011, MAKE=JLKJLKJ, MODEL=JLKJLJ) |
| Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter | 211.1%ODI 10871993SDGSDGSDGDSFGDFSGD (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2011, MAKE=JLKJLKJ, MODEL=JLKJLJ) |
| Exterior Lighting | 15.6%ODI 10410661 · 13,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUELL FIREBOLT XB9R MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD BEYOND THREE FEET WHICH OBSTRUCTED THE VISIBILITY. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE HEADLIGHTS WERE IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 15.6%ODI 10075153 · 1,750 mi2003 BUELL BLAST P3, ONLY 1500 MILES ON MOTORCYCLE, HAD FULL TANK OF GAS. ENGINE SPUTTERED AT DIED ON A HIGHWAY TRAVELLING AT 55MPH. VERY DANGEROUS. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER. FOUND RUBBER COUPLER SPLIT IN HALF BETWEEN THE CARBURETOR AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. WAS ALMOST KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS. USED DUCT TAPE TO TAPE THE COUPLER BACK TOGETHER. BIKE STARTED RIGHT UP AFTER DUCT TAPING THE COUPLER, DID THIS JUST TO GET THE BIKE HOME. *AK |
Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.
Failure mileage by component
Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.
| Component | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 6,500–15,000 mi | 10,579 mi | 9 | ODI 10174991 · 16,340 miREFLECTIVE COATING ON THE INSIDE OF THE HEADLAMP HOUSINGS DELAMINATED, RESULTING IN TOTAL LOSS OF PROJECTIVE PROPERTIES OF THE HEADLIGHTS. RESULT IS HEADLIGHTS THAT DO NOT EMIT LIGHT FURTHER THAN 2 - 3 FEET IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS MAKES NIGHT TIME DRIVING VERY DANGEROUS IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE. REPLACING THE HEADLIGHT BULBS DOES NOT HELP, AS THE HOUSINGS ARE THE DEFECTIVE ITEM. *NM ODI 10175864 · 21,000 miHEADLIGHT HOUSING REFLECTIVE COATING DEGRADES OVER TIME TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS UNSAFE DUE TO POOR LIGHTING. HIT A PIECE OF CONCRETE ON THE INTERSTATE BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE IT IN TIME. DID NOT CRASH LUCKILY, BUT IT BENT THE FRONT RIM AND I LOST THE AIR IN THE FRONT TIRE. *JB ODI 10182841 · 1,500 miLIGHTING FROM HEADLIGHTS GO DIMMER AND DIMMER AFTER A FEW MONTHS. INSIDE THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY THEY USED ONLY CHROME PAINT FOR REFLECTING LIGHT OUT OF THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. OVER TIME THE PART WEARS OUT BECAUSE OF HEAT FROM THE LIGHT. SO THERE IS NO MORE REFLECTING OF LIGHT OUT OF THE ASSEMBLY. THIS IN TURNS MAKES THE HEADLIGHTS GO DIMMER AND DIMMER OVER TIME.. CAN'T SEE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF NOT ENOUGH LIGHTING.. *JB |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Concealment Devices | Too few reports for a range | 14,000 mi | 2 (sparse) | ODI 10175695 · 7,000 miBUELL FIREBOLT 03 XB9R HEADLIGHT HOUSING FLAKES OFF AND NIGHT TIME VISIBILITY IS REALLY POOR. *JB ODI 10175864 · 21,000 miHEADLIGHT HOUSING REFLECTIVE COATING DEGRADES OVER TIME TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS UNSAFE DUE TO POOR LIGHTING. HIT A PIECE OF CONCRETE ON THE INTERSTATE BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE IT IN TIME. DID NOT CRASH LUCKILY, BUT IT BENT THE FRONT RIM AND I LOST THE AIR IN THE FRONT TIRE. *JB |
| Exterior Lighting | Too few reports for a range | 13,000 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10410661 · 13,000 miTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 BUELL FIREBOLT XB9R MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD BEYOND THREE FEET WHICH OBSTRUCTED THE VISIBILITY. THE FAILURE RECURRED WHENEVER THE HEADLIGHTS WERE IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | Too few reports for a range | 1,750 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10075153 · 1,750 mi2003 BUELL BLAST P3, ONLY 1500 MILES ON MOTORCYCLE, HAD FULL TANK OF GAS. ENGINE SPUTTERED AT DIED ON A HIGHWAY TRAVELLING AT 55MPH. VERY DANGEROUS. WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER. FOUND RUBBER COUPLER SPLIT IN HALF BETWEEN THE CARBURETOR AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. WAS ALMOST KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS. USED DUCT TAPE TO TAPE THE COUPLER BACK TOGETHER. BIKE STARTED RIGHT UP AFTER DUCT TAPING THE COUPLER, DID THIS JUST TO GET THE BIKE HOME. *AK |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.
Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 (partial) | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
Emerging complaint spikes
Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.
This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.
No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.
Equal-age model-year comparison
Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.
2003: 6 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 2 | 5 | 6 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 18 | 0 | 0 |
Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.
Components reported together
Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.
| Component | Exterior Lighting:Headlights | Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Concealment Devices | Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer:Lpg Systems:Lines And Fittings | Forward Collision Avoidance | Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter | Exterior Lighting | Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | — | 2ODI 10175864 · 21,000 miHEADLIGHT HOUSING REFLECTIVE COATING DEGRADES OVER TIME TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS UNSAFE DUE TO POOR LIGHTING. HIT A PIECE OF CONCRETE ON THE INTERSTATE BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE IT IN TIME. DID NOT CRASH LUCKILY, BUT IT BENT THE FRONT RIM AND I LOST THE AIR IN THE FRONT TIRE. *JB ODI 10183124HEADLIGHTS GETTING DIMMER AND DIMMER, FOUND HEADLIGHT INNER HOUSING CHROME PLATING PEELING OFF. NO FIX EXCEPT TO BUY NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO THE NEW ASSEMBLIES IN SEVERAL MONTHS. BUELL CHAT SITES CONFIRM THAT ALL/MOST XBR MODELS DEVELOP THIS PROBLEM MAKING TRAVEL AT NIGHT UNSAFE. *JB | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Concealment Devices | 2ODI 10175864 · 21,000 miHEADLIGHT HOUSING REFLECTIVE COATING DEGRADES OVER TIME TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS UNSAFE DUE TO POOR LIGHTING. HIT A PIECE OF CONCRETE ON THE INTERSTATE BECAUSE I COULD NOT SEE IT IN TIME. DID NOT CRASH LUCKILY, BUT IT BENT THE FRONT RIM AND I LOST THE AIR IN THE FRONT TIRE. *JB ODI 10183124HEADLIGHTS GETTING DIMMER AND DIMMER, FOUND HEADLIGHT INNER HOUSING CHROME PLATING PEELING OFF. NO FIX EXCEPT TO BUY NEW HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO THE NEW ASSEMBLIES IN SEVERAL MONTHS. BUELL CHAT SITES CONFIRM THAT ALL/MOST XBR MODELS DEVELOP THIS PROBLEM MAKING TRAVEL AT NIGHT UNSAFE. *JB | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment:Recreational Vehicle/Trailer:Lpg Systems:Lines And Fittings | 0 | 0 | — | 2ODI 10871993SDGSDGSDGDSFGDFSGD (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2011, MAKE=JLKJLKJ, MODEL=JLKJLJ) ODI 10871994SDGSDGSDGDSFGDFSGD (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2011, MAKE=JLKJLKJ, MODEL=JLKJLJ) | 2ODI 10871993SDGSDGSDGDSFGDFSGD (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2011, MAKE=JLKJLKJ, MODEL=JLKJLJ) ODI 10871994SDGSDGSDGDSFGDFSGD (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2011, MAKE=JLKJLKJ, MODEL=JLKJLJ) | 0 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 0 | 0 | 2ODI 10871993SDGSDGSDGDSFGDFSGD (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2011, MAKE=JLKJLKJ, MODEL=JLKJLJ) ODI 10871994SDGSDGSDGDSFGDFSGD (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2011, MAKE=JLKJLKJ, MODEL=JLKJLJ) | — | 2ODI 10871993SDGSDGSDGDSFGDFSGD (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2011, MAKE=JLKJLKJ, MODEL=JLKJLJ) ODI 10871994SDGSDGSDGDSFGDFSGD (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2011, MAKE=JLKJLKJ, MODEL=JLKJLJ) | 0 | 0 |
| Hybrid Propulsion System: Inverter | 0 | 0 | 2ODI 10871993SDGSDGSDGDSFGDFSGD (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2011, MAKE=JLKJLKJ, MODEL=JLKJLJ) ODI 10871994SDGSDGSDGDSFGDFSGD (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2011, MAKE=JLKJLKJ, MODEL=JLKJLJ) | 2ODI 10871993SDGSDGSDGDSFGDFSGD (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2011, MAKE=JLKJLKJ, MODEL=JLKJLJ) ODI 10871994SDGSDGSDGDSFGDFSGD (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2011, MAKE=JLKJLKJ, MODEL=JLKJLJ) | — | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.
Recurring narrative patterns
Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.