Auto Recall Watch
U.S. public vehicle records

Buell S1 WHITE LIGHTNING recalls by model year

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

4 owner complaints analyzed

6 distinct recall campaigns

Not available median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1997 to 1998 model years. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

Compare model years

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.

1997
1
1998
6
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19971
19986

1997: 1; 1998: 6

Year-by-year records

Buell S1 WHITE LIGHTNING model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
199701Not available
199846+5

Recall history

6 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

99V086000 · Suspension:Front

Reported: 1999-04-26 (April 26, 1999) · Model years: 1997, 1998

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
99V097000 · Unknown Or Other

Reported: 1999-04-29 (April 29, 1999) · Model years: 1998

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
99V104000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Mounting

Reported: 1999-05-06 (May 6, 1999) · Model years: 1998

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
99V105000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Reported: 1999-05-06 (May 6, 1999) · Model years: 1998

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
99V106000 · Suspension:Rear

Reported: 1999-05-06 (May 6, 1999) · Model years: 1998

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
99V107000 · Suspension:Rear:Shock Absorber

Reported: 1999-05-06 (May 6, 1999) · Model years: 1998

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.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

4 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

0.0%Usable mileage0 / 4 records
100.0%Valid incident date4 / 4 records
100.0%Valid filing date4 / 4 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates4 / 4 records

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 complaint heatmap
Component19971998
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

125.0%
ODI 723573

MAIN BELT DRIVE BROKE WHILE MOTORCYCLE WAS IN MOTION..COULD HAVE LOCKED UP THE REAR WHEEL CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *AK

Look up ODI 723573 at NHTSA ↗

Power Train:Manual Transmission
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

125.0%
ODI 849865

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. *AK

Look up ODI 849865 at NHTSA ↗

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

125.0%
ODI 735838

BRAKE LEVER LIGHTLY TOUCHED AS I WAS GOING INTO THE THE TURN @ 25 MPH, NO BRAKE CONTROL BIKE LEANED INSTEAD OF DOWN, AND I WENT INTO THE DITCH AND FRACTURED MYN PELVIS. THERE ARE 4 KNOW ACCOUNTS OF THE EXACT SAME INCIDENT, ONE WAS BY A DEALER MECHANIC OF WHICH I PURCHASED THE MOTORCYCLE FROM HAD LOST CONTROL OF THE BIKE AND BRAKES HE HAD SERVICED. HE HAD A CAR BRAKE INFRONT OF HIM AND HE TOUCHED THE BRAKES A LITTLE AND THE BIKE WENT DOWN, MY BEST FRIEND HAD THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO HIM AND I HAVE READ ARTICLES @ WWW.BADWEATHERBIKERS.COM ON SIMI…

Look up ODI 735838 at NHTSA ↗

Suspension:Rear
0Unavailable

No examples available for this selection.

125.0%
ODI 863261

RECALL 99V106000/SWING ARM, AND 99V107 000/REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS: BOTH RECALLS RECEIVED AND REPORTED TO DEALER, BUT STILL BOTH RECALLS HAVE NOT BEEN HONORED. DEALER IS STILL WAITING FOR PARTS FROM MANUFACTURER. OWNER WISHES FOR DEALER TO REPURCHASE VEHICLE. *ML

Look up ODI 863261 at NHTSA ↗

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 failure mileage distribution
ComponentMileage range (25th–75th percentile)MedianUsable recordsExamples
No usable records for this analysis.

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

1 reports2024-112026-10

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
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
MonthComplaintsCampaigns announcedExamples
2024-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2024-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-100None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-110None

No examples available for this selection.

2025-120None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-010None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-020None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-030None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-040None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-050None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-060None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-070None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-080None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-090None

No examples available for this selection.

2026-10 (partial)0None

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.

Age 0Age 1Age 24 reports

1997: 0 complaints · 1998: 4 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model yearThrough age 0Through age 1Through age 2
1997000
1998134
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
YearIncident dates usedFiling date fallbacksExcluded dates
1997000
1998400

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 co-occurrence matrix
ComponentEngine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated PulleysPower Train:Manual TransmissionService Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:DiscSuspension:Rear
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys—000
Power Train:Manual Transmission0—00
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc00—0
Suspension:Rear000—

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.