Reported: 2003-10-30 (October 30, 2003) · Model years: 1999, 2000
ON CERTAIN MOTORCYCLES EQUIPPED EXCLUSIVELY WITH A FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, THE IDLE CONTROL CABLE CAN BECOME DISLODGED FROM THE FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM CABLE GUIDE DUE TO IMPROPER ADJUSTMENT OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM.
Consequence: SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE THROTTLE MAY NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION WHEN THE OPERATOR'S HAND IS REMOVED FROM THE TWIST GRIP, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A THROTTLE CABLE CLAMP, WHICH SERVES TO ENSURE RETENTION OF THE THROTTLE CONTROL CABLES IN THE CABLE GUIDE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUELL AT 1-414-343-8400.
Reported: 1999-05-06 (May 6, 1999) · Model years: 1999
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.
Reported: 2000-06-16 (June 16, 2000) · Model years: 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBER CAN BREAK, DRAGGING THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE ON THE GROUND.
Consequence: THIS COULD AFFECT THE HANDLING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SHOCK REINFORCEMENT PACKAGE (SRP) WHICH PROTECTS THE STRUCTUAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. A NEW SHOCK ABSORBER IS CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED. WHEN THE NEW SHOCK ABSORBER IS AVAILABLE, IF AN OWNER CHOSES, THEY CAN HAVE IT INSTALLED AT NO CHARGE THROUGH THE DEALER NETWORK.
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
7 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-09-30.
28.6%Usable mileage2 / 7 records
85.7%Valid incident date6 / 7 records
100.0%Valid filing date7 / 7 records
85.7%Ordered incident and filing dates6 / 7 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
Component
1999
2000
Suspension:Rear:Shock Absorber
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
360.0%ODI 10093317
I OWN A BUELL MOTORCYCLE YEAR 2000 MODEL X1 LIGHTNING. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR A DEFECTIVE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V163000. THE RECALL WAS COMPLETED AND A SHOCK REINFORCEMENT PACKAGE WAS INSTALLED. THE OLD DEFECTIVE SHOCK WAS LEFT ON THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A WARNING ON THE SHOCK THAT STATES THAT THIS SHOCK STILL HAS DEFECTS AND THAT IT COULD COLLAPSE. I DON'T FEEL SAFE RIDING THIS MOTORCYCLE IN ITS PRESENT CONDITION. IT STATES IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V163000 UNDER REMEDY: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SHOCK REINFO…
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUELL X1 LIGHTNING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V163000 (SUSPENSION:REAR), WHICH STATED THAT THE DEALER WILL INSTALL A SHOCK REINFORCEMENT PACKAGE (SRP). THE PACKAGE IS INTENDED TO PROTECT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THE DEALER INSTALLED THE SHOCK REINFORCE PACKAGE, BUT THEY WOULD NOT INSTALL THE SECOND HALF OF THE RECALL, WHICH STATED THAT A NEW SHOCK ABSORBER WAS CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED. WHEN THE NEW SHOCK ABSORBER IS AVAILABLE, IT CAN BE INSTALLED FOR FREE THROUGH …
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
150.0%ODI 10133297 · 12,000 mi
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUELL X1 LIGHTNING MOTORCYCLE. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS A BELT INSTEAD OF THE CHAIN, THE REAR BRAKE LINE SEVERED BECAUSE OF THE BELT. AFTER RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE THE CONSUMER PARKED THE MOTORCYCLE AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID COVERING THE OUTSIDE OF THE ENGINE, AND THE PLASTIC MOLDING OF THE MOTORCYCLE. ALSO, THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID ON THE GROUND WHERE THE CONSUMER PARKED THE MOTORCYCLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSING COMPLETELY DOWN BUT NOT STOPPING AS WELL AS IT HAD BEFORE. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE …
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
Component
Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)
Median
Usable records
Examples
Suspension:Rear
Too few reports for a range
9,000 mi
1 (sparse)
ODI 10247970 · 9,000 mi
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 BUELL X1 LIGHTNING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V163000 (SUSPENSION:REAR), WHICH STATED THAT THE DEALER WILL INSTALL A SHOCK REINFORCEMENT PACKAGE (SRP). THE PACKAGE IS INTENDED TO PROTECT THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM. THE DEALER INSTALLED THE SHOCK REINFORCE PACKAGE, BUT THEY WOULD NOT INSTALL THE SECOND HALF OF THE RECALL, WHICH STATED THAT A NEW SHOCK ABSORBER WAS CURRENTLY BEING DEVELOPED. WHEN THE NEW SHOCK ABSORBER IS AVAILABLE, IT CAN BE INSTALLED FOR FREE THROUGH …
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Too few reports for a range
12,000 mi
1 (sparse)
ODI 10133297 · 12,000 mi
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUELL X1 LIGHTNING MOTORCYCLE. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS A BELT INSTEAD OF THE CHAIN, THE REAR BRAKE LINE SEVERED BECAUSE OF THE BELT. AFTER RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE THE CONSUMER PARKED THE MOTORCYCLE AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID COVERING THE OUTSIDE OF THE ENGINE, AND THE PLASTIC MOLDING OF THE MOTORCYCLE. ALSO, THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID ON THE GROUND WHERE THE CONSUMER PARKED THE MOTORCYCLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSING COMPLETELY DOWN BUT NOT STOPPING AS WELL AS IT HAD BEFORE. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE …
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
Monthly complaint and recall timeline
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.
1999: 1 complaints · 2000: 3 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
1999
1
1
1
2000
2
2
3
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
1999
2
0
0
2000
4
1
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 co-occurrence matrix
Component
Suspension:Rear:Shock Absorber
Suspension:Rear
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Suspension:Rear:Shock Absorber
—
0
0
0
Suspension:Rear
0
—
0
0
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System
0
0
—
0
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
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.
1 patterns with matching reports.
Brake response concerns
1 mentions · 14.3% of complaints
Median mileage: 12,000 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10133297 · 12,000 mi
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BUELL X1 LIGHTNING MOTORCYCLE. THE MOTORCYCLE HAS A BELT INSTEAD OF THE CHAIN, THE REAR BRAKE LINE SEVERED BECAUSE OF THE BELT. AFTER RIDING THE MOTORCYCLE THE CONSUMER PARKED THE MOTORCYCLE AND NOTICED BRAKE FLUID COVERING THE OUTSIDE OF THE ENGINE, AND THE PLASTIC MOLDING OF THE MOTORCYCLE. ALSO, THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID ON THE GROUND WHERE THE CONSUMER PARKED THE MOTORCYCLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS PRESSING COMPLETELY DOWN BUT NOT STOPPING AS WELL AS IT HAD BEFORE. THE CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE …