2008 Buell BLAST: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
109 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data updated: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Engine operation
1
50.0%
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
1
Component breakdown data
Category
Count
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
1
Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
2
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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
Category
Count
Under 25,000
2
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: 2; 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 (2). 0 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.
2008
1
2009
1
Complaints over time data
Category
Count
2008
1
2009
1
2008: 1; 2009: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 1 complaint narratives. 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUELL BLAST. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V439000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY) AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL OCTOBER. WHEN OCTOBER ARRIVED, HE CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN FOR AN APPOINTMENT, BUT THE PARTS WERE STILL UNAVAILABLE. HE CALLED THE DEALER BACK IN NOVEMBER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS HAD TO BE RE-ORDERED. AS OF NOVEMBER 3, …
PURCHASE BIKE WOULD NOT STAY RUNNING NEEDED A TUNE UP GOING UP A HILL AFTER GETTING GAS IN 1ST GEAR BIKE STALLS AND WOULD NOT START DRIVING DOWN 695 WENT TO SHIFT DOWN-SHIFTER WAS GONE ...WAS REPLACE NOT LONG AFTER THAT SHIFTER BECAME LOOSE AGAIN..CAUGHT AND FIXED PRIOR TO LOSING HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING SHOP ABOUT PINGING NOISE IN ENGINE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. THE BIKE CONTINUES TO GET LOUDER . MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE SO FAR PER PAPERWORK BOLT WAS WELDED OIL LINKAGE/USAGE MORE THAN NORMAL..NOTHING DO…
BUELL IS RECALLING 1,307 MY 2007-2008 BLAST MOTORCYCLES. THE FUEL TANK MAY EXPERIENCE SOME LOCAL DEFORMATION UNDER HIGH-HEAT CONDITIONS THAT CREATES CONTACT OF THE TANK WITH THE CYLINDER HEAD. IN SOME OF THESE CASES, THE CYLINDER HEAD RUBBING ON THE FUEL TANK HAS CREATED A FUEL LEAK.
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH OR FIRE, WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH TO THE RIDER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A BRACKET WHICH WILL PREVENT THE FUEL TANK FROM CONTACTING THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUELL AT 1-414-343-8400.
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
2 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
100.0%Usable mileage2 / 2 records
100.0%Valid incident date2 / 2 records
100.0%Valid filing date2 / 2 records
100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates2 / 2 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
2004
2006
2007
2008
2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
150.0%ODI 10273093 · 48 mi
PURCHASE BIKE WOULD NOT STAY RUNNING NEEDED A TUNE UP GOING UP A HILL AFTER GETTING GAS IN 1ST GEAR BIKE STALLS AND WOULD NOT START DRIVING DOWN 695 WENT TO SHIFT DOWN-SHIFTER WAS GONE ...WAS REPLACE NOT LONG AFTER THAT SHIFTER BECAME LOOSE AGAIN..CAUGHT AND FIXED PRIOR TO LOSING HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING SHOP ABOUT PINGING NOISE IN ENGINE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. THE BIKE CONTINUES TO GET LOUDER . MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE SO FAR PER PAPERWORK BOLT WAS WELDED OIL LINKAGE/USAGE MORE THAN NORMAL..NOTHING DO…
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUELL BLAST. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V439000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY) AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL OCTOBER. WHEN OCTOBER ARRIVED, HE CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN FOR AN APPOINTMENT, BUT THE PARTS WERE STILL UNAVAILABLE. HE CALLED THE DEALER BACK IN NOVEMBER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS HAD TO BE RE-ORDERED. AS OF NOVEMBER 3, …
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 BUELL BLAST MOTORCYCLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH WHEN THE SUSPENSION COMPLETELY COLLAPSED. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE BOLTS THAT HELD THE SUB-STRUCTURE IN PLACE WERE FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AND ADVISED HIM TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY WOULD SEND AN ENGINEER TO FURTHER INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,500.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUELL BLAST MOTORCYCLE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REAR WHEEL BEARINGS FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE AND WOBBLE SEVERELY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE BEARINGS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED ONE WEEK LATER WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REAR BEARINGS FAILED. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING REPAIRED. THE CONTACT FILED A REPORT WITH THE MANUF…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BUELL BLAST EQUIPPED WITH AVON VIPER STRYKE TIRES, SIZE: 110/70/16. AFTER INSPECTING THE TIRES, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED A BLISTER ON THE FRONT TIRE. THE TIRE WAS SENT TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TIRE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.
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
Engine And Engine Cooling
Too few reports for a range
48 mi
1 (sparse)
ODI 10273093 · 48 mi
PURCHASE BIKE WOULD NOT STAY RUNNING NEEDED A TUNE UP GOING UP A HILL AFTER GETTING GAS IN 1ST GEAR BIKE STALLS AND WOULD NOT START DRIVING DOWN 695 WENT TO SHIFT DOWN-SHIFTER WAS GONE ...WAS REPLACE NOT LONG AFTER THAT SHIFTER BECAME LOOSE AGAIN..CAUGHT AND FIXED PRIOR TO LOSING HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING SHOP ABOUT PINGING NOISE IN ENGINE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. THE BIKE CONTINUES TO GET LOUDER . MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE SO FAR PER PAPERWORK BOLT WAS WELDED OIL LINKAGE/USAGE MORE THAN NORMAL..NOTHING DO…
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 BUELL BLAST. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V439000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY) AND SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS FOR THE REPAIR WOULD BE UNAVAILABLE UNTIL OCTOBER. WHEN OCTOBER ARRIVED, HE CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN FOR AN APPOINTMENT, BUT THE PARTS WERE STILL UNAVAILABLE. HE CALLED THE DEALER BACK IN NOVEMBER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS HAD TO BE RE-ORDERED. AS OF NOVEMBER 3, …
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
2024-11
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
0
None
No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (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.
2008: 2 complaints · 2009: 0 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
2008
2
2
2
2009
0
0
0
Date coverage across each selected cohort
Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year
Incident dates used
Filing date fallbacks
Excluded dates
2008
2
0
0
2009
0
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 co-occurrence matrix
Component
Engine And Engine Cooling
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
Engine And Engine Cooling
—
0
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
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.
2 patterns with matching reports.
Battery drain and no-start mentions
1 mentions · 50.0% of complaints
Median mileage: 48 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10273093 · 48 mi
PURCHASE BIKE WOULD NOT STAY RUNNING NEEDED A TUNE UP GOING UP A HILL AFTER GETTING GAS IN 1ST GEAR BIKE STALLS AND WOULD NOT START DRIVING DOWN 695 WENT TO SHIFT DOWN-SHIFTER WAS GONE ...WAS REPLACE NOT LONG AFTER THAT SHIFTER BECAME LOOSE AGAIN..CAUGHT AND FIXED PRIOR TO LOSING HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING SHOP ABOUT PINGING NOISE IN ENGINE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. THE BIKE CONTINUES TO GET LOUDER . MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE SO FAR PER PAPERWORK BOLT WAS WELDED OIL LINKAGE/USAGE MORE THAN NORMAL..NOTHING DO…
Matching rule\b(parasitic drain|battery drain\w*|dead battery|won.t start|would not start|no.start)\b
Stalling or loss of power
1 mentions · 50.0% of complaints
Median mileage: 48 mi (1 usable records).
ODI 10273093 · 48 mi
PURCHASE BIKE WOULD NOT STAY RUNNING NEEDED A TUNE UP GOING UP A HILL AFTER GETTING GAS IN 1ST GEAR BIKE STALLS AND WOULD NOT START DRIVING DOWN 695 WENT TO SHIFT DOWN-SHIFTER WAS GONE ...WAS REPLACE NOT LONG AFTER THAT SHIFTER BECAME LOOSE AGAIN..CAUGHT AND FIXED PRIOR TO LOSING HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING SHOP ABOUT PINGING NOISE IN ENGINE AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. THE BIKE CONTINUES TO GET LOUDER . MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE SO FAR PER PAPERWORK BOLT WAS WELDED OIL LINKAGE/USAGE MORE THAN NORMAL..NOTHING DO…