1999 Buell M2 CYCLONE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Owner-reported patterns
Most common problems
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 3 complaints (33.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic
Matching reports
Share of complaints
Braking behavior
1
33.3%
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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum
1
Suspension
1
Suspension:Rear
1
Component breakdown data
Category
Count
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum
1
Suspension
1
Suspension:Rear
1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum: 1; Suspension: 1; Suspension:Rear: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
Under 25,000
0
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
0
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: 0; 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
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 3 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.
2000
2
2002
1
Complaints over time data
Category
Count
2000
2
2002
1
2000: 2; 2002: 1
Pattern summary
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum leads the component reports. Braking behavior 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.
REAR BRAKE PEDAL CONTACTS FRAME BEFORE PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO MASTER CYLINDER. FRONT BRAKES ARE THE ONLY MECHANISM THAT STOPS MOTORCYCLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
00V163000 · Suspension:Rear
Reported: 2000-06-16 (June 16, 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.
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.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THESE MOTORCYCLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH AN INCORRECT AIR CLEANER COMPONENT.
Consequence: THIS COMPONENT COULD RESTRICT AIR FLOW INTO THE FLOAT BOWL OF THE CARBURETOR, CAUSING FUEL TO OVERFLOW, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. THIS COULD ALSO PREVENT SUFFICIENT FUEL FLOW, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO MISFIRE OR STALL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FLOAT BOWL VENT ASSEMBLY FOR PROPER VENTING AND CORRECT THIS CONDITION IF NECESSARY.
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
3 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
0.0%Usable mileage0 / 3 records
66.7%Valid incident date2 / 3 records
100.0%Valid filing date3 / 3 records
66.7%Ordered incident and filing dates2 / 3 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
1997
1998
1999
2000
Suspension:Rear
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
133.3%ODI 866421
CONSUMER APPOINTMENT WAS DELAYED UNTIL LAST WEEK OF AUGUST 2000. CONSUMER FELT IT WAS A GREAT INCONVENIENCE. *AK
I CONTACTED DEALER FOR INFORMATION ON THE RECALL AND RECIEVED NO INFO RELATING TO BEING ABLE TO SAFELY CONTINUE TO OPERATE (IT BEEN OVER A MONTH SINCE THE RECALL) THE MOTORCYCLE OR STOP RIDING IT, THE DEALER RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY HAD THE SAME INFO I WAS SENT REF. THE RECALL AND THEY HAD NO IDEA OF THE SAFETY FACTOR. THEY MADE NO ATTEMPT AT THAT TIME TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER FOR FURTHER INFO. I TRIED 4 TIMES TO CONTACT THE MANUFACTURER VIA PHONE WITHOUT RESULT; I EVEN WENT SO FAR AS TO LET THEM PICK A TIME TO CALL ME BACK (I LEFT A MESSAGE V…
CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL NUMBER 0816, DEALER STATES NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. CONSUMER HAS YET TO HAVE RECALL WORK CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
2000 BUELL M2 CYCLONE FAILURE OF PRIMARY CHAIN ADJUSTOR CAUSED INSTANT SEIZER OF DRIVE TRAIN. VEHICLE IS TORN DOWN FOR INSPECTION NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED. A QUICK SEARCH OF THE INTERNET REVEALED THAT THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON FAILURE. BUELL MOTOR COMPANY HAS DISCONTINUED THE ORIGINAL ADJUSTER AND NOW SUPPLIES AN UPDATED COMPONENT. WHEN I CONTACTED BUELL MOTOR COMPANY I WAS INFORMED THAT DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE I WOULD NOT RECEIVED ANY SUPPORT. *NM
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
125.0%ODI 863071
WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, MOTORCYCLE FRONT BRAKE LOCKED UP, CAUSING A CRASH AND INJURIES. AFTER CRASH DRIVER SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE CALIBER ON THE FRONT WHEEL. *AK *ML
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum
00.0%
No examples available for this selection.
0Unavailable
No examples available for this selection.
133.3%ODI 8017797
REAR BRAKE PEDAL CONTACTS FRAME BEFORE PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO MASTER CYLINDER. FRONT BRAKES ARE THE ONLY MECHANISM THAT STOPS MOTORCYCLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *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 failure mileage distribution
Component
Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)
Median
Usable records
Examples
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.
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.
1999: 2 complaints · 2000: 2 complaints
Equal observation windows
Model year
Through age 0
Through age 1
Through age 2
1999
0
2
2
2000
1
2
2
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
1
0
2000
2
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum
Suspension
Suspension:Rear
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum
—
0
0
Suspension
0
—
0
Suspension:Rear
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 · 33.3% of complaints
Median mileage: Unavailable (0 usable records).
ODI 8017797
REAR BRAKE PEDAL CONTACTS FRAME BEFORE PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO MASTER CYLINDER. FRONT BRAKES ARE THE ONLY MECHANISM THAT STOPS MOTORCYCLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK