1997 Buell S1 LIGHTNING: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
7 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data updated: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Most common problems
Suspension is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 7 complaints (71.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension | 5 |
| Suspension:Rear | 2 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
Suspension: 5; Suspension:Rear: 2; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 1; Unknown Or Other: 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 | 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. 7 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 |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2000 | 6 |
1999: 1; 2000: 6
Pattern summary
Suspension 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 850655 · 1999-10-13 (October 13, 1999)
RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL REGARDING SWING ARM AND PIVOT SHAFT FAILURE. HAS BEEN TRYING SINCE ABOVE DATE TO GET DEALER TO HONOR RECALL. NEEDS NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 850655 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 860660 · 2000-04-20 (April 20, 2000)
NHTSA RECALL 99V105000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 0815/ SUSPENSION: MOTORCYCLE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 860660 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 860668 · 2000-04-20 (April 20, 2000)
NHTSA RECALL 99V097000 AND MFR RECALL 0813/ SUSPENSION: MOTORCYCLE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 860668 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 860672 · 2000-04-20 (April 20, 2000)
NHTSA RECALL 99V095000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 0811/ SUSPENSION: MOTORCYCLE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 860672 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 860674 · 2000-04-20 (April 20, 2000)
NHTSA RECALL 99V086000 AND MFR RECALL 0810./ SUSPENSION: MOTORCYCLE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 860674 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 860678 · 2000-04-20 (April 20, 2000)
NHTSA RECALL 99V086000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 0810/ SUSPENSION: MOTORCYCLE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 860678 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 863997 · 2000-06-21 (June 21, 2000)
WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 863997 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
8 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
97V153000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Reported: 1997-09-12 (September 12, 1997)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. THE E-CLIP WHICH RETAINS THE DRIVE PIN ON THE FRONT BRAKE ROTOR AND CARRIER CAN SEPARATE FROM THE DRIVE PIN ALLOWING THE PIN TO MOVE OUT OF POSITION AND COME IN CONTACT WITH THE FRONT BRAKE CALIPER.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN PREVENT THE FRONT WHEEL FROM ROTATING INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THESE MOTORCYCLES.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V086000 · Suspension:Front
Reported: 1999-04-26 (April 26, 1999)
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 ↗99V095000 · Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables
Reported: 1999-04-29 (April 29, 1999)
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTORCYCLES. MOTION OF THE BATTERY CABLE CAN LEAD TO BREAKAGE OF ITS TERMINAL.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL/QUIT WHEN RIDING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND/OR REPLACE THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗99V097000 · Unknown Or Other
Reported: 1999-04-29 (April 29, 1999)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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 ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
7 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
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 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 571.4%ODI 860660NHTSA RECALL 99V105000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 0815/ SUSPENSION: MOTORCYCLE. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables | 133.3%ODI 537522THE NEGATIVE BATTERY LEAD FOR THE S1 MODELS IS TOO SHORT. THERE IS NOT ENOUGH SLACK TO ALLOW FOR MOVEMENT DUE TO VIBRATION. THE EFFECTS OF THE LEAD BREAKING IS TOTAL LOSS OF POWER, CAUSING THE MOTOR TO SHUT DOWN AND LIGHTS TO GO OFF. | 114.3%ODI 863997WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | 266.7%ODI 853343DEALER NOTIFIED OF EIGHT MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES RECEIVED. AS OF NOW NONE OF THE RECALL REPAIRS WWERE MADE. DEALER INFORMED THAT THEY ARE WAITING ON ALL THE PARTS BEFORE REPAIRS CAN BE MADE. *AK |
| Suspension:Rear | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 228.6%ODI 850655RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL REGARDING SWING ARM AND PIVOT SHAFT FAILURE. HAS BEEN TRYING SINCE ABOVE DATE TO GET DEALER TO HONOR RECALL. NEEDS NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK | 266.7%ODI 853343DEALER NOTIFIED OF EIGHT MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES RECEIVED. AS OF NOW NONE OF THE RECALL REPAIRS WWERE MADE. DEALER INFORMED THAT THEY ARE WAITING ON ALL THE PARTS BEFORE REPAIRS CAN BE MADE. *AK |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 863997WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | 266.7%ODI 853343DEALER NOTIFIED OF EIGHT MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES RECEIVED. AS OF NOW NONE OF THE RECALL REPAIRS WWERE MADE. DEALER INFORMED THAT THEY ARE WAITING ON ALL THE PARTS BEFORE REPAIRS CAN BE MADE. *AK |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 266.7%ODI 853343DEALER NOTIFIED OF EIGHT MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES RECEIVED. AS OF NOW NONE OF THE RECALL REPAIRS WWERE MADE. DEALER INFORMED THAT THEY ARE WAITING ON ALL THE PARTS BEFORE REPAIRS CAN BE MADE. *AK |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 266.7%ODI 853343DEALER NOTIFIED OF EIGHT MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES RECEIVED. AS OF NOW NONE OF THE RECALL REPAIRS WWERE MADE. DEALER INFORMED THAT THEY ARE WAITING ON ALL THE PARTS BEFORE REPAIRS CAN BE MADE. *AK |
| Unknown Or Other | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 863997WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | 133.3%ODI 840555THE RUBBER ON THE FOOT PEG TURNS WHILE DRIVER'S FOOT IS RESTING ON THE PEG. THE RUBBER AROUND THE FOOT PEG IS ALSO COMING OFF THE PEG. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. | 114.3%ODI 863997WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | 00.0%No examples available for this selection. |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
| 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.
1997: 2 complaints · 1998: 3 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 1998 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| 1998 | 3 | 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 | Suspension | Suspension:Rear | Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables | Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | Unknown Or Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension:Rear | 0 | — | 1ODI 863997WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | 1ODI 863997WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | 1ODI 863997WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | 1ODI 863997WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:Cables | 0 | 1ODI 863997WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | — | 1ODI 863997WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | 1ODI 863997WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | 1ODI 863997WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control | 0 | 1ODI 863997WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | 1ODI 863997WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | — | 1ODI 863997WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | 1ODI 863997WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 0 | 1ODI 863997WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | 1ODI 863997WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | 1ODI 863997WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | — | 1ODI 863997WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK |
| Unknown Or Other | 0 | 1ODI 863997WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | 1ODI 863997WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | 1ODI 863997WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | 1ODI 863997WAS UNABLE TO GET SIX MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICES HONORED BY DEALER BECAUSE NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK | — |
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.